Recommended List 2026/27: Diverse varieties for mainstream and niche markets

With fewer varieties added than removed, the lists are more focused and include numerous varieties with big yield improvements; although, AHDB acknowledges, some of these come with agronomic compromises, which may not suit farmers looking to reduce inputs.

During the harvest 2025 trials, a major wheat yellow rust resistance gene was overcome, so AHDB issued revised disease ratings for the established RL winter wheat varieties earlier this year. Although some varieties have seen significant falls in ratings, many still feature good levels of resistance against this disease (disease ratings 7 to 9), which includes several new varieties.

Paul Gosling, who manages the RL at AHDB, said: “The winter wheat recommendations were particularly tricky this year, after the shake-up to yellow rust resistance. We have recommended some new hard group 4s that are susceptible to yellow rust. Many varieties in this group are now susceptible to the disease. However, the recommendations are justified, due to the yield advantage of the new varieties over the current ones.”

Winter wheat

A new addition to UKFM Group 1, Arlington from DSV brings the number of new varieties in this group to three in three years. Arlington has been listed as a provisional Group 1 by UKFM. Its status will be confirmed in the spring after UKFM completes analysis of commercial quantities of harvest 2025 grain. Arlington is the highest-yielding Group 1 variety in the key East region and it has the second highest untreated yield which Paul says is sure to appeal.

UKFM Group 2 has just one new addition. KWS Grebe has yields just below the best Group 2s, but its chief attraction is likely to be its resistance to OWBM.

There are several new feed varieties. Sparkler from Elsoms is a soft feed, which has the top fungicide-treated yield for soft varieties and is rated high quality for distilling. It also has good yellow rust and septoria resistance.

Five hard group 4 varieties have been recommended, and Paul explains some may prove controversial. “KWS Aintree offers a 4% yield increase over KWS Scope and Champion (which were already on the list). This is a huge increase for a new winter wheat variety. However, with a yellow rust disease rating of 3, it is not going to be for everyone. Where grown, it will need careful management to realise its yield potential.”

KWS Fowlmere has better yellow rust resistance and, as a result, a better untreated yield than KWS Aintree, but it is 3% lower yielding in treated trials. “However, its key trait is its earliness. Given a -2 for ripening, it is the earliest variety on the list by some margin,” adds Paul.

Two further additions to the hard Group 4s come from Limagrain. LG Defiance is just 1% lower yielding than KWS Aintree, but it has good yellow rust resistance and the highest untreated yield on the new list. Its weakness is its straw strength, which will need careful management. LG Challenger is 2% lower yielding than LG Defiance, in both treated and untreated trials, but its resistance to lodging is good and it has no other weaknesses, Paul points out.

The final addition to the hard Group 4s is RGT Guardsman. “With a fungicide-treated yield of 103%, it is the first of the BYDV resistant varieties to be competitive on yield and it will be interesting to see its uptake,” comments Paul Gosling.

RGT Guardsman represents a significant landmark in the development of the BYDV resistance trait, agrees Andrew Creasy, RAGT arable technical manager. It is the first BYDV-resistant wheat to yield greater than 100% of the controls, effectively closing the yield gap.

“BYDV resistance is a trait that many farmers are interested in, especially in mild autumns like we have had this year,” adds Andrew. “Having a variety that protects against the virus without compromising yield potential is a huge step forward.”

“RGT Guardsman is the culmination of the first generation of varieties with BYDV resistance. Reaching over 100% yield was our main breeding target for this pipeline of material.”

RGT Guardsman is rated 7 for yellow rust resistance and 6 for brown rust and septoria, providing good all-around protection against foliar disease. Andrew says that it does not have the YR15 yellow rust resistance gene, meaning it is unaffected by this spring’s population change.

Agrii’s seed technical manager, John Miles, says that RGT Guardsman has a decent all-round agronomic package. However, its standing will need to be managed with a good PGR programme, especially in early drilling situations.

“RGT Guardsman is by far the best BYDV-resistant wheat variety that we have seen to date,” he says. “BYDV resistance remains an important trait, and it is good to see it combined with a yield most farmers will view as acceptable.”

Spring wheat

The spring wheat list has three new varieties. There are two Group 4s, Merkawa from Senova and WPB Clifden from Limagrain, and a new Group 1, Charland from Blackman Agriculture.

Charland is a white wheat, which produces very white flour. It has been given a Group 1 classification by UKFM, because of its very good milling and baking qualities. “Of the new spring wheats, it is the one most likely to stimulate the greatest interest,” reckons Paul.

