New Malting Barley varieties for the Southern Cape
Francois Smit
South African Barley Breeding Institute
Two new barley varieties are being released by the South African Barley Breeding Institute – Agulhas
and Hessekwa which promise to provide major gains in yield and disease resistance.
Agulhas is named after the place where two great oceans – the Indian and Atlantic – meet, at the
southernmost tip of Africa. It is a variety with high yield potential, medium percentage plumpness
and average kernel nitrogen and is recommended for all the production areas in the Southern Cape.
The name Hessekwa, meaning “people of the trees”, refers to the tribe of Khoikhoi people that used
to live in the region at the foot of the Langeberg Mountains. Hessekwa also has high yield potential,
high percentage plumpness and average kernel nitrogen and is recommended for all the production
areas in the Southern Cape (Dry land) with the added bonus of leaf blotch and leaf rust resistance.
The 2013 national line evaluation trial showed the following results of the new varieties compared
to Erica, the standard. The main objective of the line evaluation program is to plant the best lines
from the different breeding programmes under the exact same conditions (soil, climate and
management) in order to ensure that the yield, grading characteristics and malting quality results of
the lines can be evaluated on a more comparative basis. During the line evaluation another new line,
S14 was earmarked as the next potential new variety. This is very exciting as it is always important to
ensure there are pipeline varieties to trial.
Yield (deviation from Erica)
2013
Caledon
Greyton
Rietpoel
Napier
Bredasdorp
Klipdale
Protem
Napkei
Swellendam
Heidelberg
H/b Vlakte
Average
Nemesia
Disa
Agulhas
Hessekwa
S14
95%
117%
98%
97%
99%
93%
90%
109%
97%
94%
109%
99%
96%
85%
94%
93%
94%
98%
93%
116%
99%
102%
121%
99%
100%
106%
104%
108%
104%
91%
100%
116%
102%
103%
106%
103%
96%
106%
107%
127%
110%
112%
96%
105%
97%
104%
109%
106%
97%
114%
111%
112%
120%
123%
100%
112%
114%
104%
122%
111%
Plumpness (deviation from Erica)
2013
Caledon
Greyton
Nemesia
Disa
Agulhas
Hessekwa
S14
103%
103%
103%
101%
101%
98%
102%
105%
101%
110%
Rietpoel
Napier
Bredasdorp
Klipdale
Protem
Napkei
Swellendam
Heidelberg
H/b Vlakte
Average
100%
111%
100%
108%
103%
101%
100%
101%
100%
103%
100%
127%
100%
108%
103%
100%
98%
99%
99%
103%
97%
102%
99%
100%
99%
100%
97%
98%
98%
99%
103%
114%
100%
110%
106%
100%
101%
99%
99%
103%
99%
115%
101%
108%
106%
102%
101%
101%
100%
104%
Kernel Nitrogen (deviation from Erica)
2013
Caledon
Greyton
Rietpoel
Napier
Bredasdorp
Klipdale
Protem
Napkei
Swellendam
Heidelberg
H/b Vlakte
Average
Nemesia
Disa
Agulhas
Hessekwa
S14
105%
93%
98%
97%
100%
95%
104%
101%
92%
101%
102%
99%
105%
90%
97%
98%
97%
87%
97%
88%
88%
97%
93%
94%
110%
90%
100%
100%
107%
98%
105%
102%
102%
102%
95%
101%
107%
89%
97%
97%
108%
97%
106%
102%
98%
101%
97%
100%
131%
98%
98%
101%
103%
95%
99%
104%
95%
96%
99%
101%
Positive agronomic performance, brewing and malting feedback of these new experimental varieties
was given at the Barley Evaluation Committee meeting in September
According to Henk de Beer, Chief Operating Officer of the Sentraal - Suid Co-operative Ltd, both
varieties showed vigorous growth with high percentage tillering and where a preventative spraying
program was followed both were more resistant to diseases than Erica, the dominant variety in the
area.
Both Agulhas and Hessekwa performed well against Erica and Disa in the Overberg Agri area.
Although too wet and dry conditions were present in some areas after germination, growth was
excellent with low disease infestations as reported by Pierre Laubscher from Overberg Agri.
Nikki Else, Chief Maltster of SABM, stated that the Agulhas malt trials had contributed favourably to
all processes in brewing and packaged product quality. These are very important criteria against
which brewers assess a variety. The Hessekwa first year malting trial was also successful with very
efficient moisture uptake compared to other varieties. Hessekwa brewing trials were also positive in
all process areas in brewing and packaged product quality. Thus these two new generation barley
varieties show promise to ensure throughput is achieved and performance is delivered against our
key brand quality promises in the brewery and to our valued consumer.
An expected 7000 MT of Agulhas and 3200 MT of Hessekwa will be produced during this crop year,
and increased to 50 000Mt and 25 000MT respectively for 2014. The rapid growth in volume
indicates that the whole integrated barley chain (producer, SABM and SAB) believes in the new
varieties.