Bejo Nuvance | Oppiplaas

2021

VOLUME

12

oppiplaas

’N VOLLEDIGE JOERNAAL VAN DIE NUVANCE GROENTESAAD-PRODUKREEKS A COMPREHENSIVE JOURNAL OF THE NUVANCE VEGETABLE SEED PRODUCT RANGE

| www.nuvance.co.za |

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34 32 NUUS | NEWS

BEDRYF | INDUSTRY

01 nuwe nuvance hoofkantoor en

13 16 18 19

distribusie sentrum in pretoria 03 nuvance’s new research farm NAVORSING | RESEARCH

05 09

selecting pepper varieties innovations in agriculture with kevin walsh which onion variety will you sow in 2022? carrot seed production

dutch seed finds fertile ground around the world healthier crops start with better varieties and healthy seeds

Disclaimer: The information in this newsletter is presented in good faith and Nuvance (Pty) Ltd. does not accept any legal liability in terms thereof. Disease resistances referred to in this newsletter are indicative of the cultivar’s tolerance, not its resistance. Varieties listed throughout this newsletter, marked with *, indicate that the cultivar is currently undergoing trials and will thereafter be considered to be submitted for registration. The product information and descriptions in this newsletter are correct at the time of going to press. Pictures displayed in this newsletter only indicate the kind and not the actual specific variety.

index

editorial

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Editor Dr Q Muhl T: 010 534 8147 E: q.muhl@nuvance.co.za

Layout and design Y Cloete T: 082 5787 547 E: yvonne@saltstudio.biz

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Publisher Nuvance (Pty) Ltd

PRODUKTE | PRODUCTS

STREEKSNUUS | REGIONAL NEWS

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39 41 42 42 43 43 44 44

25 26 27 29 32 34 36 36

when the going gets tough, ps 16351609 gets going merkwaardige messenger ps 16351609 het die nodige uithouvermoë revelation (noun): used to emphasize the remarkable quality of something hacienda* = vroe(ho)ë kwaliteit groot, groter, megaton boro, sinoniem vir sukses in beetproduksie new cherry plum tomato “ntom005” sv 4129 th* the winter variety of choice

nuvance depot in brits the kouga crisis louis trichardt, we’ve moved! welcoming: brian hilder welcoming: theodore westervelt verwelkoming: corné prinsloo verwelkoming: el-marie kotze verwelkoming: elanie du plessis

VERKOPE | SALES

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verkoopspan | sales team

nuwe nuvance hoofkantoor en distribusie sentrum in pretoria

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n Desember 2020 het die Nuvance distribusie sentrum (DC) geskuif vanaf Meadowdale in Johannesburg na die nuwe hoofkantoor in N4 Gateway Industriële Park, Willow Park Manor, Pretoria. Hier het ons huidiglik 1000 m2 oppervlakte bestaande uit kantore, stoor en koelkamer geriewe.

Dié sentrale ligging beteken korter afstande en beter toegang tot lughawens, koeriers en ons nasionale padnetwerk wat beteken dat ons kliënte beter en vinniger kan diens. Streng voorraads- en kwaliteitsbeheer word steeds uitgevoer wat kliënte verseker van goeie kwaliteit saad. Die Nuvance span streef daarna om bestellings so gou moontlik uit te stuur en ’n goeie kliënte diens te verseker. Met ons eie aflewerings voertuie en drywer by die distribusie sentrum kan groot en/of dringende bestellings vinnig en onder beheerde toestande hulle bestemmings bereik.

Hier is die Nuvance personeel op hoofkantoor wat verantwoordelik is vir die beheer van voorraad, kwaliteit en bestellings:

Zelda Hill Pakhuis kontroleerder • • • •

Voorraad beheer (FIFO) Saad kwaliteit beheer Bestellings uit DC Bestellings uitstuur met koeriers

Enock Mphela Algemene werker en vurkhys drywer

Rufus Dikotla Drywer

Kontak ons gerus vir enige navrae of besoek ons by: Nuvance Hoofkantoor | +27 (0) 10 534 8147 | info@nuvance.co.za Unit 2, 34 Banghoek Crescent | N4 Gateway Industrial Park | Willow Park Manor | Pretoria | 0184

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news artikel deur adelé scheepers

nuvance’s new research farm

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ocated along the R511 in Zoutpansdrift a mere 15km outside the town of Brits in the North West province this 11.5ha property is Nuvance’s first wholly owned research farm. After having leased a property not far from the current premises since 2012, the decision was made to purchase the larger property in 2019 to enable the necessary infrastructure investments and expansion. The motivation was also to establish a dedicated site for trialling our new and current varieties in a key vegetable production area.

This facility is mainly used for our breeding, screening, and yield trials as well as our annual Farmers’ day.

Brits is an important vegetable production region, and together with its mild climate it was the ideal location to establish such a facility as the majority of vegetable crops are being cultivated in the greater Brits area.

Also, the prevailing disease pressures make it ideal to test for the resistances of our new varieties here.

This site also plays an important role in the facilitation of training of our internal staff members on newly launched vegetable varieties as well as throughout the development process. This ensures the continued exchange of knowledge within our team thereby building our capacity to serve you, our growers better.

Over the past two years we have made significant upgrades to the property to suit our research needs and additional projects are currently being planned.

Such as a greenhouse and shade net complex, as undercover vegetable production has significantly increased over the past couple of years.

Agriculture is constantly changing as we know it and through investments in research facilities such as this, we want to ensure our products and services remain relevant to you, our growers.

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news article by dr quintin muhl

dutch seed finds fertile ground around the world

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utch growers started internationalizing at the end of the 20th century, expanding production activities to countries such as Spain. For Dutch seed companies this started several decades before already. Bert Schrijver of Bejo tells us more.

Bert Schrijver is happy to talk about internationalization in the vegetable seed industry. But it takes some juggling to set up an interview date. As director of research and breeding for the quintessentially Dutch seed company Bejo, he’s often on the road, sometimes in far-flung places. The company breeds new varieties in a range of climate zones in multiple countries on five continents. Bejo's assortment consists of almost 50 crops in around 1,200 varieties and 6,000 product forms.

With such a wide range, it’s tricky to coordinate all the breeding programs, keeping an eye on the desires and demands of the market and what's achievable in breeding and seed production. Six global crop research managers, each responsible for breeding in a particular crop group, keep the processes on the right track, in close collaboration with Schrijver.

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research

Of almost 2,000 staff worldwide, around 450 Bejo employees are involved in breeding and research activities. "When I started to work at Bejo in 1982 to set up disease resistance breeding programs, I was one of 50 employees at the company,” Schrijver recalls at Bejo’s headquarters in Warmenhuizen (the Netherlands). "The first steps towards internationalization were underway by then, with the focus still mainly on Western European countries."

Bejo was founded in a 1978 merger between the seed companies Beemsterboer, situated in Warmenhuizen, and Jacob Jong, situated in Noord-Scharwoude. They’d been working together on hybridization in cabbage, carrots and onions since the 1960s. The technology for creating hybrid varieties by crossing two inbred parent lines was developed in that decade and brought many advantages over open pollinated varieties in terms of cultivation technique and quality. But creating hybrids was expensive and time-consuming and was often a bridge too far for smallscale seed companies, which mostly did their own varietal selection in those days. The partnership between Jacob Jong and Beemsterboer led to the first hybrid varieties of cabbage and onion appearing on the market in the second half of the 1970s. The companies realised they’d end up marketing the same hybrids to the same customers. Joining forces was the logical next step. So they merged into a new company: Bejo.