Winter barley

Darcie from Senova is a two-row feed variety that has been recommended for the East and West regions. It is slightly lower yielding, but comes with resistance to barley yellow mosaic virus strain 2 (BaYMV2), one of only three such varieties on the list. Darcie offers a higher-yielding alternative to the other BaYMV2 resistant varieties on the list.

“The genetic potential of Darcie is clear when you look at its agronomic merit score,” says George Goodwin, managing director of Senova. “With its strong disease and virus resistance, stiff straw and lower screenings, it’s a variety that will appeal to growers.”

BaYMV is a spreading issue, with two strains of the virus now found in UK soils and no means of chemical control, he adds. “As Darcie has resistance to both strain 1 and 2, it avoids the yield and grain quality losses caused by infection.

“In contrast, most recommended varieties only have resistance to strain 1, so it’s good to see this dual resistance coming through in high performing varieties.”

One new six-row hybrid has been added. SY Barnabus is the highest-yielding, six-row hybrid, in both treated and untreated trials. Although its grain quality is good, it is slightly weaker strawed than some of the six-row hybrids.

LG Catapult is a new two-row feed variety with BYDV tolerance and a high treated yield, which closes the gap with the non-BYDV-tolerant two-row feeds. It also has a good untreated yield. However, its resistance to lodging is weaker than some of the other BYDV-tolerant varieties.

Spring barley

The spring barley list has four new varieties, with three under evaluation for both brewing and malt distilling by the Malting Barley Committee (MBC).

Trailblazer from Syngenta offers high treated yields across all regions, with good standing power and grain quality. Roulette from Agrii has a slightly lower treated yield but has the highest untreated yield on the new list. Shona, from Elsoms Ackermann Barley, has been recommended for the East, where it shows a very high treated yield.

Nolan from Senova is the final addition. It was proposed for recommendation in 2024 but was not added to the list due to problems during the GB and NI Variety Lists (VL) assessment stages. With the issues resolved and good malting qualities, it has been recommended for the UK. Its status in the MAGB testing system is being reviewed shortly by the MBC.

Oats

One new winter oat variety has been added. Rannoch from Senova has very high yields and, with grain quality similar to Mascani, it may tempt some growers and end users.

“Rannoch is a big step forward,” says George Goodwin of Senova. “When you consider that its untreated yield is virtually on a par with the treated yield of the country’s most popular oat variety, it highlights what this introduction represents and the breeding progress that has been made.”

Two spring oat varieties, Jacky and Neptun, both from Saaten Union, have also been added to this list. Jacky is the higher-yielding variety, but Neptun has better grain quality.

Winter oilseed rape

Three new hybrids are recommended for the UK. Dompteur from DSV is the highest-yielding variety on the new list, in both the East/West and North regions. It also has resistance ratings of 8 for both light leaf spot and phoma stem canker, as well as having pod shatter and TuYV resistance.

Karat from NPZ UK matches Dompteur for yield in the East/West region and has disease resistance ratings of 8 for both light leaf spot and phoma stem canker. It is moderately resistant to verticillium but is lower yielding in the North region. Tom Yewbrey, managing director of NPZ UK, commented: “We have a long and successful track record in oilseed rape breeding with a strong market presence. Our winter oilseed rape portfolio on the list brings a comprehensive selection to meet growers’ needs.” 

KWS Domingos is slightly lower yielding in both regions and has resistance ratings of 7 for light leaf spot and 8 for phoma stem canker.

Bachus, from Jennaway Consulting, is a new conventional variety with a UK recommendation. It has the highest yields in both RL regions for conventional varieties, with a similar disease resistance package to existing conventional varieties.

LG Clavin CL is a new herbicide tolerant variety that has been recommended for the UK. It is the highest-yielding variety in both regions and has good light leaf spot resistance for this group, but it is susceptible to verticillium (based on limited data).

Crios is a new variety for the North, with a specific recommendation for resistance to the common strains of clubroot. It is not the highest-yielding clubroot-resistant variety in this region, but it has the highest light leaf spot resistance of any variety of this type.

With a yield of 97% and a 7 for light leaf spot, it has the characteristics that farmers in Northern England and Scotland with known clubroot issues are looking for, says Andrew Creasy, RAGT arable technical manager.

“It yields well above the average for a clubroot-resistant variety and just behind the market leader, Crusoe,” explains Andrew. “Crios is early to flower, providing ample opportunity for the crop to set pods right through the canopy in the spring, pushing yields.

“This is combined with a 5 for maturity, meaning the crop doesn’t finish too quickly, ensuring a decent pod fill. It has the growth characteristics to be a big-yielding clubroot variety.”

The online RL 2026/27 tables and comments on new varieties can be accessed via: www.ahdb.org.uk/rl

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