Sugar beet seed SMART NELDA

nematode resistant

Overview
SMART NELDA KWS is a sugar beet variety bred for use within the CONVISO® SMART weed control system with claimed tolerance to beet cyst nematode (BCN).

Key features

• Tolerance to BCN
• Herbicide tolerant variety (ALS tolerant)
• Designed for use as part of the CONVISO® SMART system

Strengths
Recommended for sowing from 2026, SMART NELDA KWS provides growers the option to integrate CONVISO® SMART technology while addressing BCN pressure in fields with a history of tight beet rotations. The BCN tolerance can help protect yield under infested conditions compared with non-tolerant SMART varieties.

Characteristics (tables)
Crop yields
Adjusted tonnes % of C=100% : 89.5
Sugar yield % of C=100% : 89.5
Root yield % of C=100% : 86.4
Sugar content % : 17.2

Bolters per 100,000 plants/ha
Early sowing, before 5 March : 1,218
Normal sowing : 14

Pre-gapping establishment
Control : 97.4

Disease (leaf infection scale: 1 = high leaf infection, 9 = very low leaf infection)
Rust : [6.5]
Powdery Mildew : [5.8]
Cercospora : -

Other claims
ALS (herbicide tolerant) : X
BCN (as claimed by the breeder) : X

Observational trial note
In 2023 observational trials on a BCN-infested field, hand digs showed higher root weights and sugar content; under infected conditions the BCN tolerance is expected to give notable yield protection compared with a non-tolerant SMART variety.

Technical specifications

• Commercial denomination (model): SMART NELDA
• Brand: KWS
• Suitable for CONVISO® SMART weed control system
• Herbicide tolerance: ALS (herbicide tolerant)
• Breeder-claimed tolerance: Beet cyst nematode (BCN)
• Adjusted tonnes (% of control): 89.5
• Sugar yield (% of control): 89.5
• Root yield (% of control): 86.4
• Sugar content (%): 17.2
• Bolters per 100,000 plants/ha (early sowing before 5 March): 1,218
• Bolters per 100,000 plants/ha (normal sowing): 14
• Pre-gapping establishment (Control): 97.4
• Disease ratings: Rust 6.5, Powdery Mildew 5.8, Cercospora -
• First recommended sowing year: 2026