New Zena CL barley is on its way for planting in 2023 following its launch as the newest, Clearfield® barley. She is set to deliver an excellent alterative maturity and plant type option for Clearfield® barley systems.
Zena CL, formerly known by its breeding code IGB20125T, is well suited to medium-high rainfall environments and is agronomically similar to RGT Planet offering a mid-maturity and vigorous plant type. InterGrain trials over the last 3 years, and NVT trials in 2021, indicate that yields of Zena CL are similar to RGT Planet .
“Zena CL is the first Clearfield® barley targeted for these environments, enabling more growers to take advantage of this technology for their rotations” said Grains Innovation Australia (GIA) breeder Dr Michael Materne who developed the variety with InterGrain.
InterGrain Barley Breeder David Moody said Zena CL is an exceptional variety to be adding to the company’s suite of IMI barleys as it provides medium-high rainfall growers with a high-yielding option for use within the IMI barley rotation.
“Grower interest has been strong due to interest in an IMI tolerant variety with similar agronomic attributes to RGT Planet ,” he said.
“As well as similar yield potential to RGT Planet , Zena CL has good levels of resistance to powdery mildew and leaf rust. Like RGT Planet , Zena CL is susceptible to both the Net Form and Spot Form of Net Blotch.
“Zena CL possess similar physical grain quality characteristics and lodging tolerance and head loss risk as RGT Planet .”
With varietal interest high, Zena CL has been submitted to the Barley Australia malt accreditation program with earliest potential final accreditation by March 2024.
Zena CL possesses the Clearfield® herbicide tolerance trait developed by Agriculture Victoria Services, which is currently exclusively licensed to InterGrain.
The presence of the trait provides Zena CL with tolerance to registered label rates of APVMA approved IMI herbicides, offering growers the ability to control brome and barley grass within the barley rotation.
The Clearfield® trait provides increased rotational flexibility when other IMI tolerant crops have been grown the previous year and where there are concerns about soil residues. Zena CL also provides the opportunity for effective control of conventional self-sown cereals within barley crops using APVMA registered imidazolinone chemistry.
Zena CL was bred and developed collaboratively by InterGrain and Grains Innovations Australia (GIA). InterGrain and GIA have formed a strategic barley breeding partnership to enhance the delivery of market leading varieties to maximise grower value.
Dr Materne of GIA, a private breeding company developing innovative crop varieties says, “As the partnership releases new varieties and we help solve current grower and farming system limitations, we will be able to explore more of our novel, innovative ideas for a prosperous and sustainable grains industry.”
Zena CL is available for planting in 2023 from InterGrain Seedclub Members and local resellers.
For more information about Zena CL contact your local InterGrain Territory Manager.
InterGrain Barley Breeder David Moody and CEO Tress Walmsley launching Zena CL at Croppa Creek, NSW.
About InterGrain
As one of the leaders in cereal breeding in Australia, InterGrain offers market leading wheat, barley and oat varieties for growers. Our highly successful wheat and barley breeding programs, and our new oat breeding program, are designed to target the major cereal growing regions of Australia. Our vision is to support the competitive advantage and sustainability of the Australian agriculture sector.
Our focus is breeding market leading varieties that meet grower and end-user customer requirements. We are globally recognised for our proven capability in the delivery of quality malting barleys and udon noodle wheats.
InterGrain’s shareholders are the WA State Government and GRDC. InterGrain employs 60+ staff and has offices in Perth and Horsham. We also have marketing staff based in Northam, Adelaide, Dalby and Wagga Wagga.
About Grains Innovation Australia (GIA)
Grains Innovation Australia (GIA) is a private breeding company dedicated to the development of innovative crop varieties to improve grower profitability and provide whole farm system solutions. GIA was founded in 2013 through investment by a team of farmers, breeders, agronomists, seed and grain processing and marketing experts based across cropping regions in Victoria and South Australia. Using our combined farm based understanding and scientific expertise we see the possibilities for more robust crops to address limitations’ growers encounter.
Our team has established a highly efficient breeding program and use smart genetic solutions to develop commercially beneficial varieties via end point royalty income. GIA has successfully released a total of nine crop varieties to date, including a number of world first lentil, pea and hay oat varieties. Pulse varieties and products from our partnerships with cereal and canola companies are in advanced stages of development to market. GIA is unique in the industry with our vertically integrated breeding to market business model, which ensures rapid delivery of our innovations to growers.
