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BASF enlarges its lettuce portfolio with more resistant varieties to cover the entire cycle
Between 15 and 19 February, BASF is holding a new Lettuce & Spinach Demo Field event at itsfacility in La Palma in Cartagena (Murcia) to showcase its new varieties and concepts in differenttypes of lettuce and spinach. Observing strict hygiene and safety measures, technical and salesmanagers will be on hand to conduct personalized tours with clients as well as holding virtualmeetings on request.
Once again, this year the BASF agricultural seeds division is organizing its Demo Field around aseries of concepts which address current and future consumer needs. These concepts are groupedinto four main sections: Taste and Appearance, uniting pleasure and flavour; Technology, focusedon production efficiency solutions and including a strong commitment to mechanical harvesting;The Chef’s Lettuce, featuring varieties for use in the kitchen in sandwiches, burgers and snacks;and finally, Convenience, with user-friendly varieties that promote a healthier diet.
BASF is introducing new varieties in the different types of lettuce which meet a triple objective: completing the growing cycle in Spain, providing added resistance, and offering more versatilevarieties, explains Carlos del Espino, Lettuce Account Manager at BASF.
Theras* and VS15**, a new variety currently in development, are the new Little Gems, the formerfor an autumn-winter cycle and the latter for spring. Both are resistant to mildew and aphids andsuitable for double purpose; in other words, thanks to their easy leaf removal they are ideal for saleeither loose or as hearts. With these two new varieties, BASF continues to round off a range thatalready boasts Thicket* and Thespian, two extremely versatile Little Gems that cover the wholeproduction cycle.
In the Mini Romaine range BASF is launching two new varieties: VS73**, in red (currently indevelopment), and NUN 06574*, in green. The former is recommended for late autumn and winterplantings, while the latter has a longer cultivation calendar: late autumn, winter and early spring.Both stand out for their excellent shape and colour, which in the case of the red VS73** varietyeven reaches its innermost leaves, as well as being resistant to mildew and aphids. Meanwhile,Winbee* is the BASF variety for late winter and spring cultivation, being notable for its excellenttolerance to tip burn.
Romaine lettuces for every market
BASF remains committed to varieties such as Glamoral and Sideral, both of which are adapted tohigh-density growing and whose size and weight makes them ideal for the export market. They arejoined this year by NUN 06263*, a Romaine lettuce for autumn growing in a slightly larger sizewhich, like its predecessors, also boasts an excellent performance.For the domestic market the new variety is Boratal*, “a traditional Romaine lettuce” for wintercultivation which stands out for its high tolerance to tip burn and bolting.
More resistance and a better shape
These are the goals that BASF is pursuing with its Iceberg lettuces, constantly striving to improvethese aspects along with quality in its new varieties. This year the company is introducing threenew options to round off the growing cycle: Goldiva (autumn), Segobia* (winter) and Recilia*(winter and spring). All of them have a good size and formation, as well as resistance to mildewand aphids.
In the case of Segobia*, it performs well against big vein disease, while Recilia* stands out for itsversatility. “This is a variety which can be grown at different times of the year and in differentgrowing areas, and in all cases results in a uniform, high quality product,” explains Del Espino.
At present BASF has several tests underway aimed at continuing to offer the market varietieswhich cover the entire season and fulfil the company’s three demands for this type of product:calibre, quality and resistance.
New challenges in the spinach range
BASF has a broad portfolio of spinach varieties with which it aims to cover the entire growing cycle.Notable varieties include Hydrus (for summer), Dracus and Alcor (autumn-spring), and Regor* andNembus* (winter). All of these are high-performing varieties with a good colour as well as beingresistant to all mildew strains (1-17).
Despite having completed the growing cycle, BASF continues to work on the development of newvarieties that fulfil the demands of the entire value chain. Currently, the degrading of soils alongwith new phytosanitary restrictions imposed by the European Union (EU) have provided the perfectbreeding ground for the proliferation of damping-off issues, which is normally caused by Fusariumamong other diseases in spinach and can cause serious damage, in some cases affecting 70% ofthe harvest.
In its constant commitment to the sector, BASF has not only reinforced its advisory service forgrowers but is also redoubling efforts to supply varieties that are tolerant to this soil-based fungalpathogen. “We are conducting tests with new varieties and optimum soil management,” says DelEspino, who adds that the company is keeping a very close eye on the increased incidence ofPythium in leafy vegetables.
Finally, the agricultural seeds division of BASF has announced the addition of lamb’s lettuce to itscatalogue, an increasingly popular variety in which the company already enjoys a leading positionin the European market. Until 2020, these varieties were marketed by Hild, the company’s Germansubsidiary at that time.
* APC granted and in the application process for inclusion in the EC Common Catalogue of Vegetable Varieties.
** Variety under development
More information: www.agriculture.basf.com
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