Sensation

Status: National List Trials

SENSATION is the first DSV 6 row winter barley variety to be launched in the UK. It contains two very important traits – Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) and Barley Yellow Mosaic Virus (BaYMV) Type 1 and Type 2 protection. This protection is important since seed treatments have no influence on these types of infection. SENSATION is a very high yielding variety with good straw strength and high specific weight. It has performed well in both treated and untreated trials – with and without BYDV virus pressure. It is very early to head and to ripen and is listed as the earliest heading variety in France. Its speed of growth in the spring could make it particularly strong in black-grass situations where it quickly outgrows the weed.

Data Source: DSV UK interpretation of internal trials and EU Common Catalogue

BYDV and BaYMV Protection

BYDV is spread by two major aphids – the bird cherry oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi) and the grain aphid (Sitobion avenae). The former is easy to control using pyrethroid sprays but pyrethroid resistance has been confirmed in UK grain aphids by Rothamsted. Varietal tolerance is especially valuable in winter barleys as the only cultural control method for BYDV is delaying drilling until the cold weather starts to kill the aphid population. This may be an option in winter wheat but drilling winter barley at this time can be extremely detrimental to yield.

SENSATION carries the BYDV protection gene (YD2), which means plants may get infected but will tolerate the virus and grow normally. Although YD2 was first identified in the 1960s, the availability of neonicotinoid seed treatments has, until now, obscured its potential. Whilst SENSATION does give protection against BYDV and BaYMV, an insecticide spray may still be necessary to ensure that the aphid population is contained. Type 1 BaYMV protection is now standard across most varieties. However, SENSATION is currently unique in carrying additional genetic protection against the threat of Type 2 BaYMV, which is now common in other areas of Europe.

Disease Scores

SENSATION is currently in National List trials in the UK but has been vigorously tested in many countries including France, Belgium and Germany. In recent DSV and independent trials SENSATION has performed very well especially in untreated trials. It shows disease improvement compared to other varieties on the market, which carry the same traits. However we have limited UK data at this stage.

Download the Sensation product sheet here