Mar 28, 2017

Hazera breeds hybrid round radish

Hazera has developed a variety of round radishes throughout the past several decades, focusing on a chosen range of key traits. The company offers a look at the latest innovations in round radish. One of Hazera’s latest introductions is the white round radish hybrid.

The new white radish is resistant to White rust, Wim van der Heijden, global product manager, root & bulb crops at Hazera.

Round radish growing ranges from indoor with high density sowing (giving a small bulb size & 30 mm) to outdoor low density (bulb size & 40 mm) and outdoor high density sowing (intermediate bulb size). From direct sowing into harvest period in the summer, radish grows in just 20 days indoor and 25 days outdoor. Usually round radish varieties are red colored.

“Since 1974 we’ve been breeding and selecting round radish varieties, systematically searching for the advantages that markets were demanding,” said van der Heijden. “In 1987 we made a breakthrough introducing high performance hybrid varieties with higher yields and uniformity. Beside yield and uniformity, we always put much focus on reliability in all growing conditions.”

Hazer has focused its breeding in disease resistance.

“Recently Hazera succeeded to introduce high levels of resistance to Fusarium and to White rust (Albugo candida). Especially the last one, introduced in our variety Autella, is a real breakthrough, in line with Hazera’s flow of innovations for the benefit of growers. Downy mildew is another important resistance that we are bringing to higher levels now,” said van der Heijden.

“Bulbs should always have high internal quality and be highly solid. Internally they should be evenly white, and remain so after the product has been cut, for example for use in prepacked salads. Consumers like to have them available year-round, so our breeding extended this spring crop to a real four seasons one.”

For more information, visit www.hazera.com.