As the new melon and watermelon season begins, Bayer is expanding its varietal portfolio with four melon varieties that have been highly appreciated by customers, says José Guirado, Market Development Melon Iberia at Bayer.
Within the Galia segment of the Cyro Line range, Bayer presents Galves, a successor to the well-known SV5133MG, offering resistance to powdery mildew, aphids, and additional protection against yellowing virus (CYSDV), watermelon mosaic virus (WMV), and New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV).
“SV5133MG has been the market-leading variety in Murcia and Castilla-La Mancha for over a decade, and now we take a step forward with this new material,” Guirado explains. Recommended for Campo de Cartagena from April 20 until the end of the season and for the entire cycle in Castilla-La Mancha, Galves maintains its predecessor’s traits while offering greater agronomic security through its complete resistance package.
Also within the Cyro Line range, Bayer presents Gallager, designed for April plantings in Murcia. Its standout feature is internal quality, offering a flavor profile closer to a traditional Galia, combined with long shelf life, characteristics highly valued by the distribution channel. “This variety perfectly meets the expectations of a Galia in terms of flavor and quality.”
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In the Orange Candy range, Bayer introduces SVMA6731, intended for late plantings in Cartagena and Castilla-La Mancha, ensuring continuous production with a full resistance package. “With this variety, we offer the same format from Almería to La Mancha, meeting supermarket specifications.”
In the Charentais segment, Acapella is designed for the French market, standing out for its rusticity and a complete resistance package, including powdery mildew, aphids, and, as a first for this melon type, yellowing virus (CYSDV). “Producers have shown great interest, as its plant structure, fruit quality, and longer shelf life set it apart from other market options.” It is recommended for mid-segment Charentais plantings (late February to March 15).
Watermelon: Lunalinda and a New Micro-Seed Pollinator
The growing preference for watermelon over melon has driven Bayer to enhance its investment in this crop. After Lunalinda’s strong performance last season, Bayer anticipates even better results this year.
Lunalinda is a striped, seedless watermelon with uniform sizing (4-6 kg), making it ideal for export. It boasts excellent internal quality, outstanding flavor, and a vibrant deep red color.
In pre-commercial trials, Bayer is introducing the micro-seed pollinator SVWT3052, which will be tested across all growing regions. “We have hit the mark with this material, as it provides abundant flowering during fruit set, an optimal cycle for synchronized harvesting with triploid watermelon, and excellent internal quality without losing firmness.” With a weight of 2.5-3 kg, it perfectly meets market specifications.
In the fresh-cut segment (IV Gama), Bayer remains a leading reference with Durlinda, a super-firm watermelon (6-8 kg) optimized for fresh processing and boasting excellent internal quality. This year, demand has exceeded forecasts. “We believe the fresh-cut market is making a definitive leap forward.”
Looking Ahead to Melon & Watermelon Week
With a commitment to continuous improvement, Bayer continues to develop new varieties, which will be showcased at Melon & Watermelon Week in Murcia during weeks 26 and 27.
