Syngenta is presenting a mini round melon and the first black seedless watermelon under the brand name Zeraim
Piel de sapo is a “strategic reference” for Syngenta, which it is now renewing with a generation that it intends to use to give consumers a crunchier texture without losing the flavour, differing from Sancho or Jimenado, but with a high standard, the result of decades of genetic work, comments Victor Garcia, Cucurbits Product Manager.
The Demo Days were used to present some of these new developments, such as MP 5837 (May transplanting), which combines significant firmness of the flesh and a high sugar level.
Originality also appears in the innovation of shapes and sizes with MP 6130, a round piel de sapo that is being launched as the individual-sized line of melons (1-1.2 KG) with firm flesh and a good sugar level, resistance to powdery mildew, aphids, fusarium and MNSV. With this proposal, “the niche within the niche,” they are intending to create a new category using the round shape of the Galia and the internal characteristics of the piel de sapo, in an attempt to promote the mini piel de sapo on the international markets. And the fact is that in spite of the attempts by the seed companies, the oval-shaped fruit has not obtained the expected results and is only growing slowly.
To round off Airen and Macabeo, they are launching MP6405 and MP6391, with a high sugar content, firm flesh and attractive grooving.
The Charentais range is extended with Salomón (extra early), which complements Tazha and Arpón and is resistant to powdery mildew and aphids. “This year most French producers are going to work with it.”
Zeraim is taking care of the R&D in Yellow melons with the new Party (early and medium in Murcia) and Maillot (late cycle).
In watermelons, Bahama (open air) is launching the new range of black seedless by Zeraim, to which another 3 will be added in 2020.
Syngenta encompasses the remaining watermelon types. In white watermelons, they have completed the size ranges, increasing the flavour standard. For exports, they have new materials such as WDL7113, a midi Sugar Baby triploid with excellent internal quality.
In specialities, Master is the new reference, with an original skin pattern and very eye-catching olive green colour that contrasts with the deep red flesh, followed by Yellow bite, with the size of Bibo and Petite, but with yellow flesh, which is in great demand on the English market.
