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7 years ago

The Partnership no. 9

  • Text
  • Enza
  • Partnership
  • Zaden
  • Varieties
  • Consumers
  • Herbs
  • Breeding
  • Cultivation
  • Organic
  • Crops

”Year-round production

”Year-round production and supply are an absolute must for the large nurseries” Diseases affecting herbs Many types of herbs that are grown in pots have a short cultivation cycle. Even so, their cultivation also involves risks. Under certain conditions they may be extra-susceptible to infections of leaf, root and stem diseases. Basil, parsley and dill crops, for instance, are frequently affected by Downy Mildew, Fusarium and Septoria. These fungi can cause substantial losses, especially in crops that are grown without chemical control products. And in America the focus is precisely on organic where herbs are concerned. This is less the case in Europe, where organic cultivation is more restricted, resulting in higher cost prices. Herbs in pots must moreover remain vital throughout the sales channel, and for long enough afterwards to allow consumers to enjoy them for some time. Plants that show symptoms of diseases shortly after they have been purchased, making them less attractive or even causing them to die, will lead to disappointment among consumers. Tightened objectives Herbs propagated from seed became an important product group for Enza Zaden in 2001, following the takeover of Julius Wagner, a German breeding company specialising in herbs and other leaf crops. At first the emphasis was on breeding characteristics such as uniformity and an attractive dark green leaf colour. “We made a lot of progress in that field, and put Enza Zaden on the map as breeders of herbs, too,” says Holz. “Around ten years ago we tightened the breeding objectives of several herb varieties to gear them more to the needs of our customers and end users. They want plants with good resistance and year-round homogeneous, reliable production. So we now actively focus on resistance breeding by selecting and crossing specific genetic characteristics that make the plants resistant or less susceptible to common diseases. Important to us are resistance to or tolerance of the most common fungus diseases and tolerance of low temperatures, because in many countries herbs are grown outdoors or in unheated plastic greenhouses. And year-round production and supply are an absolute must for the large, specialist commercial nurseries.” Second generation This focus on genetic resistance has had the desired effect. Holz: “We already have basil and parsley varieties that are resistant to mildew. Last year we officially launched our first Downy Mildew intermediate resistant basil variety on the market with overwhelming success. Eleonora (E09B.11540), as this variety has been named, perfectly indicates the gap in the market for improved herb varieties. Eleonora is a great addition to our basil variety Elidia, that is resistant to Fusarium, which can cause root rot. And we have recently introduced parsley varieties with intermediate resistance to Downy Mildew: Peione and Fidelio.” The Portfolio Manager refers to them as the herb varieties of the ‘second generation’: varieties that still have the attractive colour and a good flavour, and at the same time ensure a more reliable cultivation, and a better shelf life and keeping quality at consumers’ homes. They are ‘so to speak’ a bit more forgiving in conditions that are not ideal, which is the case mostly in the sales channel and consumers’ homes. “The coming years Enza Zaden will continue to steadily expand its range of resistant and tolerant herb varieties for sale in pots,” says Holz. “Those varieties lead to higher yields, fewer product losses at retail outlets and greater satisfaction among end users – all in all major advantages that will support the further growth of this category of products.” RESISTANCE M A K E S THE DIFFERE N C E The breeding efforts of Enza Zaden have resulted in a new generation of herb varieties within the parsley, basil and rucola assortment. These varieties stand out from other varieties when it comes to resistance, shelf life and harvesting. RMTD Portfolio Manager Klemens Holz: “With the special icon we've developed, we can indicate these varieties to our customers. In that way they know immediately which varieties have these special qualities." Enza Zaden employees John Cartwright, Sales Representative, and Monika Bietsch, Assistant Breeder Herbs, on the Herb & Rucola Day 2015 in Dannstadt. The Partnership | 21

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