The new 109SA854 cherry tomato has been presented on 21th February at the Azienda Agricola Barbarossa - Coop. Sempreverde in Vittoria (Sicily).
The demonstrative greenhouse was visited by operators of the field who could witness its performances first-hand.
Vetrina greenhouses at the Azienda Agricola Roberto Barbarossa – Coop. Sempreverde
The tomato still has a code name, and was the result of research carried out by S.A.I.S., an Italian company that has focused its genetic improvement programme on the balance between taste and resistance, as well as tradition and innovation, with the objective of introducing a product with the same quality of the other Italian products for which Italy is renowned for.
The 109SA854 cherry tomato is the perfect compromise between taste and shelf life.
This cherry tomato has a vigorous and compact plant with a good productivity. The fruit is firm, with a deep red colour, is crack-tolerant and has high Brix levels. The size is quite small and the average weight is of 22-25gr.
Bunches are robust and the "star" calyxes are dark green. The plants are resistant to TYLCVs, nematoses and Cladosporiosis (HR:ToMV/Ff:1-5/Fol:0,1/– IR:TYLCV/Ma/Mi/Mj). The variety has a medium-early cycle and is suitable for the Sicilian "counter-season", as transplanting can be carried out starting from the second half of August.
Left to right: Sebastiano Lorefice (Syracuse sales manager), Franca Castagnoli (Geneticist and Research manager), Simona Toloni (Product Manager), Salvo Barbarossa (Owner of Az. Agr. Barbarossa), Domenico Lo Presti (Agrigento sales manager), Jonathan Barbarossa (Owner of Az. Agr. Barbarossa), Giovanni Migliorisi (Ragusa sales manager).
Faliero Liverani, from the Italy Sales Office, explains that "we wanted to organise such event, rather than a technical meeting, to give a chance to the operators to see the variety and evaluate its characteristics first-hand. We know that February is a difficult month for tomatoes (because of fruit cracking and setting) but the high quality of both plants and fruits meant we could carry on with it."
Franca Castagnoli (Geneticist and Research manager) e Faliero Liverani (Italy Sales Office).
Ms. Franca Castagnoli, geneticist and manager of the S.A.I.S. Research Centres added that, "finally we have created a TYLCV-resistant variety that can compete with bigger companies without compromising the quality of the product."
For more information:
S.A.I.S. Sementi SpA
Tel.: (+39) 0547384250
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.saissementi.it
