This autumn brought an additional challenge for lettuce producers. The latest nominated Downy Mildew strain, Bl: 41 EU, has made its appearance in Spain, causing significant damage. “It wasn’t present here until now, but it has arrived with great force,” explains Carlos del Espino, Lettuce Account Manager at BASF | Nunhems. This issue compounds another problem increasingly prevalent across the summer and autumn seasons: Fusarium Fol:1 and Fol:4.
The good news from BASF | Nunhems is that all new developments and updates in their portfolio include resistance to these challenges, and “97% of the commercial materials we offer also have these resistances.” Additionally, the company focuses on robustness, ensuring crops are better equipped to handle diseases, rot, and other issues. “We’re all exposed to these problems, and the solution lies in developing hardy, easy-to-manage varieties.”
A Broad Range of Solutions
As showcased at the Nunhems Demo Salads event at their La Palma research center, BASF | Nunhems is expanding its range to offer multiple varieties suitable for all growing seasons. These options are “clear and competitive,” all featuring resistance and the high-quality standards the company is known for.
Iceberg Lettuce
Their Iceberg portfolio covers all growing seasons with five varieties:
Puria* (Nun 01331) for early autumn.
Mulana* (Nun 01343) for autumn.
Salazara* (Nun 01339) and Ortuna* (Nun 01354) for winter.
Tratora* (Nun 01352) for spring.
All these varieties come with a complete resistance package and outstanding robustness.
Romaine Lettuce
For high-density crops, with dual suitability for export and domestic markets, BASF | Nunhems offers:
Inveral for early autumn.
Nun 06414 LTL for autumn and winter, a highly flexible and adaptable variety currently in development.
RO 18 LTLº for the autumn-to-spring transition.
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For mini Romaine, varieties like Alobee*, Marabee*, Winbee, and Queenbee cover the entire growing calendar. These stand out for their excellent resistance to Downy Mildew and their reliable performance.
Little Gem Lettuce
The standout variety is Themes, offering complete resistance, robustness, ease of handling, and excellent post-harvest performance. Despite being nearly a decade old, it has seen significant growth over the past three years. “It’s very versatile, highly rewarding, and flavorful.”
