When it comes to world-wide production, cauliflower is one of the most challenging products around, claimed leading seed producer Clause Tezier UK.
Seed companies have breeding and selection programmes for various species in different climatic zones, but cauliflower is one of the most challenging products for climate-adaptation, said John Ward, product development and marketing manager.
The company is one of the leading players in its sector, having spent years developing its range of cauliflower and carrot seeds.
“Every year throws up different problems or agronomic challenges with the cauliflower crop, as it is a species that is very susceptible to small changes in climate,” said Ward.
Variations in climate can prove testing for range varieties, which will behave differently from year to year. “These differences will throw up strengths and weaknesses within each variety, that will in turn allow new varieties to be introduced which are better adapted to the zone and its macroclimate, agronomy and market needs,” he said.
Seasonal varieties are produced in different regions across the UK. Summer and autumn yields, from the end of May to mid-November, are grown mainly in Lincolnshire, the north west of England and Scotland, while late autumn and winter yields, from mid-November to mid-March, are grown in climate-modified zones like Cornwall, Kent and south Wales.
Ward said companies are under pressure to produce consistently well-adapted, stable material, within the climatic norms of a particular region. “There is little room these days for varieties that are superb one year and poor the next. Each company is looking for a variety giving a good average result from year to year and the higher that average the better.”
All cauliflower varieties rely on critical combinations of temperature and time for successful growth from the leaf and plant stage to the onset of curd production.
“If the climate goes outside the norm for a region for which the varieties were bred and tested then it can cause either early or delayed harvesting,” said Ward. “This single phenomenon is probably the biggest cause of headaches in the industry, especially when the supermarkets are demanding that a plant behaves like a widget off the shelf and it does the opposite.”
Despite in-built resistance material, breeding programmes are still susceptible to perennial problems like Club Root, although a partial genetic answer has been developed. Other adversities include Cabbage Root Fly, and leaf diseases such as Alternaria, Mildew and White Blister.
In order to satisfy supermarket specifications, Ward said developers of new material must confront three main questions: “Will it ‘face pack’ and have high presentation qualities and cut levels for supermarkets, will it ‘freeze’ and be good only for curding where you need weight, density and structure or will it do both.
“The ideal is that it will do both and be ‘dual purpose’ and flexible when used from a variety of sowing dates.”
In addition he said the freezing industry now requires cauliflower heads to be firm and solid, and the floret sizes to have high recovery rates below the 60mm diameter, with improved, more round floret shapes being as near white as possible.
“This new criteria will give more attractive florets that will cook quickly and evenly, and are more suited to use in a range of frozen formats.”
Since breeders must develop seeds that can consistently withstand variations within each climactic range, the production of new varieties can be a very lengthy process, taking up to 10 years, said Ward. And the danger is that after that time the requirements will have shifted owing to the pace of today’s industry, he added.
Across Europe white cauliflower production is gradually shrinking.
To counter this, various forms of Romanesco cauliflower are being bred and selected to offer a range of year round produce that can provide a new marketing opportunity for cauliflower growers. “Already popular in Italy this type offers real benefits to both the grower and consumer in terms of its longer shelf life, and distinctive flavour and appearance,” said Ward. In addition, Clause Tezier is developing ranges for green, purple and orange cauliflower as well as continuing to improve its white range.
Such innovation has also been seen in carrot seeds, where Clause Tezier was the first to introduce a successful F1 Hybrid Nantes range to the UK market, with Nandor and Ivor varieties, which can yield 100 tonnes per hectare.
In contrast to cauliflowers, carrots are grown in the UK year-round, except for a short period from May to June.
“It’s a remarkable success story for UK growers. They have adapted over the last few years and expanded the period of production to close the import window by using innovative production methods and new regions of production,” said Ward.
“Twenty to thirty years ago the market was supplied by scores of carrot growers - today that number is down to a handful of major large growers and suppliers equipped with the latest in drilling, harvesting and post-harvest technology.
“Perhaps carrots more than any other crop have seen economies of scale driving down the unit cost of production to the point where it would be very difficult for an aspiring young entrepreneur to enter the market.”
Breeders must find genetic material, capable of meeting a range of sowing dates stretching from December to June or even later, which will yield crops from early June to the following May.
Ward said: “This means that the variety must work in summer and autumn and be able to be top lifted, and then it must work from under straw and plastic storage systems and be share lifted, while retaining as much quality as possible under storage from November until about mid-May. This needs a variety that is slow to re-grow but will ‘tick over’ and gain weight while in the storage system.”