Internationalization Those first cabbage and onion hybrids were soon followed by the first carrot hybrids. The new range of hybrid varieties did well internationally, and Bejo began to grow. Before long, it was time to set up subsidiaries in other countries, such as Germany, France and Italy. Seed production was originally a regional activity. In the cases of these crops, though, the changeable Dutch weather wasn’t ideal. The company soon decided to expand seed production to France and Italy. By the late 1980s and 1990s, Bejo’s success made it possible to start working on a full range of open-field vegetables. It also expanded to the US, southern European and Eastern European markets, opening subsidiaries there.

Expansion Schrijver jumps ahead to the years after 2000, following a lengthy period of steady internationalization for the company. Bejo began producing seed in the US, because of the climate and in order to spread risks across multiple sites. But since the US and Europe are both in the northern hemisphere, their growing seasons are synchronous, meaning seed production is too. "So we also moved into the southern hemisphere,” Schrijver says, “with seed production facilities in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina. Those were really big operations."

“Breeding crops and producing seed in commercial quantities are two different matters”, Schrijver adds.

“So they don’t necessarily take place in the same locations or even the same parts of the world. For instance, day length is important in onion breeding, and requirements for breeding a particular crop with respect to climate and market demand can be so specific that it needs to be done locally. Hence, about 40% of breeding at Bejo takes place outside the Netherlands”.

"That expansion started in the 1980s,” Schrijver recalls. “At the time, we were able to use the results of our existing breeding program to get off to a flying start in the Eastern European markets. The genetics we had for southern Europe weren’t as good, so we needed to breed locally. We started in Italy."

After that, the company was able to test promising

crosses and new varieties in other countries with similar growing conditions and market requirements.

Schrijver likens the situation to a patchwork quilt spread across continents. "We can conduct tests at subsidiaries or with local dealers or farmers, and that way we can figure out which crosses or varieties are most suitable."

Back to Warmenhuizen Just as all breeding is overseen by in-house specialists and carried out at Bejo’s own sites, the company stores all its own commercial seed and handles all purity and quality checks, processing and treatments. All Bejo seed passes through Bejo’s processing operations in Warmenhuizen. From here, it’s shipped all over the world in various product forms and distributed by subsidiaries in more than 30 countries, and by dealers and distributors in many other countries.

Bejo delivers seed in many different product forms.

"For most crops, we supply seed in different sizes, varying by 0.2 millimetres, for example,” Schrijver says. “Seed can be left untreated, or it can be treated chemically or with hot water to ensure it's diseasefree. It can be coated with a range of agents and/or be pelleted. And different countries sometimes have additional requirements, often phytosanitary ones."

Moving indoors It's not only internationalization that's progressed rapidly – so have technological developments supporting the global breeding process and seed technology research. At Bejo’s Research Center in Warmenhuizen, more than 120 employees work on resistance breeding, tissue culture, cell biology, molecular markers, genomics, bioinformatics, seed physiology and seed pathology. Much breeding work previously done in greenhouses and fields has been replaced or accelerated thanks to continuous progress in these disciplines of technologies, such as genotyping in the laboratory and checking levels of disease resistance of breeding material and new varieties. Since the turn of the century, Bejo has also had a fully-fledged international business unit devoted to the breeding, production and treatment of seeds for organic cultivation. Employees in Warmenhuizen are conducting research to determine the best methods for producing organic seed.

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access to premium products seeds | science | service

SV 9054 YG* • • •

Good fruit quality Dark green colour Intermediate tolerance of PRSV, SLCV, WMV, ZYMV

| www.nuvance.co.za |

SV 0143 YG* • • •

High yield potential Good fruit quality Good tolerance of PRSV, SLCV, WMV and ZYMV

Waltham

Canesi • • •

Excellent fruit quality Good leaf cover Average fruit mass between 1.2 – 2.5 kg

• • •

Good yield, size and shelf life Vigorous with good leaf cover Average fruit mass: 0.9 – 1.5 kg

healthier crops start with better varieties and healthy seeds Innovation in seed production and technology promotes sustainable vegetable cultivation and increased harvest security.

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emand for healthy, sustainably produced food, including vegetables and fruit, is rising.

Yet growers around the world face a number of challenges. Good agricultural land, water and raw materials are becoming ever scarcer. In many places, climate change is causing less stable growing conditions. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that up to 40% of the world's food crops are lost to disease and pests every year. For sustainable production and better harvest security, professional growers need crops that stay healthy in difficult circumstances. It all starts with strong varieties and strong seeds. Bejo has achieved many innovations in vegetable breeding and seed production and processing in the past couple of decades, and we see plenty of opportunities for more progress ahead.

Seed Production Breeding companies like Bejo are constantly looking for ways to improve plant health properties. We’re making progress on new varieties with better resistance to drought and certain diseases and pests. But even when growers have access to strong, disease-resistant varieties, seed quality can make a vast difference. Healthy crops start with healthy seed.

The first major factor affecting quality is how seed is produced. Bejo has production sites in various parts of the world. So we can work under the best climate conditions to produce healthy, vigorous seed while limiting risks, such as adverse weather conditions and disease pressure. Our production sites follow strict protocols to ensure quality and plant health, with support from specialist crop consultants and scientists.

Production Research Our seed production researchers look at environmental factors that affect seed quality. For example, we’re interested in epidemiology – the science of how diseases and infestations develop, and how they spread via seeds. Knowing your enemy puts you in a better position to fight it. Furthermore, we look at optimum planting distances for ensuring uniform, shorter flowering periods, leading to more uniform maturing and seed size. This, combined with optimum harvest times and methods, enables us to harvest uniform lots.

We have, for example, gained more understanding of the Xanthomonas bacteria’s infection route in plants and seeds. Innovative detection methods enable us to quickly discover the pathogen on site, even when no symptoms can be seen with the naked eye. This gives us more options for control in the production process. To produce high-quality seeds, we select parent lines that produce good pollen and do research to determine the ideal pollination period. We also conduct extensive research on how bees and other insects act as natural pollinators.

Seed Technology for a Superior Product After production, we thoroughly test, upgrade and further process all seeds at our Seed Technology Facility in Warmenhuizen, the Netherlands.

Seed Analysis and Health Each lot of seeds undergoes an average of 25 tests.

We look at characteristics such as purity, moisture content, number of uniform plants (for plant

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research

nurseries) and germination capacity. We also test for bacterial, viral and fungal infections known to be transmittable through seed.

DNA Analysis and Multispectral Imaging New technology affords us even more ways of improving seed processing. We now use DNA analysis to collect precise data on pathogens. We’re currently experimenting with novel ways of selecting the best seeds using X-ray technology and multispectral imaging. We have high hopes for artificial intelligence and machine learning, though these technologies are still in their early stages.

Seed Cleaning and Processing Analyzing incoming seed lots enables us to determine which cleaning techniques and treatments will be needed. For example, asparagus seeds are relatively large, while celery seeds are tiny. Beetroot seeds are naturally very dusty; brassica seeds are slick. Factors like these affect the way we process and treat seeds.

Seed Disinfection Different seed treatments mean growers can count on good germination and healthy, uniform crops. Bejo uses a range of available treatments to increase the value of seed for growers. One is physical disinfection.

We have invested in advanced methods, such as hot water and steam

'Quality and resistance seem worlds apart by definition. The essence of our work is to bring them together. It calls for plenty of patience and dedication in the breeding process.'

Theo van der Horst

vacuum treatments, that allow us to guarantee our seeds are healthy.

Harmful bacteria and fungi don’t stand a chance. Treatment varies by crop, sometimes even by variety, and depends on where the seed will be used. Susceptibility to certain diseases differs by geographical region, and regulations around plant health also vary. In this area, too, technology is advancing. We keep a close eye on innovations that offer new ways of improving seed health. Plasma- and ozone disinfection, for example, show serious potential as environmentally friendly physical methods for the future.

