The breeding of a winter rye variety with a good eelworm-resistance

Summary Some local varieties of winter rye possess a good eelworm-resistance but have too weak a straw and produce an insufficient quantity of seed on healthy soil or on fields which are slightly infested.On the farm Heertveld, belonging to the C.I.V. Breeding Station, a rye variety has been developed from a cross between Ottersum rye and Petkus winter rye, and it showed a good resistance to the stem eelworm (Ditylenchus dipsaci). The new variety which was included in the Dutch List of Varieties of 1953, distinguished itself by a rapid and good soil coverage and strikingly stiff straw.On investigation by the I.P.O. it was established (after artificial inoculation) that 25% of the plants of Heertveld rye were not affected, 50% were slightly damaged and 25% were heavily attacked. However, in the field it shows a good resistance, due to a good recovery.At the Breeding Station selection for eelworm resistance and also for other desirable features is continued and at present such progress has been made that the Heertveld rye now approaches the production capacity of Petkus.