Complete range of new introductions

The Technical Development department – TD in short – plays a major role within Seminis, particularly in the launch of new varieties. Laura Pierce is responsible for Seminis assortment of onions in the United Kingdom and Nordics. Laura is particularly enthusiastic about two new introductions of onion varieties: RS07751481 and SV3557ND.

Laura says: ‘With these varieties, our portfolio is complemented by two early/ mid early varieties, so that we can offer our customers a complete range from early to late.’

SV3557ND: earliness with long storage ability
Laura: ‘SV3557ND is an exciting new Seminis variety in its final year of trials in the UK and Nordics. Due to a strong breeding effort, we’ve been able to combine earliness with long storage ability. SV3557ND has shown consistent early maturity in our trials allowing it to be one of the first varieties to market. It has a round high bulb and an attractive dark yellow bronze skin. It combines excellent skin quality with bulb firmness. With the addition of very good sprouting tolerance, this variety remains stable once packed, during transport and when on the shelves. SV3557ND also gives an extremely high percentage of bulbs with single centres, so it is also highly suitable for processing purposes.’

RS07751481: high yield and long term storage
The new commercial introduction from Seminis this year is RS07751481. Laura continues: ‘RS07751481 is a main to mid early variety with long term storage potential. The variety shows high yield and gives a higher proportion of larger bulbs. RS07751481 also gives a very good quality bulb from storage. It combines high tolerance to sprouting with excellent bulb firmness and good skin quality to give a high quality product.’