Russia - Cucumber breeding developments for the professional market from Syngenta

The most popular vegetable crop in Russia is cucumber. Own cucumber production covers 90% of the country’s needs, and its profitability is very high. No culture can compare to it. Cucumber is grown by professionals and amateurs, for fresh consumption and canning.

The range of cucumbers on the market is very wide. The most popular segment is a short or medium-fruited tuberculate cucumber, which is grown both in open and protected ground. In protected ground with year-round cultivation, a large number of cucumber segments are presented – parthenocarpic smooth medium-fruited and long-fruited cucumbers, as well as medium-fruited tuberculate, both parthenocarpic and bee-pollinated. In recent years, the segment of the parthenocarpic short tuberculate gherkin grown under artificial lighting with lamps has become popular.

Syngenta has world experience in creating cucumber hybrids and adapting them to various climatic conditions. A professional breeding team and vast experience have made it possible to create a range that includes all the main segments for the professional market and various agricultural technologies. Syngenta is distinguished by a strong offer in the segments of parthenocarpic smooth long-fruited and medium-fruited cucumber, smooth mini-cucumber (cocktail), parthenocarpic medium-fruited tuberculate cucumber and gherkin.

For a long time, the Syngenta company in the Russian market was associated with such crops as cabbage, watermelon and protected ground tomatoes. Today Syngenta has launched the process of widespread introduction and development of the cucumber culture in the segment of professional vegetable growing in Russia, and Syngenta is transferring the best results, practices and experience from other countries of the world to domestic soil.

Everyone is well aware of Syngenta's hybrids of parthenocarpic tuberculate gherkin-cucumber for open ground – Ecole F1, Pasalimo F1, and for film greenhouses – Spino F1. Syngenta’s first priority is to showcase its best cucumber hybrids for the professional market, extended circulation and light culture. The first medium-fruited hybrid of Orchestra F1 (pictured above), created for glass greenhouses, is now undergoing state and production tests. Syngenta expects the start of its industrial cultivation at the beginning of 2024. Cucumber is intended for cultivation in traditional culture with sowing no earlier than February. Zelenets at Orchestra F1 is 18-20 cm, which makes it perfect for packaging. The hybrid is very fruitful, with early return of a crop.

In continuation of the selection work on the creation of a medium-fruited cucumber for high trellis and light culture, resistant to the cucumber green mottled mosaic virus (CGMMV), Syngenta offers the latest high-tech hybrid of the Skylux F1 medium-fruited smooth cucumber. The Skylux F1 hybrid is resistant to the virus, its plant is plastic and strong, the length of the green is 20-22 cm, which allows you to get a high overall yield.

In the segment of long-fruited sweet cucumber for light culture, Syngenta offers strong and high-quality hybrids resistant to the CGMMV virus – Viggo F1 (pictured left) and Siriana F1. The Viggo F1 hybrid has a powerful, strong plant with fruits 30-34 cm long. The Cucumber Siriana F1 is a vegetative plant with fruits 28-32 cm and additional resistance to New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV).

Very popular in Russia is the segment of parthenocarpic or bee-pollinated medium-fruited tuberculate cucumber, popularly called ″Asian cucumber″, or ″slicer″.

In this segment, Syngenta offers producers a number of the latest hybrids – parthenocarpic slicer-cucumbers Mirage F1 and Diomed F1. These hybrids will begin to undergo official registration and testing this year. They are perfect for both traditional culture and for lowering and high trellis. Hybrids are distinguished by dark green, durable and transportable greens 18-20 cm long and weighing 160-200 grams. Hybrids Diomed F1 and Mirage F1 are high-yielding and technologically advanced.