Breeding company highlights new varieties including Galago RZ and Reindeer RZ, addressing growing disease challenges
Rijk Zwaan has published an updated leaflet presenting new and established organic spinach varieties that offer strong resistance, yield and product quality.
As part of this, the group’s Wim in ‘t Groen highlighted some of the strengths of the fresh varieties on offer, in terms of growing seasons and organic markets in Europe.
According to in ‘t Groen, crop co-ordinator at Rijk Zwaan for baby leaf and oriental spinach, the new Galago RZ variety is “ideal” for cultivating baby leaf spinach organically in Spain during the winter months and is also suitable for the first and last sowings in Northern Europe.
“It’s a safe choice for organic growers thanks to the complete Pe:1-20 resistance package against downy mildew (Peronospora effusa),” he outlined.
”Another important factor for growers is its high resistance against Stemphylium vesicarium (Sv). This fungal disease is becoming more active in Europe.”
Reindeer RZ is another newcomer which, like Galago RZ, has high resistance to Pe:1-20 and Sv.
“These optimal resistance levels give organic growers increased certainty,” in ‘t Groen continued.
“Thanks to its rapid pace of growth, this is another variety that is suitable for winter cultivation in southern Europe.
”And with its large, uniform leaves, it is a high-yielding variety,” he confirmed.
The relatively new variety Boomslang RZ is described by the group as a good choice for organic baby leaf crops in Northern Europe and Spain in spring and autumn, and for tunnel cultivation in Southern Europe.
“This is yet another variety with a broad set of resistances against both downy mildew (Pe:1-20) and Sv,” in ‘t Groen explained. Additionally, this is a high-yielding variety with semi-savoy leaves and an attractive appearance.
For early and late-summer baby leaf crops in Northern Europe, meanwhile, he recommended Cabezon RZ.
“This variety has upright growth and dark green, glossy, oval leaves,” in ‘t Groen noted.
”It is highly resistant against leaf diseases and also against Sv and downy mildew,” he added. ”But I advise growers to choose a different variety for the main summer period.”
