1. Home
  2. Cereal Seeds
  3. Feed Triticale
  4. Ristretto

Ristretto Feed Triticale

Ristretto product logo

• Very high yielding, slow maturing feed triticale
• Consistent second-year cereal performance due to excellent take-all tolerance
• Mid-tall variety with good standing power
• Market leading disease resistance for triticale

Description

RISTRETTO was bred by Lantmännen SW Seed AB in Sweden and further developed in New Zealand by PGG Wrightson Grain (PGW Grain). Triticale is a cross between wheat (triticum) and rye (secale) that combines the robustness and hardiness of rye with the yielding ability of wheat.

Yield

In PGW Grain trials, RISTRETTO has consistently shown very high yields as a first and second-year cereal in irrigated trials. In 2023/24 FAR second-year wheat trials RISTRETTO was the standout performer, averaging 11.7 t/ha versus wheat ranging 9.7 t/ha to 11.1 t/ha. It has also proven itself in PGW spring sown trials for the past two seasons outperforming Cochise.

Ristretto data
Ristretto data

PGW RISTRETTO Canterbury grain quality (2023-24 season)

Autumn

Spring
Kernel weight (1000 seed weight) 61 58
Test weight (kg/hl) 73 71
Protein content (%) (N% x 5.7) 11.1 11.1
Screenings (%) 0.2 0.8


RISTRETTO is more susceptible to sprouting than wheat. Therefore, RISTRETTO should be prioritised over other cereals at harvest.

Market

RISTRETTO is a feed triticale which mainly supplies the pig feed market within New Zealand. Protein levels tend to sit between 9% and 11%. Contracts are advised when growing feed triticale in order to guarantee a market for the crop.

Time of drilling

RISTRETTO has an optimum drilling window between early May and late July but has the ability to be drilled through to mid-August and still generate impressive yields. RISTRETTO can be planted earlier, but this may result in excessively bulky crops and a higher risk of frost damage as observed in the 2023/24 PGW Grain sowing rate and date trial.

Speed of development

Month planted

Typical heading dates for  RISTRETTO in Canterbury
Mid May Early-mid November

RISTRETTO is an early mid-season grain cultivar with intermediate maturity.

Seed rate and tillering characteristics

RISTRETTO tillers profusely, so seed rates need to be reduced especially, when sowing early. Please refer to the triticale seed rate guidelines provided by PGW Grain (pg 5). The 2023/24 PGW Grain sowing date and rate trial confirmed these guidelines to be optimum for RISTRETTO.

Soil type, rotation and geography

RISTRETTO is suitable for all New Zealand winter cereal growing regions, including dryland and irrigated sites. RISTRETTO has a very high yield potential and often outperforms feed wheat, especially as a second-year cereal. This is due to its disease resistance genes from the rye parentage.

Disease resistance

RISTRETTO has a good disease resistance profile, being mostly resistant to foliar diseases, with the exception of seedling stripe rust. Considering this disease profile, RISTRETTO can be grown with a reduced fungicide programme as long as the crop is monitored regularly for disease changes, especially seedling stripe rust. In the 2023/24 PGW Grain fungicide trial, RISTRETTO displayed an average yield response of 3.0 t/ha under low to moderate fungicide programmes. Please contact your local PGW Representative for site specific recommendations.

Disease resistance results:

Disease

PGW Grain disease nursery ratings
(9 highly resistant, 1 highly susceptible)
Stripe rust 8/6*
Leaf rust 9
Septoria leaf blotch 9
Powdery mildew 9

Note: * 8 is resistance as an adult; 6 seedling rating

Straw strength and height

RISTRETTO is a mid-tall cultivar with strong standing power. However, the use of plant growth regulators (PGRs) is generally recommended with RISTRETTO responding well, especially to a split application (PGW Grain PGR 2022/23 trial). The actual programme is determined by a combination of local conditions, management and yield potential. As with any cultivar, do not apply if the crop is under any form of stress. Please contact your local PGW Representative for site specific recommendations.
Click here to download this information