A joint open day with Southern Seed, a Sicilian seed company, and Progene Seed, a company specializing in breeding. The event aimed at promoting a vast range of products suitable for the Mediterranean climate.
The varieties on display: Giovì light green zucchini, Buzz premium cherry tomatoes, Datterì midi plum tomatoes and Tokyo medium-sized cherry tomatoes.
A sizeable display welcomed the numerous visitors who reached the Southern Seed facility in Scoglitti (RG) for the occasion. The display featured around 30 products including tomatoes, bell peppers, zucchini and eggplants.
Display with the main varieties from the two companies Southern Seed and Progene Seed. (Click here for the photo gallery)
Light green zucchini
The greenhouse display was entirely dedicated to Giovì F1 light green zucchni. The variety is characterized by rustic and vigorous plants, which are open making it easy to locate fruits during harvesting. Another important characteristic are the short and regular internodes. Good adaptability to long cycles. Fruits are cylindrical and slightly club-shaped.
Giovì F1 in the greenhouse
Thanks to the thick epicarp, Giovì is very resistant to handling, which also means operators can use various types of packaging, especially those destined to the big retail chain.
A moment during the visit to the greenhouse
Medium-sized cherry tomatoes
A second greenhouse was dedicated to a few recent tomato varieties: Tokyo F1, Buzz F1 and Datterì F1. Let's start with Tokyo F1, a bright red cherry tomato variety with medium-sized berries weighing around 15/18 g. This variety is characterized by an excellent flavor and a high resistance to cracking. Bunches are made up of 18-20 fruits and are homogeneous and visually appealing.
Tokyo F1 cherry tomatoes
The Brix level is good, while the shelf-life is in line with the more modern criteria of the chain. The variety is suitable for fall/winter transplants, i.e. for long cycles. Plants are rustic and vigorous, they boast short and regular internodes and are easy to manage. Good resistances:: HR for FF; Fol1-2, ToMv; IR for TyLCV, Ma, Mi, Mj.
Above: great interest for the varieties on display
Premium cherry tomatoes
A lot of people attended, although they were staggered due to reasons linked with Covid. There were a lot of producers from the processing industry, as well as nursery gardeners and retailers.
Buzz F1: the sweet berries have very short grades.
Buzz F1 cherry tomatoes are very sweet and small, as they weigh only 6-8 grams. The flavor is excellent thanks to an exceptional balance between acids and sugars. The product is therefore destined to the high-end market.
Buzz F1 on plants
Bunches are uniform and elegant and are made up of 18-20 fruits. Berries are deep red. The variety is suitable for fall/winter transplants, i.e. for long cycles. Plants are rustic and with a good vigor. Internodes are short and the leaf coverage is good. Excellent setting. Resistances: HR: Ff, Fol 1-2, ToMV; IR: TYLCV, Ma, Mi, MJ; plus good resistance to cracking.
Breeders Annamaria Di Noia and Vincenzo Cassibba
Plum tomatoes
Datterì F1 plants are very rustic and easy to manage, with a good vigor, indeterminate development and good leaf coverage. Bunches are long and regular in the upper trusses as well, rachises are robust and the berries are well distributed. Berries boast a firm, crunchy and flavorful flesh and their weigh is between 16 and 18g. Resistances: HR: Fol 1-2; ToMV; IR: TYLCV; Ma, Mi, Mj.
Salvatore Cassibba, administrator of the two companies. (Click here for the photo gallery)
"Southern Seed and Progene Seed continue to invest significant resources in genetic research and varietal development. Approximately 30% of the turnover is invested in R&D to support activities both in highly-qualified companies as well as in laboratories and research stations. It is an effort to remain competitive in such a dynamic, hyper-specialized and competitive sector," explained Salvatore Cassiba, administrator of both companies.
For further information: 
Salvatore Cassibba
Southern Seed Srl
Via Carlo Alberto, 124
97019 Vittoria (RG)
+39 0932861054
info@southernseed.it
www.southernseed.it
Progene Seed s.s.a. 
+39 0932871409
info@progeneseed.com
www.progeneseed.com