Blocky peppers bred for all growers, climates, and demands
September 25, 2024
When you’re looking for expertise, you go straight to the source. For example, if you want to learn how to cross-country ski, you’re more likely to find good advice in Switzerland than you are in the tropics. In the same way, Syngenta Vegetable Seeds optimizes crop hubs to learn more about certain crop types and share those learnings – and varieties – around the world.
These centralized hubs create efficiencies, maximize the expertise in a research area, and provide uniform discovery and trialing techniques so growers around the world can access the varieties that are best suited to their unique growing conditions.
In blocky pepper, for example, Syngenta Vegetable Seeds combines traditional breeding techniques with modern technology to provide growers with varieties that are tested globally, have disease resistance, can be sustainably produced, and are selected and shared in climates that are suitable for each unique variety. There are hubs for pepper breeding in all major areas in which the crop is produced, where insights are gained, and variety testing is performed in fields and greenhouses around the world.
“Plants are adapted to current changing climatic conditions like long hot summers and short cold winters,” José Antonio Chicón, regional senior breeder at Syngenta Vegetable Seeds says. “To achieve this, we are working in different countries with different climatic conditions. We develop varieties that can be grown in short- or long-cycles with a high production and superior quality and varieties that can be transplanted any month of the year, in order to produce peppers 365-days a year.”
These global trials use the latest technology to put blocky peppers to the test against a variety of growing conditions. Data informs the trials, and Syngenta Vegetable Seeds researchers work to develop a number of different blocky pepper varieties that work for growers in all markets.
Disease Resistance Protects Against Potentially Devastating Yield Threats
Using data, Syngenta Vegetable Seeds develops blocky pepper varieties with resistance to some of the worst yield threats. While there are fungicides, insecticides, and other control methods, the most effective way to protect against blocky pepper diseases is to plant resistant varieties.
“I use Syngenta seeds,” Juan Antonío Cobos, a blocky pepper grower from Spain says, “They give me confidence in [planting] because they have good plant vigor, great fruit quality and they provide me with the crop resistance that I need.”
Sustainability and Profitability
Producing crops sustainably goes hand-in-hand with profitability potential. Our blocky peppers trialing platform looks for features that promote grower success, such as robust root systems that can work on different soils and with little water. By using real field conditions, researchers accurately evaluate climate, disease, and pest resistance.
Additionally, the team at Syngenta Vegetable Seeds pays close attention to market and consumer demands such as increased food security, less food waste, diversification, and more. It’s led to the creation of a broad product portfolio to cover needs.
“Collaborating with growers and technicians is crucial for us in order to detect gaps in the market and select the best varieties for their needs,” Alejandro Pascual, product development specialist at Syngenta Vegetable Seeds says. “At the end, the profitability of growers is key for sustainable agriculture.”
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