The current campaign is delivering very positive results for Syngenta’s zucchini segment in Spain. This is highlighted by Víctor García, Portfolio Lead Cucurbits in Iberia, who points to a strong pricing year for growers, particularly during the winter cycle.
“Varieties such as Zeus ND and Heracles ND perform when the market needs them most: high yields during peak price periods, good plant health, strong performance under rainfall and uninterrupted production capacity,” García explains.
The result is solid profitability for growers working under the ND Protected umbrella.
Two new developments for the winter cycle
This year, Syngenta is introducing two new references to its portfolio. The first, SCVE 22-2204, was presented in December and has received very positive feedback from growers. One of its key innovations is its longer peduncle, which detaches easily, simplifying and speeding up harvesting.
From an agronomic perspective, it stands out for its upright growth and open plant structure, facilitating trellising and reducing labour requirements without stressing the plant. Resistance to powdery mildew and New Delhi virus complete its profile.
The second new variety is SCVE21-0840, designed for mid-winter as a complement to Heracles ND. Its distinguishing feature is its very fast and concentrated production during the coldest months, a trait highly valued by growers.
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Positioned for planting between late October and December, it offers resistance to powdery mildew and New Delhi virus, along with very good post-harvest performance, enabling it to withstand temperature fluctuations when transitioning into warmer spring conditions.
In terms of plant characteristics, its vegetative development makes it particularly suitable for organic production, while its yield and quality are very close to Heracles ND. As with the entire portfolio, fruits stand out for their gloss and dark colour.
Next challenge: early autumn
In terms of planting dates, the range includes: Eolo ND, Fausto ND, Delfos ND and SCVE 22-2204, alongside Zeus ND, SCVE21-0840 and Heracles ND.
Syngenta currently leads in late autumn, winter and part of the spring cycles, and is now focused on completing its portfolio with varieties for early autumn (August transplanting).