Seed Enhancement To ensure crops benefit from a quick start and uniform growth, we use priming technology. Priming is an advanced technique in which a seed’s germination process is activated and then stopped. Years of research and development in our labs have led to B-Mox, a seed-enhancing formula that boosts the advantages of using primed seed. B-Mox strengthens plants at the initial stage, reducing growers’ risks in the vulnerable early growth phase and making plants more stress-resistant throughout the growing period. B-Mox is a sustainable option, and it’s ideal for organic farming.

Coating Seed coating also brings growers added value. First, seeds with a uniform covering are easier for sowing machines to process, and they’re easier to see in the seedbed. We can also put additives in coating to protect vulnerable germinating plants against diseases and pests in the soil, helping to prevent problems such as damping off. Fungicide coating reduces the need for crop protection products in the field by up to 90%.

And we also sell non-chemically treated coated seed, a highly sustainable solution.

We’re hard at work innovating in this area too. For instance, we’re looking into ways coatings can provide an alternative to chemical crop protection products. We’re investigating the use of new biological plant protection materials and growth promoters in coatings. In 2019, Bejo introduced a coating made entirely of natural materials that break down in the soil.

Today and in 50 Years’ Time Bejo aims to help make food production more sustainable. In crop growing, that starts with seeds and varieties. We’re constantly searching for healthier ways of producing seeds and better ways of processing and treating them to obtain the best products. We employ innovations that add value for growers. Working with our partners in the chain, we strive to make production sustainable and increase harvest security.

So professional growers can produce crops that deliver tasty, healthy vegetables – now and in 50 years’ time.

selecting pepper varieties

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hile yield potential is usually the primary characteristic of concern for growers selecting bell pepper varieties, a number of other factors should also be considered as they can impact marketable yields or other aspects of production that determine the profitability of an operation.

Yield potential, planting slots, and regional adaptability Yield potential, measured as the number or weight of fruit per hectare, is certainly a characteristic that growers are interested in when selecting pepper varieties. However, estimated yield potential alone is not always the best predictor of how successful a variety will be for an operation. The timing, number, and size of plantings during a season should be synchronized with the needs of the market. Planting schedules vary with geographic region as well as the intended market [processing, fresh market, large retail, specialty retail, farmers markets, community supported agriculture (CSA), etc.].1

Time of production during the season (planting slot) is also affected by the relative maturity (earliness) of the variety. Early maturing varieties can be used to help capture the early season market in some areas. However, a variety’s response to local conditions, including temperature, rainfall, sunlight, and soil type, will also affect the timing and quality of fruit production. A variety that performs well in one location or during one time of the season may perform very differently at different locations and times.2,3 For example, a variety can exhibit good cold tolerance, growing and setting fruit well early in the spring, but may not do well in the heat of the summer because of problems with sunburn, low fruit set, or undesirable fruit shape. Pollination of pepper fruit is affected by temperature (both high and low), and low seed set due to poor pollination can affect fruit shape and development.4,5 Growers should be cautious about choosing varieties that may mature early at the

expense of other desirable characteristics, such as proper fruit shape.

Flowering patterns and plant height Many commercial growers, especially those selling to processors or the large retail market, wish to limit the number of harvests to two or three per planting, with 30 to 40% of the fruit picked during the first harvest.

This requires varieties that have concentrated periods of flowering and fruit production. Other growers, selling at farmers markets or supplying restaurants, may prefer varieties with a more continuous pattern of flowering, which results in multiple harvests over a longer period of time.

Pepper varieties also differ in plant height, which affects production in a number of ways. In general, taller plants yield more, but tall plants can have more problems with lodging and require staking in some production systems or regions. Also, some growers using a staked plant system have adapted their systems to moderately sized plants, and switching to a variety with a larger plant size would mean needing to purchase longer stakes and, perhaps, altering plant spacing. There is also a tendency for shorter plants to have a concentrated pattern of flowering, while taller plants tend to have a more continuous flowering pattern. So growers may prefer shorter plants for a number of reasons.

Fruit size and quiality In addition to yield and flowering pattern, the other primary characteristics considered when selecting varieties are fruit size and quality. Marketable fruit are sorted into the size categories medium, large, extra-large, jumbo, and super jumbo. You might think that bigger is always better, but that is not the case with peppers. The desired fruit size will depend on the intended market. Medium sized fruit are often preferred by processors producing “cups” and by large scale retailers, where fruit are sold by the

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industry Sources 1 Orzolek, M. D., Kime, L. F., Bogash, S. M., Harper, J. K., and Harsh, R. M. 2010. Agricultural alternatives: Pepper production. Penn State Extension. http:// extension.psu.edu/business/ag-alternatives/ horticulture/vegetables/pepper-production.

2 Portree, J. 1996. Greenhouse vegetable production guide for commercial growers. Province of British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

3 University of Georgia, Cooperative Extension.

2009. Commercial pepper production handbook.

Bulletin 1309.

Figure 1. Medium sized fruit can be preferred by processors and some large-scale retailers, while large fruit may be desired for specialty retail markets. piece (Figure 1). Larger fruit may be preferred by processors producing chopped peppers, or by specialty retailers or for farmer’s markets where fruit are sold by weight.

Fruit shape is important in determining marketability. The standard shape for green bell peppers is a blocky, four lobed fruit with a width to length ratio from 1:1 to 1:1.2, depending on the region. The number of lobes can affect shape, with four lobed fruit usually having a more blocky, less pointed shape than fruit with fewer lobes (Figure 2).

4 Erickson, A. N. and Markhart, A. H. 2001. Flower production, fruit set, and physiology of bell pepper during elevated temperature and vapor pressure deficit. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 126(6):697–702.

5 Pressman, E., H. Moshkovitch, K. Rosenfeld, R. Shaked, B. Gamliel and B. Aloni. 1998. Influence of low night temperatures on sweet pepper flower quality and the effect of repeated pollinations, with viable pollen, on fruit setting. Journal of Horticultural Science & Biotechnology 73(1)131-136.

6 Deli, Y., Tiessen, H., 1969. Interaction of temperature and light intensity on flowering of Capsicum frutescens var. grossum cv. California Wonder. J. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci. 94, 349-351.

7 Pressman, E., Moshkovitch, H., Rosenfeld, K., Shaked, R., Gamliel, B., and Aloni, B. 1998. Influence of low night temperatures on sweet pepper flower quality and the effect of repeated pollinations, with viable pollen, on fruit setting. Journal of Horticultural Science & Biotechnology 73(1)131-136.

8 Engel, D. et al. 2016. Midwest vegetable production guide for commercial growers.

9 Reiners, S. et al. 2016. Cornell integrated crop and pest management guidelines for commercial vegetable production.

Figure 2. The length of fruit can be affected by temperatures during fruit development. Also, the three lobed fruit on the right is more pointed than the blocky, four lobed peppers to the left.

Fruit shape can be affected by temperature, with longer fruit forming during periods of higher temperatures. This is one way in which

10 Saure, M. C. 2014. Why calcium deficiency is not the cause of blossom-end rot in tomato and pepper fruit – a reappraisal. Scientia Horticulturae 174 : 151154.

11 Kline, W. L., Wyenandt, C. A., Ward, D. L., Sudal, J. F., and Maxwell, N. L. 2011. Evaluation of six nitrogen fertility programs on marketable yield and development of skin separation in bell pepper fruit. HortTechnology 21:323–328. Websites verified 1/29/16.

seasonality affects fruit production. A variety that produces a blocky fruit when temperatures are cooler may produce a fruit that is too long during warmer conditions, while a variety that produces a proper shaped fruit under warm conditions may produce fruit that is too short when temperatures are cooler (Figure 2).6,7 However, some varieties are very stable and maintain a consistent fruit shape over a wide range of temperature conditions.

overhead irrigation, conditions that favour disease development.3

The colour of the fruit is also important. For green bell peppers, a dark green colour is preferred, but it is more important to have fruit with uniform, nonblotchy colour. A lighter green, uniform coloured fruit is generally more desirable than a darker but blotchy fruit. In addition, the formation of dark purple pigmentation, a condition called “blue nose”, can render the fruit unmarketable. This problem can be avoided by using Anthocyaninless varieties.

