RGT Planet
• Reliable yielding spring barley
• Dual-purpose feed and malting barley
• Consistent yield performance across all growing regions especially the lower North Island
• Good straw strength compared to other cultivars
Description
RGT PLANET is a high yielding feed barley variety, bred in France by RAGT and developed in New Zealand in conjunction with Seed Force Ltd as head licensee and PGG Wrightson Grain (PGW Grain).
Yield
SY TRANSFORMER has high yield potential under all grain growing environments but has excelled under ‘normal’ conditions where it yields more than other barleys. It is one of the highest yielding varieties in both the FAR autumn and spring sown trials when looking at the 4 year means, showing consistency across years and environments.
| CPT RGT PLANET grain quality (4 year mean) |
Canterbury (Autumn) |
Southland (Autumn) |
Lower NI (Spring) |
Canterbury (Spring) |
Southland (Spring) |
| Kernel weight (1000 seed weight) | 51 | 50 | 58 | 55 | 57 |
| Test Weight (kg/hl) | 63 | 63 | 63 | 64 | 64 |
| Protein content (%) (N% x 5.7) | 11.3 | 12.7 | 11.9 | 11.8 | 12.9 |
| Screenings (%) | 4.5 | 6.3 | 2.1 | 3.2 | 4.2 |
RGT PLANET produces a rare combination of yield and excellent grain quality.
Time of drilling
SY TRANSFORMER has proven itself in autumn and spring conditions so has a wide sowing window from May right through to
late October and beyond. Growing conditions and yield potential always dictate PGR requirements, and even though
SY TRANSFORMER has a stiff straw it will benefit from a moderate PGR programme especially in the autumn and in very high
growth environments.
Speed of development
| Month Planted | Typical heading dates for RGT PLANET in Canterbury |
| Mid May | Late October - Early November |
| Mid August | Mid November |
| Mid Setptember | Late November |
SY TRANSFORMER has an intermediate development rate for harvest maturity.
Seed rate and tillering characteristics
SY TRANSFORMER is a medium to high tillering variety, and target plant populations should be within the standard PGW Grain barley seed rate guidelines. Work done by Cropmark Seeds Ltd has shown yields are maximised by targeting 175-200 plants/m2 in the autumn.
Soil type, rotation and geography
SY TRANSFORMER can be planted on all soil types where barley is already grown and can be grown as a first or second-year cereal. As a second-year cereal, barley is generally more take-all tolerant than wheat, however, yield will be lower than a first year barley crop.
Disease resistance
SY TRANSFORMER has intermediate resistance to scald and leaf rust, and is mostly resistant to net blotch and powdery mildew. Considering this disease profile, SY TRANSFORMER will need a moderate fungicide programme to focus on scald, leaf rust and Ramularia from autumn sowings, and leaf rust from late spring sowings. In PGW Grain agronomy trials (2022/23), SY TRANSFORMER produced a moderate untreated yield and fungicide responses of 2.4–5.6 t/ha and 2.1–2.8 t/ha from an autumn and spring sowing, respectively. Please contact your local PGW Representative for site specific recommendations.
Disease resistance results:
| Disease | PGW Disease Nursery ratings (9 highly resistant, 1 highly susceptible) |
| Scalf | 6 |
| Net blotch | 5 |
| Leaf rust | 4 |
| Powdery mildew | 8 |
Straw strength and height
SY TRANSFORMER is a medium height cultivar with moderate to stiff straw. Autumn sowings will require a robust PGR
investment, especially under irrigation. In spring, this cultivar will still require a moderate to high PGR programme to prevent
brackling and maintain high yields. The actual programme is determined by a combination of local conditions, management
and yield potential. As with any cultivar, do not apply PGR if the crop is under any form of stress. Please contact your local PGW
Representative for site specific recommendations.
