VYR’s varietal DON table for oats – interpret with caution

The Grain Industry Cooperation Group (VYR) has published a DON toxin table based on industry grain reception samples.

DON accumulation is influenced by:

• cultivation practices
• variety
• environment
• weather

Variety is only one factor.

Challenges in interpreting reception data:

• regional dominance skews results
• uneven sample numbers
• varietal differences mixed with regional conditions
• varying cultivation practices

Example:
2024 samples of Luukas heavily from high‑Fusarium regions → table does not match Boreal’s own data.

Boreal notes that differences shown between green/orange groups in the VYR table are not as large in reality.

Less sensitive varieties include:

• Inka (consistently strong performance)
• Perttu (low toxin levels in Northern Ostrobothnia)

Boreal has tested DON resistance for years at its own inoculation fields.
Luke will conduct inoculation trials in Ruukki and Jokioinen next summer

Guidelines to reduce Fusarium risk

• keep soil in good condition
• use treated seed
• consider fungicide spraying
• harvest on time
• avoid leaving grain in trailers
• dry + pre‑clean grain thoroughly

Organic growers:

• rely on rotation and break crops
• same principles apply, without chemicals

More information
Boreal Plant Breeding Ltd
Hanna Haikka
+358 50 376 6737
hanna.haikka(at)boreal.fi