Peppers are also susceptible to a number of viral pathogens, including Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), Tobacco etch virus (TEV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), Potato virus Y (PVY), and others. There are several races of some viruses, such as PVY, and it is important to select varieties that are resistant to the races present in the growing area.8,9

Disease resistance The disease resistance traits of a variety need to be considered, as diseases can dramatically impact production. One of the most common and damaging pepper diseases is bacterial spot, which causes brown spots on leaves and fruit, and can result in significant defoliation. There are many races of the pathogen that causes this disease. Therefore, it is important to select varieties that have resistance genes that are effective against the races present, especially in areas with regular rainfall or in fields receiving

Phytophthora blight, caused by a fungal-like organism, can be prevalent and cause significant losses in locations with high soil moistures, such as low areas of a field. Varieties with resistance to the crown and root rot phases of Phytophthora blight are very useful in these situations.8,9

Two abiotic disorders that affect peppers are blossom end rot and silvering. With blossom end rot, the blossom end of the fruit turns brown and dies. This condition is associated with moisture stress and uneven soil moisture levels.10 Silvering occurs when the epidermal layer of the fruit separates from the tissues below. There has been some association of this condition with environmental stress and high fertility rates, but some studies show that it is primarily determined by the genetics of the plant.11 Susceptibility to both of these disorders varies among varieties, and selecting varieties that are less prone to these problems can be beneficial.

innovations in agriculture with kevin walsh

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hether it’s determining the best solutions for solving the challenges our growers face in their fields to identifying new produce trends their customers will shift towards, we are always looking for new forms of agricultural innovation here at Seminis. Over the course of an interview with Kevin Walsh, Global Vegetable Technology Developer, we captured a glimpse of what agricultural innovations growers are utilizing today and what innovations in agriculture we may see in the fields in the very near future.

What agricultural innovations are you seeing used most often in the field at this present time?

A lot of the innovations are around labour saving, packaging options giving farmers unique points of difference in the market place, making them more competitive in a very fast moving and aggressive cost driven market.

Technology is moving fast and automation is a critical factor of success. The robotic industry is being seen

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more and more as playing a role in today’s market from factories to field operations. Farmers are trying to automate parts of their operations with machinery as a result of high pressure on labour availability and government requirements and we are starting to change the way we develop varieties to meet this demand. Factories are being more efficient with packing machines and factory operations of forklifts.

Where do you see agricultural technology going in the next 10 years?

The rate at which agricultural technology is developing is increasing and the cost of this technology also has decreased making it more and more interesting for farmers to develop their own systems. I think field scouting drones will be here within next few years.

Drones may be able to help farmers to optimize the use of inputs (seed, fertilizers, water), to react more quickly to threats (weeds, pests, fungi), to save time crop scouting (validate treatment/actions taken) and estimate yield from a field. Raw data collected by drones gets translated into useful and comprehensible information for farmers thanks to specific algorithms.

Some of the information these images could provide is:

• • •

•

Plant Counting: Plant Size, Plot Statistics, Stand Number, Compromised Plots and Planter Skips Plant Height: Crop Height and Density Vegetation Indices: Leaf Area, Anomaly Detection, Treatment Efficacy, Infestations and Phenology Water Needs: Damage/Drown Out Drones ensure a permanent monitoring of the crop in the field from planting to harvest. Bigger focus on labour and efficiency localization of crops being closer to consumption markets.

What is the future of agricultural innovation and technology? How do you define it? How do your growers define it?

The investment in technology will continue, being more sustainable and efficient is critical to the industry. With changing climates and high pressure on prices, the need to innovate is a critical factor of success. Innovation comes in many forms: product, growing, packaging the demand for better tasting crops, following the trends and being at the forefront.

industry What are the challenges or obstacles currently in the way of the process of adapting to and adopting innovation for growers? Is there anything that is favoring or hindering this process?

Cost is always the first factor in return on investment and how farmers validate the benefits of using new technology. The topline profit is always a major decision point. A lot of customers focus on longterm investment when adopting new innovation or changing practices.

Seminis strives to be a solutions-provider for our growers by investigating and understanding these new agricultural innovations. Through understanding how these new innovations are being utilized to address obstacles in the field we are able to develop solutions to solve these challenges through connecting to our general breeding goals and focus of high uniformity and developing crops which are adaptable to harvesting and growing operations.

By identifying new ways to solve challenges seen by the current generation of growers we can help the following generations be better than the last.

advancing beyond the basics seeds | science | service

Maragogi • • • •

Early short-day onion Firm with small root attachment Very thin neck Suitable for the fresh market

Buzios • • • •

Medium short-day onion Well adapted for productions in the Northern Cape Ideal for the fresh market Medium-early cultivar

Hacienda* • • •

Vigorous early intermediate onion Large, uniform, round medium brown bulbs Excellent productivity and great adaptation to the summer growing conditions in Limpopo province (sowing in December)

Itaparica* • • • • •

Early short-day onion suitable for the fresh market Very uniform bulbs of excellent quality Very thin neck to ensure quick drying Deep round shape with straw-brown skins Good range of adaptation

| www.nuvance.co.za |

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which onion variety will you sow in 2022?

industry

article by dr quintin muhl

A new season with new opportunities: For the best start, go with De Groot en Slot hybrid onion varieties for quality and yield!

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o one knows what the new season will bring with it. The start to this year’s onion planting season was not easy for many, due to the very wet summer months. Making a good seedbed on the heavier soils was quite a challenge.

Unfortunately, weather conditions remain a factor beyond our control. Fortunately, you do have an influence on ensuring the best foundation. This basis starts with an onion variety that best suits your soil type and cultivation goals. Hybrid onion varieties from De Groot and Slot are available for all soils and growers. Have you already made the choice of varieties for 2022?

As a breeding company and specialist in onions, we also want the best possible result for our growers.

By guaranteeing quality and yield of our varieties, together we aim for the highest possible return.

Do you have any questions about variety selection and/or availability? Please contact the sales representative in your area.

carrot seed production

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ejo produces carrot seed around the world. Jos Doodeman and Anne Stoop work as production advisors. They travel regularly to the various production sites, swapping knowledge about different varieties’ genetic and physical qualities and liaising between the farms and Bejo’s head office. Jos and Anne tell us about the requirements a site has to meet and where Bejo is currently producing carrot seeds.

A suitable production site is often a grower or cooperative whose range already contains seeds for crops such as grasses and grains. That means it has the necessary sowing, planting, harvesting and cleaning machines. We prefer to start with farms like these, provided they’re in areas that are free of wild carrots.

Only then do we begin selecting organic growers and preparing to start organic production. Conventional seed production is labour-intensive because it requires extra weed and insect inspections, and organic cultivation is even more so, as scouting has to be done three times a week. Organic seed production must also meet additional requirements. For instance, growers must possess specific certificates relating to soil and crop rotation and verifying, if conventional pesticides have been used in their cleaning facilities in the past, they no longer are.

UNITED STATES

20

industry

CHINA

FRANCE

NEW ZEALAND

SOUTH AFRICA

AUSTRALIA

In exchange for the labour-intensive work and extra criteria, higher prices can be charged. Bejo invests heavily to meet the various conditions to bring growers quality organic seeds. Our ratio is currently 5% organic to 95% conventional. In the future, the share of organic will increase, driven in part by government guidelines.

