New field trials have shown encouraging results for new carrot variety Octavo F1, which is displaying strong cavity spot and virus resistance.
Hazera reports that varieties featuring genetics offered by its sister company Vilmorin are looking particularly strong, with Octavo outperforming other varieties, including several industry standards.
The results could be timely, with cavity spot and virus attacks causing numerous problems for growers. Cavity spot leads to root damage resulting in high wastage, while carrot viruses including recently identified Carrot Yellow Leaf Virus stunting root development and causing losses of up to 30-40 per cent in early-drilled carrots.
“The results, from year one of a three-year replicated trial featuring 25 varieties in Norfolk, clearly confirm what many growers have observed in the field,” said Hazera’s John De Soyza. “The trial has demonstrated clear differences in carrot varietal susceptibility to cavity spot and carrot viruses. Our latest introduction Octavo F1 stood out as one of the best performers in the trial.”
He added: “Compared to current standards, the new genetics emerging from Vilmorin’s breeding programme are looking very exciting. Along with Octavo F1, our other main crop varietiesEskimoF1 andVolcanoF1 have also performed well.
“Octavo F1, which is commercially available this year, has other important attributes to offer UK growers. It provides outstanding field performance with regard to root strength, yield and quality with better than average cold tolerance. Octavo F1 can be grown for early maincrop production, right through to late field storage, making it a very flexible variety ideal for high-quality pre-pack markets.”
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