Syngenta has spent six consecutive campaigns setting the pace in late red California peppers in Almería, where it holds a dominant market share across all production cycles, with particularly strong leadership in the late segment. Far from settling for this position, the company approaches the current campaign with a varietal strategy that Alejandro Pascual, Pepper Product Development Specialist at Syngenta Iberia, defines as “the re-evolution of late peppers”.
Spartanos, the new benchmark for late cycles
This year’s main highlight for Syngenta is Spartanos, a red California pepper variety whose initial commercial sales have far exceeded expectations. Pascual describes it as a variety that combines the best features of already established materials in the company’s portfolio: a compact plant habit with exceptional root strength, standing out from other market references.
The fruits, with G–GG calibre, offer quality comparable to Hokkaido and Saitama, key varieties in its portfolio. In terms of yield, regrowth makes the difference at the end of the cycle, contributing an additional 400–800 g/m², an extra output that can significantly impact growers’ profitability.
This is complemented by a wide transplanting window, from 25 July to 15 August, a strong resistance package including L4, spotted, powdery mildew and nematodes, and a level of adaptability that positions Spartanos as the new central pillar of its late red California portfolio after several years without new developments in this segment.
Cintra set to make a strong entry in late yellow
The other major innovation is Cintra, a yellow California pepper designed for transplanting in the first half of August or even later. Its key attributes include G–GG calibre, excellent on-plant shelf life and the same resistance package as Spartanos.
In a particularly challenging year marked by botrytis and “ghost spot”, Cintra has stood out where other varieties have struggled.
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“It looks set to enter the market strongly,” says Pascual. The variety replaces materials such as Tundra, providing an added level of shelf life that has historically been difficult to achieve in the yellow segment.
Open plant structure against Thrips parvispinus
Syngenta’s portfolio addresses one of the main threats to pepper cultivation in Almería, Thrips parvispinus, with open plant structures that make it more difficult for the pest to establish.
In this regard, notable varieties include Arkonte for mid cycles; Jason for mid-late cycles (20–25 July) and Masami; and Leontes for late cycles.
Looking ahead, Syngenta’s development team is working to diversify its portfolio. On the one hand, with lamuyo-type varieties resistant to powdery mildew; and on the other, with a seedless snack pepper programme that includes resistance to powdery mildew, Tm3 and spotted.
According to the Pepper Product Development Specialist at Syngenta Iberia, if everything progresses as planned, these innovations could be ready within the next two years.
