Syngenta US demonstrates vegetable breeding advancements at Woodland, California, research station

• Breeders demonstrate novel features of varieties in trial
• Varieties bred to address current and anticipated production challenges
• Focus on fruit quality ensures growers can meet market needs

Attendees of the recent Syngenta Vegetable Seeds trial event in Woodland, California, had the opportunity to preview new and experimental varieties and observe their performance in the field. During the event, Syngenta representatives showed domestic and international growers and seed resellers how breeding advancements on display will address production challenges and meet market needs.


Watermelon and melon innovations took center stage at the Woodland event, as this site is home to the Syngenta Global Cucurbits Center of Excellence. Research and development conducted at the Center of Excellence help Syngenta bring new offerings to market quickly.

“We are committed to providing solutions to the ever-evolving challenges growers face in the field,” said Javier Martinez-Cabrera, head of vegetable seeds for Syngenta, North America. “We also work closely with our customers and the value chain to anticipate the needs of the market and introduce varieties that appeal to food retailers and consumers.”

Martinez-Cabrera shared some of the highlights from the melon and watermelon trials. “Our Sweet Spring and Sweet Sunrise melon varieties, designed to meet the needs of the Western shipper market, produced strong yields and demonstrated consistent fruit quality. In watermelons, Excursion stands out for its early maturity, creating first-to-market opportunities for growers. With SP-7, our latest evolution in Super Pollenizers, growers can be assured that pollen will be available throughout the growing season to aid in maximizing yield.”

More information about these varieties is below:

Melon

• Sweet Spring – This Harper-type variety features a comprehensive resistance package on key melon diseases, including powdery mildew, Fusarium wilt and melon necrotic spot. It produces fruit with dark orange, firm flesh and a unique flavor profile.
• Sweet Sunrise – Another Harper-type variety, Sweet Sunrise is bred for resistance to cotton aphid to help protect yield and fruit quality. It produces larger fruit with firm, orange flesh and dense netting well-suited for shipping.

Watermelon

• Excursion – This early-maturing watermelon variety reaches maturity up to seven days earlier than other varieties, offering growers a first to market advantage. Excursion produces large, oval-shaped fruit with deep red flesh while offering improved resistance to Fusarium wilt race 1 and Anthracnose race 1.
• SP-7 – This Super Pollenizer™ variety delivers two times more early male blooms that are 25 percent larger than SP-6. It also provides pollen throughout the entire growing season with no competitive effect on the yield of seedless watermelon.

For more information on Syngenta vegetables, visit www.SyngentaUS.com/vegetables. Join the conversation online – connect with Syngenta at www.SyngentaUS.com/social.