France and Denmark already legislate the use of organic seeds.

when the going gets tough, ps 16351609 gets going

A

fter being planted under net in the middle of winter (June 2020) PS 16351609 remained in production until the end of November 2020. Even though the plants had to be pulled out prematurely due to the time constraints, PS 16351609 still delivered a higher yield when compared to its opposition varieties which were planted as much as two months earlier. According to farmer Meyer Horn, they calculated an average of ±70 ton/ ha. Over and above the excellent yield potential, phenomenal fruit quality and uniformity, farmer Meyer and his father Mr Dirk Horn, were very impressed by the plant’s persistent growth and production abilities even in the harsh winter conditions.

"As farming goes, this season offered a whole lot of challenges.

What stood out for me was the ability with which PS 16351609 could handle the adverse winter conditions", Mr Horn commented.

According to local sources the winter of 2020 was the coldest for the Lowveld in the last 30 odd years. With extensive frost damage and a complete stunting of growth on just about all crops due to the cold, PS 16351609 kept on growing and producing excellent yields.

As any experienced grower would tell you, it all starts with the roots.

PS 16351609 has a very strong root system and boasts intermediate resistance to Phytophthora

22

products article by jacques louw

cap­sici. Which would also make it an ideal variety to plant in badly drained soils or early when excessive rain is a problem. According to farmer Meyer they have also noticed that the plants were much more responsive when fertilizer was applied, compared to the other opposition varieties. This has prompted some more questions, could PS 16351609 make do with less fertilizer (when compared to other varieties) because of the efficient way it takes up the nutrients?

Well, we will soon find out. The growers at Nico Horn Trust will do an extensive trial in 2021, where they will put PS 16351609 through a variety of additional tests. One of which is to apply 30% less fertilizer to a specific section of their crop. Should this work, it will mean a decent saving on their fertilizer bill. We will most definitely keep you posted on the results and do a follow-up article in the next Oppiplaas.

Plant and fruit characteristics PS 16351609 has vigorous plants with an excellent leaf canopy to protect its fruit from sunburn. A strong root system that carries the plant through tough situations and maximizes nutrient uptake. Blocky thick walled 250 – 350g fruit that turn from a deep green to a bright red.

Perfect for filling boxes or to prepack for the retailers. PS 16351609 has shown to be very versatile and therefore can be grown under cover or in the open field and be harvested as either a green or red sweet pepper.

Disease resistance HR: • PepMov • PVY:0,1,2 • Tm0 • Xcv:0-3, 7, 8 IR: • Pc

a carrot seed’s journey What path does a seed travel before it reaches the customer?

Discover the key stages in a carrot seed’s journey, from arrival at Bejo to shipment to the grower.

Carrot seed is grown in, say, Australia.

There, it’s cleaned for the first time by the grower. Then the grower sends the cleaned seed lot to Warmenhuizen.

HEALTH TEST SEED COUNT PER GRAM GERMINATION TEST

The batch arrives in Warmenhuizen.

A sample is taken.

The sample undergoes various tests.

GERMINATION, HEALTH, MOISTURE, SEED COUNT PER GRAM, PURITY, GENETICS Every seed sample undergoes a field trial to physically assess the variety characteristics.

HEALTH Depending on the results of health tests on the received batch, the seed undergoes hot water treatment against diseases like Xanthomonas and Alternaria.

Upgrading Heavier and lighter seeds are removed using blowing and vibration, further purifying the seed lot. The operator determines whether an additional polishing step is needed to make the seeds smoother.

SIZING The seeds are sorted by size.

The desired diameter is between 1.6 and 2.4 mm.

The resulting fractions are tested for germination capacity.

SORTING Now the seed is sorted by specific weight. The various weight groups are tested again. Only the right fractions are allowed through.

Cleaning The seed lot is cleansed of plant and soil residues.

All impurities and weeds are removed to ensure the seed meets Bejo’s trusted quality standards.

SEED COUNT PER GRAM GERMINATION TEST PURITY WEED TEST

SEED COUNT PER GRAM GERMINATION TEST WEED TEST

In the next phase, the seed is treated.

PRIMING Priming, or pre-germination, of the seed ensures faster and more uniform sprouting. Bejo’s innovative B-Mox® seed-enhancing formula improves vigour, stimulating the seedling’s growth in the earliest stage and making the plant more robust.

COATING Growers can opt to have their seeds coated. There are various options: • white coating = non-chemically treated, • yellowish coating = organic, • green coating = with fungicide.

The active substances in the coatings vary depending on national laws and regulations.

PACKAGING Finally, the seed heads to the packaging department. There are different unit sizes, ranging from 25,000 to 5 million seeds.

Once packed, the seed is shipped to growers.

merkwaardige messenger artikel deur de wet meyer

M

et die hoë reënval en vele bewolkde dae wat ons in die afgelope seisoen ervaar het, was die uitdagings volop. Boere kon in baie gevalle nie in kom om te spuit nie, en as hulle kon inkom, is dit meestal kort daarna tot niet gemaak deur ’n opvolg reënbui.

Hier is waar die suikermielie Messenger sy staal gewys het, met baie minder roes asook wurm skade in vergelyking met sy teenstaanders. Danksy goeie genetika, kon boere wat Messenger geplant het, steeds bo-gemiddelde oeste in die afgelope seisoen afhaal.

Messenger is ’n uitstekende varië­teit, ideal vir die hoof somer seisoen wat in ±85 dae oesgereed is, en baie mooi koppe lewer.

Hierdie varsmark-mielie is gewild dank sy: • • • •

Opbrengs Kwaliteit Goeie raklewe Uitstekende roes weerstand.

26

ps 16351609 het die nodige uithouvermoë

artikel deur de wet meyer

D

ie afgelope seisoen het weereens bewys dat bloot die regte kultivar keuse die verskil kan wees tussen ’n oes en ’n misoes. ’n Goeie voorbeeld hiervan is PS 16351609 soetrissie van Seminis met sy goeie Phytophthora weerstand.

Selfs gedurende die nat somer wat ons gehad het, het PS 16351609 bewys dat hy nie hoef terug te staan vir wat moeder natuur oplewer nie. Een van die aanplantings waar PS 16351609 voorwaar uitgestaan het was onder die nette in Tarlton. Hierdie aanplanting wat in Julie 2020 uitgeplant is, was Maart 2021 nogsteeds vol in produksie. Danksy PS 16351609 se sterk wortelstelsel het plante ’n lengte van oor die 2m bereik terwyl die hulle steeds tot bo uitstekende vrugkwaliteit opgelewer het. Werklik besonders aangesien hy gewoonlik as ’n beperkte groeier in die oop-land aangeplant word.

Alhoewel PS 16351609 reeds vir jare gewild is onder die Brits boere, groei die navraag jaar op jaar en kompeteer hy steeds uitstekend teen van die nuwer kulitvars wat sy opbrengs en raklewe aanbetref.

Goeie blaarbedekking beskerm die vrugte teen sonbrand terwyl sy sterk en gesonde wortels maak dat plante die hoë opbrengs kan dra.

PS 16351609 is en bly ’n staatmaker!

products

revelation (noun ): used to emphasize the remarkable quality of something

B

ell peppers are low in calories, fat free and have a healthy dose of vitamins and minerals. In general bell peppers are rich in antioxidants and help the body fight against chronic illnesses such as inflammation, heart problems and cancer. The redder the bell pepper the higher the antioxidant content.

One cup of bell peppers has at least 2.5g of fibre, 119.8mg vitamin C, 0.5mg vitamin E and the mineral zeaxanthin. Zeaxanthin is very good for eye health.

The first pick for the connoisseur in terms of smell, crunch and taste is the bell pepper variety Revelation.

When the grower decides to produce bell peppers, the following should be taken into consideration:

• • •

Market availability Consistent quality according to your market requirements A packhouse that meets the stringent standards

Revelation has a proven track record of meeting all of the above mentioned conditions.

