WOODLAND, CA - An exciting industry event is right around the corner, and Syngenta Vegetable Seeds is ready to take center stage. As a recognized seed company, Syngenta will be presenting alongside five other prominent seed companies and The University of Florida at the American Seed Trade Association’s (ASTA) Virtual Media Event being held February 10–11.
The ASTA event will focus on innovations in plant breeding, and Syngenta’s Breeding Trial Specialist Rebecca Wente-Naylor provided a sneak peek at what the team will be showcasing and how it will play a key role in helping buy-side partners continue to meet evolving consumer demands.
“Syngenta Vegetable Seeds’ watermelon team will be showcasing the diverse germplasm in its watermelon portfolio, including flesh color, rind pattern, and fruit size and shape,” explains Rebecca. “We’re a leading player in the seedless and seeded watermelon worldwide markets, and we’re focused on delivering unique and effective varieties to growers, setting new standards for consumer appeal, and evaluating products more efficiently for beneficial traits.”
Syngenta recently introduced its new Powerhouse and Summerlicous seedless watermelon varieties to the market as Syngenta breeders looked to improve quality, convenience, and productivity for the benefit of growers, marketers, retailers, and consumers across the produce industry.
As Rebecca tells me, the Powerhouse seedless watermelon variety produces uniform, blocky fruits with firm flesh, great internal color, and full flavor. It also offers a high yield potential, a high percentage of 45-count fruits, and wide adaptability, making Powerhouse a great choice for growers across both the eastern and western U.S.
The Summerlicous variety features improved fruit holding ability in the field, providing greater grower flexibility with an extended harvest window. With deep green skin color, firm flesh, and excellent flavor, this new seedless variety appeals to growers and consumers alike.
“We put growers at the heart of all that we do,” says Rebecca. “Our energies are focused on creating genetic solutions that help them get more out of their crops, now and in the future. We are increasing adaptability to local conditions through better stress tolerance and we are focused on growers’ long-term success. Our watermelon portfolio has strong disease resistance and virus packages that help keep plants healthy and strong throughout the season, maximizing yield potential.”
With over 2,300 employees operating in over 50 countries and a portfolio of 30 crop species and more than 2,500 varieties, Syngenta is a strategic partner of ASTA. For the company, the upcoming Virtual Media Tour serves as a way to connect and engage with its partners throughout the industry as it pushes innovation forward, while also providing key networking and educational opportunities for those in the global vegetable and flower seed industry.
To RSVP to the ASTA event, click here.
Following the release of its new varieties, how will Syngenta continue to transform the agricultural industry with its breakthrough products? Be sure to keep reading AndNowUKnow to discover the answers.
