Bon Defense
Bon Defense offers protection against the cucumber green mottle mosaic virus
Rijk Zwaan’s Bon Defense line comprises cucumber varieties with a resistance against the cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV). This is a persistent virus that spreads very quickly and easily. The resistant varieties support cucumber growers in their battle against CGMMV. Bon Defense is part of Rijk Zwaan’s Defense label.
Interested in Bon Defense Cucumber?
Please contact:
Heleen van Rijn-Wassenaar
Why growers choose Bon Defense
Bon Defense minimises the chance of infection with the cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV), thus offering considerable benefits for growers and their customers. The lack of virus symptoms ensures a higher yield and better fruit quality. Moreover, the much lower concentration of the virus greatly reduces the transmission rate. Thanks to these benefits, the Bon Defense varieties give growers more peace of mind during throughout the crop cycle.
Benefits of Bon Defense
- Higher yield
- Better fruit quality
- Much lower concentration and therefore transmission of the virus
Cucumber varieties with Bon Defense
A growing number of Rijk Zwaan’s cucumber varieties have this resistance against CGMMV. Bon Defense cucumber varieties are indicated by both the label and the name, which always starts with ‘Bon’ (such as Bonbon RZ and Bonera RZ).
CGMMV in susceptible versus resistant varieties
CGMMV is spread from plant to plant mechanically, which means that it is transmitted by equipment, tools or people who are working with the crop. A susceptible plant stops growing and dies soon after becoming infected.
In contrast, a resistant Bon Defense cucumber variety exhibits few if any symptoms, continues to grow and the level of infection remains very low because the resistance reduces the speed with which the virus multiplies. Moreover, there is a much lower concentration of the virus in the plant, which significantly slows down the spread of the virus from plant to plant.
Trials reveal clear differences
Independent research using Bonbon RZ – one of the first Bon Defense varieties – showed the infection level to be around 95% lower than in a susceptible variety. The study compared the level of infection in this variety against a standard susceptible variety for summer and autumn production in the Netherlands. Large-scale real-life trials and many years of commercial production have since confirmed this.
Minimising the risk of spread
Although Bon Defense varieties are resistant against CGMMV, they are not entirely immune. Therefore, it is essential to maintain good workplace hygiene in order to minimise the spread, because the Bon Defense variety can still carry the virus and transmit it to other, non-resistant varieties.