Last month, I was invited by Syngenta Vegetable Seeds to attend the annual variety trial at its field station in Naples. The event spans most of a week as seed partners and growers visit the facility to see plots of the newest vegetable offerings.
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Syngenta Vegetable Seeds hosted its annual vegetable field days in December to show distribution partners and growers what’s new and in the pipeline.
Photo courtesy of Syngenta
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'Athena' and 'Accolade'
'Athena' is a hybrid cantaloupe that has sweet flavor and a texture in demand with consumers. These melons remain firm even when harvested at full slip. Approximate days to maturity: 75 Full size: 5 to 6 pounds Interior appearance: Thick, very firm flesh for an eastern type melon Exterior appearance: Coarse netting, minor netted indentations Disease resistance: High resistance: Fom: 0-2; Px 1; Px 2US Tolerance: S
‘Accolade’
This melon is an eastern shipper variety that features improved fruit quality and a comprehensive disease package for early-to-main season plantings. Approximate days to maturity: 73 Full size: 5 to 6 pounds Interior appearance: Small tight cavity with orange flesh Exterior appearance: Netted Disease resistance: High resistance: Px 1; Px 2US; Fom 0-2; Intermediate resistance: Ag; Px 3.5; Tolerance: S
Photo by Frank Giles
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'Simplicity'
This duel-purpose tomato is suitable for the vine-ripe and mature-green market. The variety is a good fit for the Southeastern planting slots. The fruit has deep red color and excellent gassing capability. It has great internal fruit quality and taste. Approximate maturity: Medium Culture: Staked, open field Fruit shape: Globe Fruit type: Beefsteak Approximate size: Large Disease resistance: High Resistance: Fol 0-2 (US 1-3); For; Pst; TYLCV
Photo by Frank Giles
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'Varsity'
‘Varsity’ is a mature-green tomato well suited for the fresh market, producing firm fruit to reduce postharvest losses. The variety has a good disease and virus package and fits in most production slots. Approximate maturity: Medium Culture: Staked, open field Fruit shape: Globe Fruit type: Beefsteak Approximate size: Large Disease resistance: High Resistance: TYLCV; TSWV; FCR
Photo by Frank Giles
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SP-7
This Super Pollenizer variety delivers 25% larger male flowers and double the male flowers than its predecessor SP-6 Approximate days to maturity: 75 Fruit shape: Globe Fruit weight: 1 to 2 pounds Rind pattern: Distinct, brittle rind Fresh description: Medium yellow Disease resistance: Intermediate Resistance: Co 1; Fon 1; Px 1
Photo by Frank Giles
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'Spineless Supreme'
This zucchini squash produces high-yielding, high-gloss fruit comparable to the ‘Spineless Beauty’ variety with the added benefit of improved disease and virus resistance. Approximate days to maturity: 44 Fruit shape: Cylindrical Fruit color: medium dark green Average diameter x length: 1.5 to 2 inches x 6 to 7 inches Disease resistance: Intermediate Resistance: PRSV; Px; CMV; WMV; ZYMV
I picked a wet, rainy day to visit, but was able to see some plots between the raindrops. I also had a chance to speak with Bob Conrad, who recently joined the company as its Southeast Territory Manager. He oversees sales and product development in the region. He says one of his major initiatives in the new job is getting growers more involved in the development of the company’s seed portfolio.
“Regardless of the distribution channel for our seed, I am working with my team to be sure we are working more directly with growers to find genetic solutions to their problems,” Conrad says. “We are taking that feedback directly to our breeding program to develop new varieties that address the problems they are facing in the field. And, develop a product that appeals to the consumer as well.”
In addition, he said seed companies need to stay out of ahead of problems by developing resistance for diseases that have not even come to the U.S. yet. He pointed to the tomato brown rugose fruit virus, which has not been confirmed in fields, but has Florida officials on high alert as an example.
Check out the photo slideshow above for info on a few vegetable varieties that where highlighted in the field.
January 13, 2020 