Bell peppers have very specific requirements for consistent and economical crop production.

A pepper plant requires a rather stable temperature range (25-28˚C throughout the day and 16-18˚C at night). A pepper plant stops growing when temperatures drop below 10-12˚C, whilst at 6˚C the leaves can die, and flowers are aborted. The plants react similarly when temperatures increase above 35˚C. Temperature has a significant effect on the fruit developmental phase. A big variation between minimum and maximum temperatures as well as overcast weather can result in poor fruit set, poor fruit quality and loss of yield. In general, the average number of days to harvest decreases with an increase in temperature. Revelation takes on average 6-8 weeks after transplanting seedlings to harvesting the first fruit, if the temperatures are favourable.

28

products article by anina meyer

Although Revelation is a semi-indeterminate or less compact variety (can be planted open field, under net and in a tunnel) it is well known for its long production season (up to 20-24 weeks). This trait allows for growth and development over a longer period, resulting in an extended set and harvest period with a higher yield per hectare.

To ensure quantity and quality fruit from such less compact plants, like Revelation, they should be trellised. The advantages of trellising are: • High percentage pack outs of first grade fruit • Less disease prevalence, requiring less spraying • Reduced risk The disadvantages of non-trellising are: • • • •

Reduced fruit quality and lower pack out High percentage of plants falling over High percentage fruit rot High percentage of foliar diseases resulting in greater spraying costs.

hacienda* = vroe(ho)ë kwaliteit artikel deur harold lindeque

V

ir twee agtereenvolgende seisoene spog Nuvance met een van die mees uitnemende uie variëteite nog. Hacienda* het merkwaardelik kop bo water uitgestaan in die vroeë slot vanaf middel Desember tot middel Januarie.

Uie aanplantings van Hacienda* in die Vivo/Dendron area was geïdentifiseer as van die beste nog en ons het baie positiewe terugvoer ontvang vanaf boere in die omgewing. Van die goeie eienskappe wat boere in hierdie variëteit raak sien is: • • • • •

eenvormigheid fermheid van die bol dun nekke sterk skubblare mooi bruin kleur

Hacienda* was een van min variëteite wat uiters goeie

houvermoë getoon het tydens meganiese oes asook wanneer dit deur die pakhuis gevoer is. Die effektiewe vloei van hierdie ui deur die pakhuis masjiene is verder vergemaklik a.g.v sy kenmerkende dun nekke.

Nuvance is baie opgewonde oor die toekoms van Hacienda* in die Limpopo area. Ons deel hierdie opgewondenheid met baie van ons kliënte juis oor die tydsgleuf waarvoor hierdie variëteit geskik is asook die korter typerk tussen plant en oes, wat tot voordeel is van die boer.

Dit stel die boer in staat om sy produk vroeër op die mark te hê terwyl hy ter selfde tyd kostes spaar aangesien hy aansienlik vroeër kan begin kunsmis en water onttrek.

In kort is uitstekende kwaliteit en opbrengs vir die vroeë mark wat Hacienda* vir jou bied.

30

products article by heigers campher

H

acienda* is a new earlyintermediate onion variety from De Groot & Slot, which has already made its mark in northern South Africa. The name of this onion derives from the Spanish word for: “a large plantation with a dwelling house”. True to its name we are seeing more and more ’large plantations’ of Hacienda* all across the Limpopo province.

Compared to other leading varieties, Hacienda* matures at least two weeks earlier, thereby not only saving the grower input costs, but also offering him a competitive market advantage.

Another standout feature is its very thin necks and small leaves which allows for more effective pesticides penetration when spraying. It also has good uniformity with a beautiful brown colour once mature.

Even with the above average rainfall we’ve experienced the previous season it still outperformed some of the leading competitor varieties. Don’t miss out and make Hacienda* part of your annual planting program. Contact your nearest sales representative for more information.

Hacienda*

Opposition variety

success is in the detail seeds | science | service

Megaton •

• •

Excellent winter cabbage with large uniform heads Ideal for the informal market Average head weight of 5 to 8 kg

Bellicose* • • • •

Good disease tolerance Round, compact head Ideal for bagging Medium to large head with an average head weight of 3 to 5 kg

Excalibur • •

•

Ideal for fresh market and bagging Well adapted for the highveld summer and the winter in warmer areas.

Average head weight of 3 to 6 kg

| www.nuvance.co.za |

32

groot, groter, megaton

products

artikel deur richard hansen

M

egaton kopkool is al jare bekend as die top winter kultivar in Suid-Afrika.

Indien jou mark ’n groot kool is, hoef jy nie verder te soek as Megaton nie. Megaton is veral geskik vir die bakkie-, smousen opsnymark en word vanaf Februarie tot Augustus in die Weskaap geplant. Eienskappe van Megaton wat uitstaan bo alle ander teenstanders, is sy kop en raam grootte en staan vermoë. Megaton lewer altyd ’n bemarkbare kop sonder enige barste of krake.

Megaton by Johan Roos (links) van Strandfontein saam met Richard Hansen (regs) van Nuvance.

oplossings gedryf deur advies saad | wetenskap | diens

Boro • • •

Goeie toleransie teen blaarvlek Uitstekende somerkultivar Boro is geskik vir die verpakkingsmark

Manzu • •

•

Oesgereed binne 80 tot 100 dae Geskik vir die verpakkings- en bossiemark Goeie toleransie teen Rhizomania

Palau* •

• •

Intermediêre weerstand teen Rhizomania (IR: BNYVV) Pragtige ronde beet geskik vir vars mark Dieprooi kleur

Subeto • • • • •

Medium-vroëe kultivar Regop groeiwyse Uistekende somerkultivar Geskik vir die varsmark Hoë toleransie teen blaarvlek

| www.nuvance.co.za |

34

boro, sinoniem vir sukses in beetproduksie

artikel deur richard hansen

B

oro is een van Bejo se vlagskip beetkultivars wat dwarsdeur die jaar geproduseer kan word. Met die steeds stygende insetkostes van boerdery raak dit al hoe belangriker om die regte kultivarkeuse te maak vir kwaliteit, sowel as opbrengs.

Boro het `n unieke diepdonker rooi kleur en het die vermoë om selfs in koue toestande te produseer.

Boro is geskik vir die bossie-, varsen “prepack” markte en lewer kwaliteit keer op keer.

products

success is in the detail seeds | science | service

PS 16351609* • • •

Tolerant to Phytophthora capsici Extended harvest periods Improved marketable yield

Revelation • • • •

Good shelf life Average fruit size of 10 x 10 cm Blocky sweet pepper Suitable for the fresh market

King Arthur •

•

•

Vigorous growth, excellent fruit quality and widely adaptable open field variety The large, blocky peppers are sweet, thick-walled, and ripen from green to bright red Average fruit weight: 250 – 350g

SV 6131 PB* • •

• • • •

Suitable for open field production Excellent leaf coverage for protection against sunburn Dark green fruit colour Uniform fruit with good leaf attachment Vigorous plant Excellent disease package

| www.nuvance.co.za |

36

new cherry plum tomato “ntom005”

products

article by howard champ

C

urrently in East London the focus to supply the retail markets with a good consistent cherry tomato is mainly set on one market leading variety.

This has been a good reliable variety for at least the last 10 years.

Over the last two years Nuvance has been looking for an alternate variety that growers can rely on to supplement or replace this slot. Nuvance have partnered with Len Waller, who is an established ’speciality’ grower with at least 10 years of experience in the industry and a grower who has had great success.

Len assisted Nuvance by trialling two varieties which Nuvance had earmarked for this segment, alongside his traditional crop.

