So-called grape tomatoes are the latest breeding venture for Israeli seed specialist Zeraim Gedera.
Named after their size and shape, the tomato will be targeted at the UK, the US, Canada and China.
The fruit is only 27 to 37mm in length and 20 to 25mm in diameter, giving it a slightly elongated shape.
Zeraim’s focus towards grape tomatoes follows an observed global trend towards fruits of this kind, it said.
Within the category, the company is exploring varieties of fruit sizes and shapes, including plum, egg and an ampoule-like pear shape.
In addition it is addressing the possible marketing angles of the fruit from its potential as a snacking or one-bite product to a salad fruit.
“All varieties have the characteristics of high sweetness, less internal liquid and therefore a relatively high level of dry matter,” said Gerry Kelman, Zeraim’s vertically integrated marketing manager.
“Taste remains an important factor in the selection work and while the emphasis is on red tomatoes, developing other colours for the fruit, such as orange, is also being considered.”
Zeraim’s breeding programme focuses both on single-pick tomatoes and cluster types for on-the-vine harvest, with plans for further expansion in the future.
“Future emphasis will be given to a semi-determinate plant for bush cultivation, aimed at reducing production costs by allowing growers to cultivate under less sophisticated field conditions than hi-tech greenhouses,” said Kelman.
“Varieties will be adapted to different growing climates worldwide, for Australia, Italy, Mexico, China and Israel,” he added.
The company is also experimenting with the possibility of improving disease resistance.
In addition to the standard levels of disease resistance, Zeraim Gedera is working hard to incorporate resistance to condition such as tomato yellow leaf curl virus, tomato spotted wilt virus and soil-borne fusarium race 3, which are increasingly prevalent in tomato-growing areas said Kelman.
The company is also expanding its staff and with recent additions in personnel, Zeraim Gedera’s R&D division now includes six tomato breeders.
Covering 10 different breeding programmes, the team is developing products for all major tomato markets.
HEALTHY SEED VITAL TO MEET DEMANDS
MBM seed, a specialist division of MBM Produce, caters for more than a fifth of the UK potato-seed supply market.
Recognising the central importance of healthy seed, MBM has developed an extensive portfolio of varieties, to maintain its reputation for supplying growers with quality seed potatoes.
The company has full control of over 25 mainstream potato varieties, including Accord, Anya, Juliette, Christi, Lady Rosetta and Melody.
While 174 seed potato varieties are listed as available on the Scottish Seed Register for 2004, the changing requirements of the marketplace prompt a continual search for new types.
There is a demand not only for higher yielding varieties but also for a reduction in the level of chemical inputs into production.
Varieties that have a natural resistance to the major diseases such as late blight, potato cyst nematode, blackleg and other viruses will therefore be key to the future of the potato in the food chain, according to MBM.
MBM Seed has an extensive new development programme, which has given rise to several market-leading varieties, including Lady Rosetta, the main crisping variety, and Anya, a unique nutty-tasting salad potato variety.
The programme requires a dedicated long-term investment, however. “Commercial development of new varieties is a slow process and it takes at least 15 years from the initial parent crossing to the commercial production and marketing of a new variety,” said MBM’s technical seed director, Tom Dixon.
All new varieties have plant breeders rights protection for 30 years which incurs a levy to the seed grower for each hectare of seed grown. This levy goes back to the breeder to fund further new variety-breeding programmes.
The company alters its seed management techniques to suit the requirements of different varieties.
“One of the techniques is chronological ageing. An example of the use of this technique is in the production of salad crops which require high numbers of uniform tubers,” said Dixon.
“Carefully managed seed inputs can increase the stem numbers and therefore increase tuber numbers. The process can also work in reverse where the market is looking for a high percentage of larger baker types. In this instance, seed can be managed to produce fewer stems and therefore fewer but larger tubers in the over 65mm size fraction.”
While some conditions affecting high yield and tuber quality, such as weather, soil conditions and fertility, can only be controlled to a limited extent, certain diseases can be prevented.
Skin blemishes, such as silver scarf and black dot, can all be transmitted by infected seed. The use of high quality seed is therefore vital for giving the crop the best start, the company said.
