Low rainfall is no longer a barrier to growing canola with the release of a new high yielding variety from the Department of Agriculture.

The triazine tolerant variety, Tranby was tested as WACAN 2010 and is a replacement for Karoo in the low rainfall areas of the northern agricultural region of Western Australia.

Department researcher Graham Walton said Tranby combined very early maturity similar to Surpass 300TT and short height with triazine tolerance.

Mr Walton said Tranby produced 15 per cent higher yields than Karoo and 13 per cent higher yields than Surpass 501TT in trials in the northern low rainfall region.

He said the new variety was suitable for sowing on more than 100,000 hectares.

“Until now, growers in areas receiving 300-400mm of rainfall have been disappointed with canola particularly in the recent very dry seasons, and did not have a suitable canola option,” Mr Walton said.

“Tranby will provide a good variety choice for those farmers who want to grow canola.” 

Mr Walton said Tranby had a level of blackleg disease resistance similar to Karoo, and acceptable for the low rainfall, warm northern agricultural region.

He said Tranby had a high oil content of 43 per cent and protein of 42 per cent which was higher than Karoo and slightly lower than Surpass 501TT.

Its short height made it suitable for direct harvest.

The new variety was tested through the National Brassica Improvement Program with funding from the Grains Research and Development Corporation and additional funds from the Export Grains Centre.

Mr Walton said seed of the new variety was currently commercially available from the Western Australia Seed Growers Association on phone: 9302 2614 or fax: 9302 2615.