Yesterday, producers, marketers, and distributors got to know the characteristics of the Brutal F1 tomato variety that Bayer thinks would help boost the main production zones in Murcia. Bayer experts highlighted the advantages of the Brutal F1 tomato variety at the "Tailor made Solutions" technical meeting, in Aguilas. The Brutal F1 tomato is a very stable variety that mostly offers G-caliber fruits throughout the growing cycle. "It is the most demanded red loose tomato in the market right now," said Ivan Sierra, a tomato specialist at Bayer.
Brutal F1 is an intense red tomato of the canary type, with three to four locules. Each bouquet has about six fruits on average and the plant has a great adaptive capacity, so the Brutal F1 ensures excellent results both in greenhouses and in cultivation under mesh. The variety was introduced commercially in Murcia two years ago. Since then, its presence has continued to increase in Aguilas and in Mazarrón, the two most important growing areas.
In addition to its agronomic characteristics, the Brutal F1 improves the producer's profitability. Based on last year's sales prices in Murcia, the G-caliber's price was 10% higher than the M-caliber's price.
"If you bet on a tomato that offers G-caliber throughout the year, you will earn more money. Only 3% of this variety is discarded so choosing Brutal F1 will be economically beneficial for producers," stated Ivan Sierra.
The Enpower F1 rootstock complements Brutal F1 and it is the most used rootstock in Murcia. This rootstock registers more than 94% of germination in seedlings and the plants obtain up to one more bouquet in long cultivation cycles.
Alternative Crops
During the "Tailor made Solutions" technical day, Bayer experts also proposed growing other types of tomato, such as the Pear and Cherry tomatoes. They presented the Kaspian F1 tomato, a large Pear tomato with a long useful life that is ideal for any type of market destination, be it the national market or the export market. Regarding Cherry tomatoes, the specialists of Bayer advised the producers from Murcia to grow the Sintonia F1 tomato variety, a tasty Cherry tomato that yields up to 16 kilos per square meter.
The Nunhems® brand also presented the Tinkwino F1, a pink tomato with very uniform fruits, intense color and flavor, to diversify the Murcian tomato offer. Tinkwino F1 does not suffer cracking and its fruits are firm and solid. "There is a growing interest in Murcia for pink tomatoes and for new varieties as producers continue to diversify their offer and start trying new things. Our responsibility is to accompany producers so that they successfully complete this process," stated Juan Miguel Agüero, Tomato Product Specialist for Vegetable Seeds in Bayer. Agüero spoke about new trends, tomato varieties, and what consumers will demand in a few years.
Plant Health
The experts also spoke about the latest advice for the prevention of tomato viruses. In particular, Bayer informed attendees about the prevention and control of the sweet cucumber mosaic virus (PepMV), which Is transmitted by contact, irrigation water, and even through the seeds.
Daniel Bellon, from Bayer's Department of Phytopathology, spoke about the demanding control measures that Vegetable Seeds uses in its seed production process to ensure that the plant material that comes to the market is healthy and free of pathologies. In addition, he offered a series of hygiene and work organization protocols to prevent this virus from spreading.
They also spoke about the tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV), which is transmitted by the whitefly. They spoke about how to identify this virus's symptoms, which were identified in the country in the year 2000, as its progression in Spain has been favored by the lack of information and because its symptoms are easily confused with a deficiency of magnesium and nitrogen.
More information:
Product communication
Elvira Vitores
Tel.: (+34) 950 497 776
E-Mail: elvira.vitores@bayer.com
Corporate communication
Carolina Alemany
Tel: +34 96 1965324
E-mail: carolina.alemany@bayer.com