“The area selected for seed production is equally important, particularly in the production of disease-free seed,” said Dixon.
“Traditionally the main seed-growing areas used to be the northern areas of England and Scotland where the climate is colder and more isolated from aphids which are the main vectors of virus transmission.
“Latterly, however, the main seed disease problems have been more related to fungal and bacterial diseases, such as blackleg and powdery scab. To combat these diseases seed production needs to be in the warmer, dryer areas of East England,” he added.
MBM insists that its seed production is monitored by the seed potato classification scheme implemented by Defra. In addition all seed is offered with full traceability and a Seedsecure warranty.
MBM Seed has its own technically advanced hydroponic unit located in Scotland which enables it to multiply limited generation seed rapidly.
The company is also involved in the import and export of seed. Approximately 10 to 15 per cent of its seed requirements are imported, mostly from The Netherlands and France. But this is declining rapidly due to the bacterial disease risk associated with ring rot and brown rot in the Netherlands, it said.
MBM also exports more than 5,000 tonnes of seed from Scotland, Northern Ireland and England to European, Mediterranean and Far Eastern countries.
“There are a number of issues facing the seed potato industry,” said Dixon. “These include the presence of bacterial diseases in Dutch seed, and to a lesser extent, powdery scab in certain varieties from Scotland.
“These coupled with the high quality demands from the retailers, production costs, and the availability of clean land for seed production, all make the supply and production of quality seed potatoes a complex but fundamental requirement.
“We at MBM not only have the necessary expertise and knowledge, but also the resources to meet these challenges head-on and work with our customers and growers to ensure that the seed we supply is right for their needs.”
NIRIT GETS PERSONAL WITH WATERMELONS
Israeli seed company Nirit Seeds has developed a new series of plum and cluster tomato, pepper and watermelon varieties for specialised markets.
In tomatoes, the mini plum 9993, and midi plum 8387, have an excellent taste due to a fine balance between the fruit’s acid and sugar quantities, Nirit claimed.
Both varieties are indeterminate and suitable for harvesting in clusters or as single fruits.
Of the round cherry class, Shani is the most prominent variety. Suitable for harvesting as a single fruit it weighs 20 to 35g, if grown on one stem per plant, or 15 to 25g when grown without pruning.
Shani harvests early, with a long harvest period and is resistant to verticillium, fusarium (F1 and F2), tomato mosaic virus (TMV) and nematode.
With an extensive breeding programme, Nirit has focused on a range of new pepper varieties in recent years. “One of the most important projects we completed was the breeding of special pepper varieties according to local market requirements and tastes,” the company said.
“Our new light pepper varieties have gained great favour with Balkan, Greek and Mediterranean populations.”
Ringo 920, also called Shuska, or sweet banana, is 18cm long and 4cm in diameter, producing a conical shape.
Weighing approximately 120g, it starts off with a light green skin, which changes to red-orange on ripening.
It is sweet, TMV resistant and has vigorous plant growth, with an extended harvest period, said Nirit.
2014 is a light blocky or Californian hybrid. With vigorous plant growth, it has large leaf coverage, high yield and is early harvesting.
It has three to four nodes and weighs 150-180g. Sweet and light green in colour, it is suitable for growth in greenhouses, net houses or the open field and is TMV and potato virus resistant.
Nirit has unveiled a hot or Shipka hybrid variety, suitable for pickling. With wide leaves, a thick light-green skin, a long shape with two lobes and a slightly rounded point, it is a classic Shipka type.
It weighs 14-20g and has resistance to TMV, pepper mottle virus and tobacco etch virus.
“The success of these varieties in the Balkan, Greek and other Mediterranean regions has enabled expansion in other regions, where immigration has increased the consumer population,” said Nirit.
“These three varieties are suitable for different climatic conditions which makes it possible to grow them in varied regions around the world.”
Recognising a consumer demand for smaller watermelons, Nirit has bred what it calls a personal seedless variety.
The watermelon, 999, weighs 2-2.5kg, is round in shape and has tiger-striped skin.
It has a shiny, crisp, red flesh and is tolerant to the diseases, verticillium and antracnose
Nirit said its goal is to continue developing new seed varieties to meet the increasingly diverse needs of its various customers across the globe.
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