Developers of new varieties must combine flavor, production, and resistance. With the increase in winter temperatures, plant pests and diseases are evolving very quickly. Providing fruit that incorporates protection has become essential.
Seminis Bayer presented its novelties at its Melon & Watermelon event. "This year, we introduced Gallager and Galves in the Cyro Line, which includes all the Galia varieties. All our Galia have the long-life gene so they can have a good post-harvest, and a great taste for consumers," stated José Guirado, head of melon development at Seminis Bayer.
© Lydia González | FreshPlaza.com
"Gallager is perfect for transplanting in April in Cartagena. It is fully resistant and retains the traditional flavor. Galves is for medium to late transplants in Murcia and La Mancha. In addition to basic resistance to powdery mildew and aphids, Galves incorporates very novel resistances in Galia, such as resistance to the New Delhi virus, yellowing virus, watermelon mosaic, and courgette mosaic viruses," Guirado said.
© Seminis Bayer
Acapella, a new Charentais
"Acapella is a Charentais melon for the French market. It is being launched in Spain, Morocco, and France. Acapella stands out for its resistance package and plant vigor. It allows maintaining fruit quality throughout the harvest period," Guirado said. "Traditional Charentais varieties needed a lot of cuts, making labor more expensive. Ours are grouped for harvesting every two days, significantly reducing costs."
Orange Candy, a premium melon
Orange Candy is an Amarillo melon with orange flesh. "We have researched to offer a premium product with optimum organoleptic qualities." This project began 10 years ago and already has three varieties. "It is a unique, very crunchy, and refreshing melon adapted to new consumption trends. It stands out for its flavor as it has 16º Brix on average. It has good post-harvest, especially the last two varieties, which have the long-life gene that increases field endurance and shelf life after harvest," Guirado said.
© Lydia González | FreshPlaza.com
Consumers' taste preferences vary, depending on the country. "In the United Kingdom, consumers prefer the Amarillo. In the Netherlands and the East, they opt for Galia. In Germany, they like both melons. We offer many Galia varieties in our Cyro Line. In Amarillo, I would highlight Chester and Rochester, with smoother skin, for greenhouses in Almeria, and Manchester, with rougher skin, for outdoor production in Murcia. In terms of internal quality, they are similar. We offer supply from mid-April in Almeria until the end of July in Murcia," Guirado stressed.
"SugarSun is our best-known Cantaloupe. It's been commercially available for two years and is very well-established in the market. It is characterized by its strength, hardiness, and plant vigor."
© Lydia González | FreshPlaza.com
Piel de Sapo is still the leading melon in Spain. "In Europe, consumers think that because it is green, it is unripe. In the past, exporters would ship mini formats that were not really minis, so the end consumer received a melon of inferior quality. I think this has worked against it," Guirado said.
In short, "melon consumption is a cultural thing. People are used to consuming a certain type of melon, although young people are more inclined towards more striking colors and flavors, such as Orange Candy or watermelons," he added.
For more information:
José Guirado
Melon and Watermelon Development Manager
Seminis Bayer
Tel: +34 606 25 69 23
Email: [email protected]
www.bayer.com
© Seminis Bayer
© Seminis Bayer
© Seminis Bayer
