Losses from shattering canola can be devastating, but there’s a way to fight back. Pod DefendR®-rated canola gives you durable shatter tolerance in the field, thanks to BrettYoung and our breeding partner, DL Seeds.
Pod Shatter vs. Pod Drop
Pod shatter is a natural mechanism for seed dispersion and is influenced by genetics, weather and the environment. These factors can create conditions for significant pod shatter at maturity, leaving a lot of seed (and profits) on the ground. Pod drop happens when environmental conditions (like drought) causes the peduncle, the structure which attaches the pod to the stem, to become brittle and full pods can break off the plant during high winds.
Pod shatter and pod drop occur when plants are stressed. The Canadian canola industry has a recommended rating scale for pod shatter, but nothing exists to rate a hybrid’s pod drop. Pedicel attachment strength plays an important role in pod drop and is being investigated further.
Screening for Pod Shatter Resistance
DL Seeds has 2 main tests for evaluating pod shatter resistance:
- In-the-field wind mimicking: DL Seeds’ researchers use high-speed leaf blowers to mimic excess wind on plots for a set amount of time. From there, they give the hybrid a rating from one to nine, with one being poor for pod shatter tolerance and nine being the best. Those numbers coincide with a scale created by the Canola Council of Canada, where a hybrid pod shatter rating of eight is the gold standard for pod shatter tolerance.
- Random impact test: During this test, DL Seeds collects pods off mature canola plants and uses an indoor random impact test machine with an oscillating shaker and ball bearings to see how much impact it takes to shatter the pods. From there, a pod shatter reduction index is given to each hybrid for analysis.
From these tests, hybrids are taken field-scale to learn about growers’ experiences and how the hybrids are handled.
Pod DefendR®
With a Pod DefendR-rated hybrid, you can enjoy the flexibility of delayed swathing and straight cutting, meaning you can worry less about suffering pod shatter losses.
BrettYoung currently has six products with Pod DefendR-rated shatter tolerance:
- BY 7206LL
- BY 7204LL
- BY 7202LL
- BY 6223TF
- BY 6217TF
- BY 6211TF
Products with the Pod DefendR designation must score a minimum of 7.0 on the Canola Council of Canada’s pod shatter rating scale.
FAQ
What is the difference between pod shatter and pod drop in canola?
Pod shatter is when canola pods naturally open at maturity due to genetics, weather or environment, causing seeds to disperse and potentially be lost. Pod drop happens when environmental conditions like drought make the attachment of pods to the stem brittle so the entire pod breaks off during events like high winds.
How does the Canadian canola industry measure pod shatter resistance?
The Canadian canola industry uses a rating scale for pod shatter tolerance, where hybrids are rated from one to nine. A rating of eight is considered the gold standard for pod shatter tolerance.
What methods does DL Seeds use to test canola hybrids for pod shatter resistance?
DL Seeds uses two main methods: an in-the-field wind mimicking test with high-speed leaf blowers to simulate excess wind and a random impact test where harvested pods are placed in a machine to see how much force it takes to cause shatter.
What benefits do Pod DefendR-rated canola hybrids offer farmers?
Pod DefendR-rated hybrids allow farmers the flexibility to delay swathing and use straight cutting, reducing worries about losing seed due to pod shatter.
Which canola products from BrettYoung have Pod DefendR-rated shatter tolerance?
BrettYoung offers six Pod DefendR-rated hybrids: BY 7206LL, BY 7204LL, BY 7202LL, BY 6223TF, BY 6217TF and BY 6211TF.
Is there a rating scale for pod drop in canola hybrids?
Currently, there is no rating system for pod drop in canola hybrids, although pedicel attachment strength is being studied further.