Breeders today strive for enhanced uniformity of the carrot roots and stronger, healthier foliage for September and October top lifting, as well as less susceptibility to a range of root foliage, and storage pests and diseases, such as Root Scab and Cavity Spot.
Clause Tezier is continually developing its breeding and selection activity to produce new ranges which can offer the advantages and benefits sought for full season production.
NUNHEMS GETS EMOTIONAL ABOUT FRUIT
“Fruits are like emotions,” is the philosophy behind successful seed producer Nunhems.
The international company has been specialising in melon seeds for more than 20 years and is continually looking for ways to improve consumers’ enjoyment of the fruit.
Claude Guérin, supply chain co-ordinator, said: “Fruits add variety, colour and taste to every dish in the same way that emotions enhance our daily lives.”
Aware of the rise in fruit salad consumption, Nunhems is committed to meeting demand by developing seeds for a variety of melons, which consistently produce fruits of an excellent colour, texture, taste, sweetness and durability.
Magenta cantaloupe is one of the company’s latest innovations, with a deep orange flesh colour. “Magenta melons have a wonderful aroma and orange flesh without any weaknesses, and they can be produced throughout the year,” said Guérin. “For more than three years, our range of Magenta varieties has had a leading position in many different markets, such as Italy, France and the UK.”
He is confident that with the Magenta, Magnat, Magritte and a new, as yet unnamed, variety, the company is offering a year-round dynamic line of appropriately sized products.
Galia is one of the most popular varieties across the world, and is also proving big business for Nunhems. It has already established Solarking and Solarnet as ready-to-eat types and is fast developing additional products.
Last spring, Esmeralda and Estoril entered the market. With their fruity green flesh and small seed cavity, Guérin is confident of continued consumer interest.
“These melons also meet the higher retailers’ requirements, with a very attractive look and the skin is strong enough to prevent softness and to protect its firm and juicy flesh,” said Guérin.
The lesser-known Piel de Sapo variety is proving increasingly popular, with Ruidera, Trujillo and Medellin grown year-round. Nunhems is looking for the same response to its most recent introduction to the market, Hibrix, a form of Yellow Canary, unveiled this winter.
According to the company, a recent market study in France showed that 83 per cent of consumers are steering clear of watermelons due to their daunting size and inconsistent taste.
To generate greater interest, Nunhems has been developing more consumer-friendly types of the fruit. Valdoria F1, which is seedless and Jenny F1, which has small edible seeds.
These are two of the baby watermelon range, which are seeing increasing sales. Guérin added: “The main reason is not only the eating quality - they taste as good as big watermelons such as Boston F1 and Fashion F1, which are seedless - but they are also easier to take home and children love them.”
The company said Boston is now the best selling brand of large melons in the west European market and Fashion is the most popular in Spain.
ORGANIC SEED TRIALS GET GOVERNMENT BOOST
DEFRA has agreed to fund Cambridge-based plant science company NIAB and the Henry Doubleday Research Association (HDRA) to extend organic vegetable and potato trials across the country.
The move spells good news for organic crop producers, who will be involved in regional research which will help them improve harvest reliability and meet the production demands of major retailers.
The funds will enable growers to test a wide range of vegetable and potato varieties on their home soil and monitor results for yield quality as well as pest and disease infection.
Participating growers will host open days for other local producers to spread both knowledge and acreage of organic vegetables and potatoes, enabling more growers to access information on EU-approved organic seed varieties.
Under EU legislation, all organically-grown crops should come from approved organic seed varieties.
Five grower groups across the country are now being sourced and, initially, they will be trialing a wide range of outdoor organic lettuces and spring and autumn varieties of cabbage.
Mike Day, NIAB’s vegetable consultant, said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to extend the trials to growers across the country.
“If organic vegetables and potatoes are to meet consumer demand into the future, it is important that growers are able to be part of the trials process.
“It will help give them the confidence to synchronise harvesting with the peak demand periods of the major food retailers.”
NIAB and HDRA will distribute the seed, compile research results and train operatives to collate data in each of the locations selected by the Soil Association.
The data will be available to all growers on the website of the Centre for Organic Seed Information (www.cosi.org.uk).
Defra has funded organic variety trials for the last 14 years and recently funded the launch of the COSI website.
The website provides performance data on the organic seed already available and publishes trial results as well as offering a forum for updating organic news and legislation.
For further information NIAB also produces a growers’ handbook on organic varieties of vegetables and potatoes. The current edition is being updated and will be available early in 2005.
NIAB and HDRA are currently conducting 18 trials encompassing around 270 varieties of vegetables and potatoes.
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