Have Hybids come through CS Flea Beetle attack better than conventionals

[snarling bee]

There is some local anecdotal evidence that Hybrid OSR varieties have 'weathered' the CSFB larvae attack better than conventionals. I have a crop of Popular (a hybrid) next to a field split between 3 conventional varieties, and it seems to be less affected by the larvae. It is certainly not scientific, but have others noticed any difference.
We have had up to 20 larvae a plant in some places and those patches will not be worth combining other than to chop the 'crop' up. Those same patches were 8" high and healthy in early November.

 

[Shutesy]

I would say so yes, we drilled 25 acres of Avatar hybrid OSR and we stil have all 25 acres and its looking well. We also drilled 95 acres of Picto conventional OSR, one 30 acre field is now spring beans and one 50 acre field now has 35 acres of spring rape in it so we have 30 acres of Picto left and 55 acres in total starting from 120 drilled. Thats damage caused last autumn rather than larvae in the plants, havent compared numbers in that sense. This autumn dropping acreage to 70 and gowing with DK Extrovert for early vigourous growth!

 

[CORK]

Very interesting guys.

A number of questions which come to mind..

If the pest had only the hybrids to choose from, would they have attacked them badly?
My gut tells me that the hybrids were just able to grow away from the damage better than the conventionals because more than one variety of hybrid is mentioned.

 

[snarling bee]

That's exactly what I am hearing, but wanted to know if others had found the same.