Zeraim’s recently launched black seedless watermelon range and its new Piel de Sapo generation (and flavour), two keys for its melon and watermelon offer
The Demo Days Melon & Watermelon by Syngenta will take place at the company’s Research Farm in Torre Pacheco (Murcia) from the 26th to the 28th of June. Three days when the team will show its developments in the field and will also carry out an interesting conference during the afternoon of the 27th with top level professionals who will talk about the sector’s trends.
This time, visitors will be able to see the entire range of Syngenta’s crops on an international scale, with references and varieties in pre-introduction in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Víctor García, Product Manager for Cucurbits, summarises some of the materials that will be on display during the Demo Days.
Watermelon
The Zeraim brand’s new range of black seedless watermelons will be launched with Bahama (open air), which is on sale this year and 2 or 3 varieties in a development phase to be launched next year will also be revealed.
With Syngenta, they encompass the other types. Thus, in the white seedless watermelon range, they have solutions spanning from the mini size (1.8-2.3 kg) to large (6-8 kg). There will be no shortage of examples such as Bibo, Red Jasper, Kasmira or Prestige (4 kg) for export. “We already have the entire range available; we have completed the range,” García points out.
For fresh cut, ultra-firm red-fleshed materials will be on show, and to give a touch of colour there will be a new reference with yellow flesh.
With regard to the Crimson type, García explains that they are working very well in Italy, Portugal and Morocco, where some of their materials are the benchmark. These will also be on show in the fields. All of this, alongside the new SP7 disposable pollinator.
There are also new developments regarding diversification. “In mini seedless, we are developing a yellow-fleshed variety and we are also working on a midi line (3.5-4.5 kg) to meet the market’s demands. In this case, the genetics from Red Jasper and Kasmira have been used, reducing sizes in line with export requirements.
Melon
Syngenta has been a reference in Piel de Sapo melon flavour with Airen and Macabeo and it wants to continue to be so with its new genetics. “The market is asking for firmer flesh and fruits with a longer post-harvest and we have to offer it varieties which, while meeting these premises, do not give up their flavour.” And he advances, “it will be a new type of flavour.”
Reduction in size and innovations in shape, such as the round Piel de Sapo, are other surprises awaiting visitors to the Demo Days.
In the Canary Yellow melon block, developed by the Zeraim brand, the latest development is MY8128, a late melon with resistance to powdery mildew. Examples may also be seen that are references in Morocco, where they are leaders in this segment.
For French Charentais, the options presented are Salomón, Tazha and Arpón, alongside 4 or 5 new varieties; whilst in the Italian-American line, they will show varieties such as Zen (reference); without forgetting Ananas and Turkish melon materials. An endless supply of options where, as always, the master lines of their R&D will prevail: flavour, resistances and originality.
