A complete range of hybrids is allowing Sakata to set some new standards for its butternut collection.
The company presented its new varieties at the Butternut Conference on the 9th of September in Torre Pacheco (Murcia).
The new references are in direct competition with the best known variety on the market, the Atlas F1. “Currently, we have a range of products that meet all the requirements of the different market segments. The success of the new varieties is based on their high yield, their internal quality, the uniformity of their size and their shape”, Joaquin Navarro, produce promoter for curcubitaceae explained.
Atlas F1 continues to be a reference in the squash world, since it is an excellent fruit with a long production period, an important yield and great versatility for the industry. “However, Sakata has 14 varieties and some of them such as Veenas, Pluto and Ariel are in direct competition with Atlas F1” the company’s representative qualifies.
Some of the parameters that the company considers to be most important in its research, in addition to productivity and resistance, are adding brix, lowering the fibre content to improve the internal quality and conservation and finally, obtaining a deeper colour of the fruit.
Veenas fits in perfectly as an ideal variety for pre-packaging and sale by unit and it adapts very well to warm season harvests, where small and medium-sized fruits are required.
Productivity is always an important parameter for producers and this is where the Pluto variety plays a significant role. It is smaller than Atlas, but with an important setting capacity, good crack resistance and it provides a large harvest. It bears medium-sized fruit and its flesh is ideal for industry and for export.
On the other hand, the Ariel variety allows a percentage of top class fruit to be harvested for foreign markets and it also adapts very well to summer harvests, when medium-sized fruits are required.