NTOM008 & NTOM005 were earmarked by Nuvance for their disease package to mirror the current variety and also for their performance in the field. Both have similar diseases resistances but NTOM005, in addition to the standard package also has TSWV (Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus) and TYLCV (Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus) resistance. A far more comprehensive disease package than all its competitors in this segment. Usually when new varieties are introduced to replace current varieties with better disease resistances the new variety often compromises on yield and the grower has to make a business decision to either gamble

on yield or safeguard a saleable crop. You will see from the results below that the NTOM005 has the full house on disease package and also outyielded its competitors to make it a reliable choice in the future for East London growers in the speciality market.

Len Waller planted out on the 4th of December 2020 under plastic and the basic results below were taken at week 10 after planting.

has the required protection but also has the speed, vigour, yield and legs to fit the slot. Nuvance continues to trial this variety throughout the year with Len, but so far it’s looking like a very reliable competitor. Nuvance also takes this opportunity to thank Len for his professional support in the field in assisting Nuvance to gather data on varieties that will make a difference in the future.

As you can see from the results below, the NTOM005 not only

Variety

Market Leading Variety

NTOM005

NTOM008

Plant height (m)

2.3

2.9

2.5

Days to harvest

58

54

58

Avg. flower/truss

55

50

65

65%

95%

50%

No. trusses/plant

10

10

11

Internode spacing (cm)

23

29

22

Avg. fruit weight (g)

15

17

9

Good

Excellent

Average

Avg. fruit formation

Yield potential

advancing beyond the basics seeds | science | service

SV 3725 TH • • • •

Excellent fruit quality High yield potential Good shelf life Suitable for fresh market

SV 7846 TH •

•

•

Suitable for undercover production Good tolerance of TYLCV and Powdery Mildew Suited for year round production

SV 4129 TH* •

•

•

Well suited for undercover and open-field production Vigorous plant growth and a high fruit set Good fruit size with very good quality

SV 2444 TH* • • • • •

Early indeterminate round variety Good set and high production potential Average fruit size of 140-160g Very well suited for open field production Able to grow across regions/provinces in different climatic conditions

| www.nuvance.co.za |

38

sv 4129 th* the winter variety of choice

article by howard champ

E

ugene Vermeulen from Renca boerdery, an established undercover tomato grower in the East London area has been growing tomatoes for many years, throughout the year with great success. During the summer months the pressure of Fusarium oxysporum Race 3 (F3) is particularly high and is it therefore important to choose varieties that have the necessary resistance. During the winter months however, F3 is less prevalent and can other varieties with perhaps better plant and fruit characteristics be cultivated.

One such variety is SV 4129 TH*, the ideal winter variety with a long cropping season. SV 4129 TH* has a real winter season plant habit, supported by the strong plant vigour as well as short internodes (compact plant) with good leaf cover. SV 4129 TH* also has a very good cold tolerance level. Plants offer a high yield potential with a fruit size of 160 – 180g that are in line with current market trends. This variety also offers a very good disease package, specifically the intermediate resistance to Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus.

SV 4129 TH* proved to be a great fit for Eugene’s strict growing conditions, being extremely vigorous, with consistent fruit set and the legs to run for the duration of his winter slot with the last picking being only in early December.

products

nuvance depot in brits

S

edert 2007 het Nuvance (destydse Klein Karoo Saad Bemarking) die Brits kliënte vannuit ons depot in 81 Tom straat (langs Obaro) gediens.

In 2014 het Zelda Hill by hierdie depot aangesluit waar sy vir die laaste 6 jaar vir die kontantver­ kope, voorraadsbeheer en administrasie verant­ woordelik was.

Na 13 jaar op hierdie perseel, het Nuvance einde laas jaar ’n nuwe depot in Brits in Harrington straat 15 (langs Nandos) oopgemaak. Hierdie is gerieflik geleë direk op die hoofroete (R511) ideaal vir dié wat vininig deur Brits kom, of net wil kom navraag doen oor die verskeidenheid groentevaritiëte wat ons kliënte bied.

Met die opening van die nuwe hoofkantoor en distribusie sentrum in Pretoria, is Zelda daarheen oorgeplaas as pakhuis kontroleerder aangesien haar ervaring in voorraadsbestuur hier baie meer van waarde is.

In Februarie 2021 het El-Marie Kotze by Nuvance aangesluit en behartig tans die verkope en administrasie asook elektroniese voorraad beheer van dié depo. In samewerking met De Wet Meyer (verkoopsverteenwoordiger) bedien hulle die groter Brits area.

Kontak die Brits depot gerus by: Tel: (012) 493 0358 El-Marie Kotze: e.kotze@nuvance.co.za De Wet Meyer: d.meyer@nuvance.co.za Adres: Harrington Straat 15 | Winkel no. 4 Brits | 0250

40

regional news Wat ’n ondervinding om vanaf die mynbou bedryf na landbou oor te skakel. Dit was seker een van die onbekendste velde wat ek nog in my lewe betree het, en ek het nie eers groen vingers nie!

In die verlede het ek net altyd groente gekoop van ’n rak af. Vandag kyk ek met ander oë na dié groente. Ek het nooit eers gedink aan al die verskillende variëteite wat bestaan nie. Vir my was ’n ui ’n ui, maar nou het ek al name geleer van ui variëteite, wat die gewone publiek nie eers van weet nie.

Die omgewing was onbekend, maar ek leer steeds elke dag. Danksy my mede-kollegas het ek in ’n kort ruk deel geword van hierdie gemeenskap. Dankie aan Zelda Hill wat my ’n baie deeglike opleiding gegee het. Haar geduld en vermoë om kennis te deel, het my in ’n baie kort rukkie die geleentheid gegee om die Brits depot op my eie te kan hanteer. Elke dag kan ek my kontant kliënte met meer vertroue help. Ek kan meer van hulle vrae beantwoord, en hulle met meer vertroue behulpsaam wees.

Dankie aan De Wet Meyer, wat my elke dag geduldig antwoorde gee oor vrae wat ek aan hom stel oor saad, prosesse, en sommer bietjie agtergrond oor die plant tye van sekere groente gewasse.

Ons is ’n klein span, en ek is werklik baie dankbaar om deel te wees van hierdie span, ’n groep waar elkeen hulle bydrae maak.

- El-Marie Kotze

the kouga crisis article by howard champ

W

hile the majority of agricultural areas have enjoyed an average year in terms of rainfall there are parts of the Eastern Cape that have suffered and continue to suffer in silence from a prolonged drought.

Traditionally the Gamtoos valley and Patensie area are focused on citrus being one of South Africa’s biggest export markets. A large percentage of these growers also incorporate vegetables as a fast and efficient cash crop which in turn, contributes significantly to the local vegetable market. For example: broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and lettuce to mention a few. At Nuvance we are proud to say that we have amongst other suppliers been a major player in supporting these growers in this industry.

These farmers also rely heavily on supply dams like the Kouga dam, situated 21km west of Patensie for their demanding irrigational

needs. Despite the Kouga dam drawing its reserves from an impressive 388 700 ha catchment area, it has a holding capacity of 133 000 000m³ and in May 2021 it was at 4,23% of its total volume. This made me realise the full impact on the local farmers operations after hearing one client mention that he had not had any meaningful rainfall since June

Rainfall Patensie

2020. Its often hard to relate to what these farmers are dealing with when it comes to water supply, even as I live a ’stones throw’ away in Port Elizabeth which is situated in the Coastal-Rain belt.

But that’s just what it is …a ’belt’ but as city dwellers in the Nelson Mendela Metro, we also rely on the ’catchment’ areas like Kouga for our potable water.

42

louis trichardt, we’ve moved!

W

e are proud to announce that our Louis Trichardt depot has moved to a new and more convenient location right next to the N1 highway in early 2021. We continue to offer you the same friendly service at our new address in Industria Street. Here you will still be assisted by Dokter who has been with us since 2010. He will also gladly advise you on our extensive hybrid and/or open pollinated varieties currently on offer.

