The sugar beet variety BTS 4100 has joined the 2020 BBRO Recommended List (RL) with the highest sugar content of any variety, while also offering high yields and low bolting counts at early sowing.
Bred by Betaseed and marketed by Limagrain UK, BTS 4100 offers the highest sugar content of any sugar beet variety on the list at 18.4 per cent, and has produced these high sugar levels consistently during the past three years in RL trials.
“In 2016, BTS 4100 yielded 18.0 per cent, while the average sugar percentage across the RL trials was 17.7 per cent. In 2017 when the national average was 18.4 per cent, BTS 4100 yielded 0.6 per cent more at 19.0 per cent. In 2018, the national average was 17.8 per cent and BTS 4100 again yielded 0.6 per cent more, at 18.4 per cent,” Limagrain’s sugar beet product manager, Ron Granger, said.
“Growers will recognise that on certain soil types or in difficult field conditions, a high sugar content can be hard to achieve; in these situations a variety such as BTS 4100 with a genetically high sugar content offers the best insurance for maximising full yield potential, as expressed in adjusted tonnes.”
Along with these extremely high sugar levels, BTS 4100 offers high adjusted tonne yields of 101.8 per cent – reflecting a step-up compared to some of the older varieties on the list.
However, while yield and sugar content are the top criteria for choosing a new sugar beet variety, factors such as establishment and bolting tolerance are also very important – particularly when deciding which variety is best for your situation
“For those looking to drill in the first half of March, in an attempt to get crops up and away to combat virus yellows infection, BTS 4100 will fit in very well,” Mr Granger said. “It has excellent bolting tolerance and is one of only a few varieties on the RL, that offers no bolters when drilled in the normal sowing slot.
“This is combined with good emergence characteristics and a good tolerance to rust. It is also Rhizomania tolerant.”
For more information visit: www.lgseeds.co.uk.
