when the going gets tough, ps 16351609 gets going

After 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

article by jacques louw

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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.

The batch arrives in Warmenhuizen. A sample is taken. The sample undergoes various tests. HEALTH TEST SEED COUNT PER GRAM GERMINATION TEST

HEALTH

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

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

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.

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. 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.