Current trends in the melon market require offering a good taste quality (flavour, aromas and flesh firmness) that motivates the consumer to come back for more, but with a good shelf life and field production, which is what producers and distributors demand. Syngenta already has the leading varieties in terms of flavour, aroma and flesh firmness, so it is using this knowledge to create new varieties with more resistance, greater production, better shelf life and new formats.
Following this line of work, Syngenta has just launched the Airen variety (MP5086) Piel de Sapo; a long life melon adapted to open ground cultivation, with a high-yield and an excellent flavour and shelf life. The Airen stands out for an excellent plant health, with good vigour throughout the whole cycle; a highly firm fruit and high sugar level, a great resistance in the field and a very good post-harvest. Moreover, it has intermediate resistance to Aphis gossypii and to powdery mildew (Px 1, 2, 3, 3.5, 5), as well as high resistance to Fusarium and Melon Necrotic Spot Virus (MNSV).
This new variety has already been included in the new catalogue of melon and watermelon varieties for Castile-La Mancha and Extremadura, which was also presented at this event and which features leading varieties in the different market segments. For early melons, Syngenta offers the Hilario and Velasco; for mid-season plantations, the range includes the Sancho, Batidor and Airen, while for later plantations the right choice is the Mendoza. All of these are highly appreciated for their taste and flesh quality, which makes consumers look for them and repeat. The catalogue also includes Syngenta's watermelon range for these areas, such as the sugar baby (diploid) Augusta, the triploid watermelons "jubilee" Trix Paula and Kasmira, and the mini watermelon Bibo.