We enjoy doing business with you and appreciate your support. We hope you will get acquainted with our new depot soon.

You are also welcome to contact us telephonically at (015) 516 4809 or in writing at louistrichardt@nuvance.co.za

welcoming: brian hilder

B

rian completed his schooling in Port Alfred, a small coastal “dorp” just south of Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape.

He entered the shipping industry as an In-Bond Supervisor at Stellenbosch Farmers Winery. There he learnt about importing whiskey, rum and mineral water out of Scotland and Europe.

He joined Hygrotech as an importer in 1999 and it was there that he was introduced to the vegetable seed industry. He imported agricultural products like vegetable seed planters, agricultural chemicals, peat moss and an assortment of vegetable seed from across the globe.

He joined Nuvance on the 1st of December 2020 as the Imports and Exports Coordinator and has had a great deal of fun learning the export industry into the SADC community.

He brings more than two decades of shipping experience with him and is of the opinion that he can make a difference. We welcome Brian, who’s skills and experience is a great addition to Nuvance.

regional news

welcoming: theodore westervelt

I

t is with great pleasure that we would like to welcome Theodore Westervelt to the Nuvance family as the new Finance and Operations Manager.

Theodore, born and raised in Pretoria, made the Netherlands his home for the past two years. Here he had the privilege to stay in Alkmaar and work at the head office of Bejo in Warmenhuizen.

With a background in finance and IT, his main responsibilities were supporting Bejo’s foreign entities with their ERP systems.

When the news broke that Bejo will be acquiring Nuvance, it was a perfect fit for Theodore to return to South Africa as he had the knowledge of how Bejo operates and the local culture. This created the opportunity for him, his wife and son (born in the Netherlands) to come back home.

We would like to thank Theodore for all the improvements he already implemented in Nuvance and we look forward to what is still to come.

verwelkoming: corné prinsloo

C

orné Prinsloo het op 21 September 2020 as rekenmeester

by Nuvance aangesluit. Corné het in 2014 aan die Gekombineerde Skool Hendrina gematrikuleer. Daarna het hy ’n kwalifikasie in finansiele rekeningkunde verkry by UNISA, terwyl hy as ’n rekenmeester gewerk het.

Ons verwelkom vir Corné by Nuvance, en wens hom alle sterkte en voorspoed toe!

44

verwelkoming: el-marie kotze

regional news

E

l-Marie Kotze het op 8 Februarie 2021 by Nuvance as depotbeheerder in Brits aangesluit.

Sy het in 1980 aan die Hoërskool Pretoria-Wes gematrikuleer, waarna sy vir baie jare ondervinding opgedoen het in die betaalstaat en finansiële afdelings van die mynbou bedryf. Na ’n rasionalisasie in 2015 het sy die mynbou bedryf verruil vir landbou.

Tans is sy by Nuvance se Brits tak, waar sy die verkoop van saad aan inloop kliënte behartig, die kontrole van die voorraad doen asook vir De Wet Meyer (verkoopsverteenwoordiger van die Noord-Wes streek) behulpsaam is met die korrekte saad lewering aan sy kliënte.

Baie welkom El-Marie, ons hoop jy is gelukkig by Nuvance.

verwelkoming: elanie du plessis

E

lanie het op 6 April 2021 as nuwe kantoor- en depot administrateur by Nuvance aangesluit.

Elanie het in 2015 aan die Hoërskool Pretoria Noord gematrikuleer.

Daarna het sy ’n Diploma in besigheidsbestuur verkry, terwyl sy as hoof van administrasie gewerk het vir Process Design and Automation.

Elanie het al van kleins af haar liefde vir landbou ontdek terwyl sy saam met familie boere en plase besoek het. Sy begin nou haar liefde vir die landbou verder uitleef by Nuvance.

Ons verwelkom vir Elanie by Nuvance, en wens haar alle sterkte en voorspoed toe!

advancing beyond the basics seeds | science | service

Natuna • • • •

Very uniform, cylindrical carrot Good tolerance to Alternaria High yield potential Suitable for the 1, 3 and 5 kg packaging market

Bastia • •

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Good tolerance to Alternaria Suitable for the processing and bunching markets 105 to 155 days to maturity 22 x 4 cm

Baltimore •

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An early, cylindrical, smooth, well filled Berlicum Strong leaf attachment (suitable for mechanical harvesting) Harvest ready after 100 to 110 days Suitable for the fresh and processing market

| www.nuvance.co.za |

46

sales

verkoopspan | sales team 07

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03

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REGION

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06

04

09

10

02

CONTACT PERSON

CONTACT NO.

01

Western Cape

02

Eastern Cape

03

Northen Cape

04

Mpumalanga

05

Gauteng

06

Limpopo

07

Bushveld

08

North West

09

Free State

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Kwa-Zulu Natal

EMAIL

SADC

Floris Kotze - Commercial Manager

082 604 0060

f.kotze@nuvance.co.za

SADC

Thedore Westervelt - Finance & Operations Manager

082 934 6070

t.westervelt@nuvance.co.za

SADC

Dr Quintin Muhl - Product Development Manager

072 612 7906

q.muhl@nuvance.co.za

SADC

Lindie Oberholzer - Product Development Manager

066 235 6494

l.oberholzer@nuvance.co.za

01

Richard Hansen - Sales Representative

082 666 0405

r.hansen@nuvance.co.za

02

Howard Champ - Sales Representative

082 574 3633

h.champ@nuvance.co.za

03

info@nuvance.co.za

04

Jacques Louw - Sales Representative

081 028 1747

j.louw@nuvance.co.za

05

Gawie Buys - Sales Representative

082 467 0577

g.buys@nuvance.co.za

06

Harold Lindeque - Sales Representative

064 656 1556

h.lindeque@nuvance.co.za

07

Heigers Campher - Sales Representative

082 443 5315

h.campher@nuvance.co.za

08

De Wet Meyer - Sales Representative

076 110 0799

d.meyer@nuvance.co.za

09 10

info@nuvance.co.za Anina Meyer - Sales Representative

ADDRESS

082 785 6697

CONTACT NO.

a.meyer@nuvance.co.za

EMAIL

Head Office Unit 2 | 34 Banghoek Crescent | N4 | Gateway Industrial Park Willow Park Manor | 0184

010 534 8147

info@nuvance.co.za

Brits 15 Harrington Street | Brits | 0250

012 493 0358

brits@nuvance.co.za info@nuvance.co.za

Louis Trichardt c/o Industria and Unika Street | Louis Trichardt | 0920

015 516 4809 064 656 1556

louistrichardt@nuvance.co.za

access to premium products seeds | science | service

Hoplita*

SV 5047 CE* • • • • • • •

Plants have a very open structure Suitable for winter production Vigorous plants with short internodes Excellent fruit set Cylindrical and straight fruit High tolerance to Cca, Ccu Intermediate tolerance to CVYV, CYSDV, CMV, Px

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Vigorous plant Ideal for the summer months, but does also perform well during winter in the Lowveld Medium large fruit High tolerance of CVYV and Ccu Intermediate tolerance of CYSDV, Px, Cca

| www.nuvance.co.za |

48

“Agriculture is the greatest and fundamentally the most important of our industries. The cities are but the branches of the tree of national life, the roots of which go deeply into the land. We all flourish or decline with the farmer”.

success is in the detail seeds | science | service

Alcala*

Batavia • • •

Medium sized broccoli Grey-green colour Suitable for spring to mid summer production

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A late summer/autumn variety for the highveld region Produces a dense, white curd excellent for pre-packing Uniform and productive Maturity: 75 - 78 days Average head weight: 750 - 900g

| www.nuvance.co.za |