Xi19 has shown an excellent yield potential in trials. It is the highest yielding nabim Group 1 variety in treated trials, 8% above Malacca and 10% above Hereward. Xi19 also has a good untreated yield, superior to Malacca and Hereward by 4 - 7%.

Xi19 is suited to all the wheat growing areas of the UK producing consistently high yields in the three HGCA regions.

Xi19 performed particularly well in the main milling wheat growing area in the East of the UK.

Xi19's relative performance improves in situations where it is able to express its high yield potential.

As the site yield potential increased from 6t/ha to 12t/ha there was a corresponding increase in the relative yield of Xi19 from 101% to 104%, demonstrating the variety's ability to exhibit its high genetic potential under fertile growing conditions.

Xi19 has performed well when sown as first or second cereal and tended to produce higher yields on the heavier soil types.

Xi19 has very good overall disease resistance particularly for Mildew (7), Yellow rust (9) and Brown rust (7). Septoria tritici resistance is similar to Malacca and Hereward

Xi19 is a relatively tall variety of medium straw length with large fertile heads giving an impressive crop appearance. Like Rialto, one of its parents, Xi19 is responsive to plant growth regulator (PGR) use and has a similar lodging resistance to Claire when both are treated.

Numerous trials have consistently shown the benefit of a sequential pgr programme on Xi19 with chlormequat alone, applied as either a single or split application, reducing height by about 7%. In sequence with an ethephon based material (e.g. Terpal1) crop height has been some 13% lower than where no pgr was used.

Lodging risk can also be lessened through the use of lower seed rates, later sowing and avoiding early applications of nitrogen, especially where crops are forward or have high tiller numbers.

Xi19 is a hard endosperm wheat with a good Hagberg Falling Number and high thousand grain weight.

Xi19 is likely to gain a full bread-making premium provided that the miller's specifications for protein, Hagberg and specific weight are met. It has been a reliable performer in nabim tests over a number of seasons producing a good combination of high flour yield and excellent flour colour when milled. Both loaf volume and crumb structure in baking tests have been consistently good, similar to Hereward.

In common with all other high yielding varieties, Xi19 has tended to produce a lower than average protein content in official trials (which are not usually managed to produce milling samples) because of dilution of protein by starch. Protein content can by improved by husbandry, particularly nitrogen application, and independent trials have established that it is possible to achieve high yield and 13% protein with Xi19 at nitrogen levels in line with current practice formanaging high yielding milling wheat.

In late autumn sown trials Xi19 maintained its high yield potential and had better standing power, shorter straw and a higher protein content in comparison with the trials sown earlier.

The latest safe sowing date for Xi19 is the end of February, one month later than Malacca and Hereward.