“Lt Defense™ helps pepper growers to manage mildew more sustainably”

Why is Rijk Zwaan launching pepper varieties with Lt Defense?

“We are seeing an increase in powdery mildew pressure worldwide. We already offered varieties with some resistance against powdery mildew, but the new-generation varieties have a higher resistance level,” says Gerardo Colucci, Crop Co-ordinator for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “By introducing a total of ten new varieties with Lt Defense, in the Blocky, Dulce Italiano, Lamuyo, Kapya and Andalous sweet pepper segments and in the hot pepper segment, we are adding real value for growers. These varieties are an indispensable tool for managing powdery mildew more sustainably – with fewer crop protection agents, less sulphur and less stress.”

What’s the situation across the various production regions?

Gerardo: “In Europe, it is becoming more difficult to manage this fungal disease because of the ever-smaller number of permitted crop protection agents and more favourable environmental conditions.”

This is a familiar story for Ramón Ahedo Cervantes, Crop Co-ordinator Americas: “Pepper growers in Latin America are also struggling with the effects of powdery mildew, particularly in mid-tech and low-tech systems. This is because they have fewer tools to manage this fungal disease than growers with high-tech greenhouses.”

The situation in Asia is slightly different, explains Florent Rezeau, Crop Co-ordinator Asia: “While there are significant differences between Asian countries, most growers control powdery mildew using sulphur and preventive crop protection measures. If they don’t take action in time, they can lose up to 10% of production.”

Why is mildew pressure increasing?

Gerardo: “We’ve noticed that climate change is making the problem worse. The pathogen requires alternating wet and dry conditions to develop. Of course, when the use of crop protection agents is restricted, growers consequently have fewer weapons to help them in their fight, and mildew pressure increases.”

What are the advantages of Lt Defense?

Gerardo: “Growers save money by reducing their use of crop protection agents. Additionally, a lower sulphur dosage extends the lifespan of plastic tunnels and is less disturbing to the beneficial insects that growers rely on for pest control. Furthermore, growers who choose Lt Defense varieties have an extra tool to be aligned with the requirements of European retailers who want healthy products with lower residue levels.”

“Resistance against powdery mildew is the strongest accomplice for pepper growers striving for sustainability,” adds his colleague Ramón, summing up the importance of Lt Defense in Latin America.

Meanwhile, Florent expects this to be an increasingly relevant factor on the Asian continent in the future: “Lt Defense will also become an indispensable trait in Asia. It can reduce costs related to crop protection agents, plastic tunnels and labour, while at the same time giving growers more peace of mind.”

How strong is the Lt resistance?

Gerardo: There are certain industry-wide guidelines on resistance levels. For instance when to call a variety IR or HR. However, for our Lt Defense label, we test variaties extensively within our own company. For each variety, we have established scores ranging from 0 (fully resistant) to 6 (susceptible). Only varieties with both the right genetic background and a score of 3 or lower in our validation receive our Lt Defense label.”

“This also means that varieties which previously had the label but don’t meet these internal guidelines are no longer eligible. They still have intermediate resistance, but are no longer part of our premium Lt Defense range. If a variety bears this label, growers can be confident that powdery mildew can only develop to a limited extent. Our local crop specialists can advise them on which varieties are most suitable for their specific situation.”

Choose Lt Defense

Are you curious which sweet pepper and hot pepper varieties with Lt Defense are available in your local market? Contact your Rijk Zwaan representative for tailor-made advice.