Page 29 - AWA Vol.42-No.5 issue

SEEd ANd PlANTSToCK

Harvest timing based on seed maturity

Using seed maturity to fine tune har- the peduncle looks from the outside.
vest timing
What to look for inside the fruit
Peduncle corking is a strong and
practical indicator for deciding when When you cut a Hokkaido pumpkin
to harvest Hokkaido pumpkins. How- open, the seeds give a clear signal:
ever, there are situations where this • Immature fruit
visual signal alone is not precise sons, such as typical summer conditions
enough, especially when growing con- The seeds are very soft and easy to in Spain, this internal check becomes
ditions accelerate crop development. break between your fingers. Inside the particularly valuable. High temperatures
seed coat, there is only a translucent, can speed up seed development, mean-
In hot seasons, such as years with pro- gel like substance. This indicates that the ing the fruit may be ready earlier than
longed heat waves, the crop cycle can seed has not yet developed its reserves, expected based on external appearance
shorten. Fruits may mature faster inter- and the fruit is not ready for harvest. alone.
nally than what the peduncle suggests. In
those cases, relying only on corking can • Fruit at the right harvest stage In those cases, seed maturity helps
lead to unnecessary delays in harvest. The seeds feel firmer, and the inside growers:
That is why seed maturity is the most of the seed has started to turn white and • Avoid harvesting too late
reliable second indicator when there is opaque, similar to a young, milky almond. • Protect storage potential
doubt. At this stage, the seed has begun convert-
ing that gel into starch. This is a clear sign • Secure better marketing flexibility
Why seeds tell the real story
that the fruit is physiologically mature. Combining both indicators for confi-
From the plant’s perspective, the prior- So, even when peduncle corking is dent decisions
ity is clear: to mature the seeds. Once the slightly below 70%, or the fruit colour has
The best results come from combining
seeds are ready, the plant has completed not yet reached its deepest red orange, both indicators:
its job, and the fruit is physiologically ma- well developed seeds confirm that the
ture. • Peduncle corking for a fast, visual field
fruit is ready to be harvested.
By checking what happens inside the Especially useful in hot conditions check
fruit, growers can confirm whether the • Seed maturity for confirmation when
pumpkin is truly ready, regardless of how In warm regions or during very hot sea- timing is uncertain Circle 36 on enquiry card

rijk zwaan opens breeding station in Brazil

Rijk Zwaan is proud to announce the neering mindset,” explains Lionel Bardin,
opening of a new open-field breeding Managing Director of Rijk Zwaan Brasil.
station in Mogi Mirim, Brazil. This mod- “Experience from other locations could
ern facility marks an important step in not be applied one-to-one. That is why the
the company’s ambition to develop fruit team combined knowledge from across
and vegetable varieties tailored to trop- the organisation with local insights, learn-
ical climates. The Breeding Station Mogi ing and adjusting as we went.”The result
Mirim has been operational since August is a fully operational breeding location
2024 and was officially opened on 16 June that enables Rijk Zwaan to further expand
2026 in the presence of clients, partners, its tropical breeding programmes.Rijk
stakeholders and colleagues. Zwaan Brasil has been active in the Brazil-
ian market since 2006. This ensures close
New step in global breeding activi-
ties connections with growers, retailers and
chain partners, and strengthens the link
In recent years, forty hectares of agricul- between breeding and market needs.
tural land in Brazil have been developed Contributing to the global food sup-
into a future-proof breeding location. cal fungi, bacteria, viruses and tropical ply
This expansion strengthens Rijk Zwaan’s rainfall.“Developing innovative varieties
global research network and contributes that perform well in tropical climates re- As the global population continues to
to the development of high-quality fruit quires selection under exactly those con- grow, the demand for fruit and vegeta-
and vegetable varieties for growers in ditions,” says Managing Director Martijn bles is increasing. Rijk Zwaan contributes
tropical regions. to this challenge by developing varieties
Eggink. “With this location, we now have that help growers increase productivity
Breeding for the tropics, in the trop- the space and the environment to make
ics that possible.” and produce healthy fruit and vegeta-
bles in a sustainable way. By investing in
To develop strong and reliable vege- Pioneering and learning together local breeding programmes – including
table varieties for tropical regions, local this new location in Brazil – the company
selection is essential. At the new location, “Establishing a large-scale breeding strengthens its ability to support growers
breeders can select for resilience to lo- location in the tropics required a pio- worldwide. Circle 37 on enquiry card
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