United Kingdom
July 30, 2025
DSV’s latest candidate varieties are setting high expectations for the 2025 growing season, with a promising new Group 1 milling wheat and a top-yielding oilseed rape emerging from the company’s development pipeline.
Among the standout additions is DSV Arlington, a high-specification bread-making wheat showing strong performance across official National List trials.
With high grain quality and strong disease resistance, the variety is currently under consideration for the AHDB Recommended List 2025.
“DSV Arlington represents the next step in our focused investment into milling wheat breeding,” explains DSV UK wheat breeder Dr Matt Kerton.
“Our genomic prediction programme and rigorous testing are beginning to deliver varieties that can really challenge the established Group 1s.
“Arlington offers a high specific weight of 79.3 kg/hl, a Hagberg Falling Number (HFN) of 297, and protein content of 13.5%, hitting all the marks required for a top-notch baking variety.”
Agronomically, it’s robust too, with a septoria resistance score of 7.1, yellow rust resistance of 9, and a treated yield of 101% of controls. It also offers greater flexibility, he adds.
“A low winter requirement opens up drilling options in a tricky autumn, while its short, stiff straw give flexibility for growers looking to drill early.”
A rare mix of Pch1 for eyespot resistance and Sm1 for resistance to orange blossom midge further enhances its resilience, and an untreated yield of 92% demonstrates the strength of its overall disease resistance.
“Arlington is a variety with the quality to meet end-market requirements and the agronomic traits to offer growers flexibility and security,” says Dr Kerton.
“It has received a great reception from growers and millers across the UK and is one to watch for 2025.”
Significant OSR developments
On the oilseed rape side, DSV Dompteur currently leads the 2025 winter oilseed rape candidate list as the highest-yielding variety, with a gross output of 111% of controls for the UK rising to 112% in the North, and an oil content of 46.3%.
It builds on the success of DSV Cognac and is the second in DSV’s portfolio to feature the company’s new phoma blocker trait.
“Our innovative resistance technology combines two phoma resistance genes, GLMS and RLM7, providing a more robust defence against multiple phoma strains,” explains DSV UK country manager Dr Alex Doering.
“Think of it as where previously the phoma resistance mechanism worked with one lock and one key, now the disease has to break through two locks and two keys to succeed.”
Dompteur also includes strong turnip yellow virus (TuYV) protection, pod shatter resistance for added harvest protection, scores an 8 for light leaf spot (LLS) resistance and has shown good tolerance to verticillium wilt in trials across Europe.
“Its strong autumn growth and excellent spring vigour help it establish quickly and recover well from pest pressure, including pigeons,” adds Dr Doering.
DSV Cognac, also on the 2025 candidate list, carries the new phoma blocker trait via a different combination, LepR1 and RLM7, and offers a yield of 107% with an oil content of 46.6%.
“Like all DSV’s current varieties DSV Cognac has TuYV protection, good tolerance to verticillium wilt and an excellent score for resistance to light leaf spot (LLS)”, says Dr Doering.
“Trials have confirmed its superior spring vigour alongside strong autumn growth providing additional defence to flea beetles while strong, robust pods with added pod shatter protection add to its appeal."
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