Seminis, Bayer's seed brand, held its latest edition of Melon & Watermelon Week (from June 29 to July 8), in which the leitmotiv was sustainability, something that they say is increasingly on the lips of consumers and, therefore, retailers and the entire value chain, including seeds.
"Sustainability cannot be understood individually but rather transversally throughout the chain. Seed houses are the beginning of the chain and must collaborate in this effort. Our varieties have a basic resistance package against diseases such as powdery mildew and pests such as aphids. That together with the good root system they have means that they require less fertilizer and phytosanitary treatments,” stated Juan Francisco Martinez, Head of Chain at Bayer Seminis.
The multinational presents novelties in yellow melon for outdoor production, yellow melon with orange pulp, long-shelf life Galia, and cantaloup.
The company has the largest market share worldwide of the long-shelf life Galia melon and it continues to work on expanding the Cyroline range. They presented the SVMG1006 pre-commercial variety, thus complementing the Albizu and Galvir varieties, which were presented two years ago. The new variety is designed for extra early outdoor growing in Murcia.
“Galia's global portfolio allows us to offer a 365-day-a-year supply of good tasting, good quality products that have organoleptic consistency, which make us leaders in this segment. In addition to offering a long shelf life, our products also have greater flavor, pulp firmness, and greater aroma. Like the other varieties in this range, this new Galia, SVMG1006, offers resistance to powdery mildew and 3.5 race, and aphids among other diseases," stated Jose Guirado, head of melon development at Bayer Seminis.
"Supermarket chains can better plan their campaigns by having more room for maneuver thanks to our product's long shelf life and thus generate less waste," he added.
Another novelty, which they had already spoken about in the last edition of the Melon and Watermelon Week, is their new yellow melon that already has a commercial name: Manchester, for late transplants in Murcia and La Mancha. It is also the first Yellow Semini melon with resistance to powdery mildew and aphid. Manchester thus completes the production cycle of yellow melon in Spain, as there is already Chester, a leader in the greenhouses of Almeria, and Rochester, for late crops in Almeria. “It is characterized by a good internal quality, its rough skin, strong endurance in the field, and excellent post-harvest,” stated Juan Francisco Martinez.
The yellow melon with Orange Candy pulp stands out among the specialties, to which SVMA6558 was recently added, a very versatile variety adapted to plantations in Almería, Murcia, and La Mancha, and with resistance to powdery mildew and aphid.
"This variety with resistances is contributing to the growing demand for seeds of this type of melon. Now, as a novelty, it could only be produced in Spain. However, we've managed to adapt it to the production areas of Brazil, Senegal, and Central America to have a supply 365 days a year. Its main destination market is the United Kingdom, followed by the Netherlands, and Scandinavian countries," stated Jose Guirado.
The company also continues to devote investment and development to Dino-type varieties, which are still in the pre-commercial phase. "They are increasingly fashionable because of how they are marketed, as some chains market them as ‘dinosaur egg’, which really attracts children," stated Juan Francisco Martínez.
"We'll continue to work on new flavors and textures as long as the melon is productive and profitable for producers. To do this, it's essential that they are resistant to diseases," Jose Guirado stated.
For more information:
Bayer – Crop Science
Monsanto Agricultura España, S.L.U.
Ctra. Nacional 301, Km 432
30319 Miranda - Murcia.Spain
M: +34 636 364 926
melissa.diquezdiaz@bayer.com
www.bayer.com