News

Rijk Zwaan celebrates a new edition of its most international melon and watermelon field days. This year we are once again adapting the format of the event so that the visitor can attend, both in person and virtually, to our Rijk Zwaan CED La Palma in Cartagena. From 28 June to 9 July 2021.

Downy mildew is a major threat in lettuce. The fungus can damage the lettuce leaves in both protected and open-field crops, resulting in a loss of yield. Last year the European Commission of the International Bremia Evaluation Board (IBEB-EU) identified a widely occurring new variant of downy mildew in lettuce. As of 1 June 2021, it has officially been denominated as Bl:37EU. The large majority of Rijk Zwaan’s current lettuce varieties are resistant to the new race of downy mildew.

“Responding to changing markets together” During the World of Fresh Ideas event, a range of experts will be sharing their perspectives on the international fresh produce business. Jan Doldersum, Manager Chain & Retail at Rijk Zwaan, is one of them. On Wednesday 26 May 2021, he will explain how the vegetable breeding company works together with its customers to respond to changing markets. This two-day event, which will take place online, is being organised by Fruitnet. Registration is free.

In the space of just a few years, the fungus Stemphylium – and in particular Stemphylium vesicarium – has become one of the biggest challenges for spinach growers worldwide. Vegetable breeding company Rijk Zwaan’s spinach breeding programmes are focussed on developing varieties that are resistant to this fungus. The initial results from an ongoing study by Washington State University in the USA have now confirmed that this focus over recent years has resulted in an assortment with a good number of spinach varieties with a high level of resistance to Stemphylium vesicarium.

Rijk Zwaan stays in close contact with its partners to exchange knowledge and provide them with valuable new market insights into current and future needs. Initiatives such as studio-based meetings help Rijk Zwaan to further develop the Sweet Palermo brand. Rijk Zwaan recently held a series of studio meetings with its Sweet Palermo partners in Israel and the Netherlands, and Germany and Poland are the next countries on the agenda. These meetings are perfect examples of brand-enhancing collaboration.

Two new races of the downy mildew pathogen (Peronospora effusa) on spinach have been denominated by the International Working Group on Peronospora in spinach (IWGP). Isolate SP1924 found in Europe, is denominated as race Pe: 18. Isolate UA202001E, found in the USA, is denominated as race Pe: 19. Rijk Zwaan’s spinach program has already a selection of varieties resistant to Pe: 18 and Pe: 19.

The ‘New Delhi’ virus has been a serious problem for many cucurbit growers, especially in the Mediterranean region, for numerous years. Due to its high infection pressure and rapid spread, this disease poses a severe threat to cucumber crops. Rijk Zwaan is proud to introduce a solution for cucumber growers: ‘Delhi Defense’.

Thanks to our intensive breeding programme at Rijk Zwaan and close collaboration with our partners, we are able to continuously develop new high-quality Sweet Palermo varieties in order to further strengthen the brand. On Thursday 25 March, the names of the newest Sweet Palermo varieties were officially announced at the facilities of two of our valued growing partners: VOF Ton-vd Maarel and Frestia BV. We are pleased to reveal that the official names are: Palermo RONTON RZ and Palermo RASHFORD RZ.

Seed companies and associations representing different regions in the world recently came together to sign a joint Declaration. They expressed their commitment to actively support achievement of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to proactively demonstrate their extensive and diverse contributions towards sustainable food systems. The sector also calls for more public private cooperation to achieve the goals. As a vegetable breeding company, Rijk Zwaan acknowledges its role as foundational contributor to the world’s food supply and we are committed to contribute to the SDGs.

The New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) has been causing serious problems for squash growers in the Mediterranean region for close to a decade. The plant virus can attack the foliage and the fruits in any stage of cultivation, resulting in smaller, misshapen fruits and ultimately a lower yield. Following years of research, vegetable breeding company Rijk Zwaan has now introduced the first squash varieties with resistance to the New Delhi virus.