Working with growers in Florida and the Southeast has been a critical element in Sakata Seed America’s success. The focus on these regions has resulted in producing vegetable varieties bred to perform in the southern climate and soil types. The Fort Myers Research Station is home to a breeding hub for three of the company’s most important crops — tomato, pepper
and watermelon.
“Our world-class facility is home to the best breeding teams and people in the industry,” says James Galante, Sakata sweet pepper and tomato product manager. “Breeding efforts based in Fort Myers begin with the goal to ‘win at home’ and make sure our local industry has the genetics they need to succeed, but activities extend well beyond into the global market.
“The Fort Myers facility is also home to critical breeding support activities, such as onsite, crop-focused pathologists that ensure high-quality, regionally relevant disease resistances in our genetics. We utilize a combination of live plant disease testing as well as marker technology to back our product. We are committed to the people and health of the Southeast vegetable industry in a big way, and the quality in our genetics show it!”
Growth in Warm Crops
Galante says Sakata has always been a household name in crops like broccoli, but the company has invested in the growth of breeding for warm crops like tomato, pepper and watermelon.
“The traction we are seeing with the warm crops has been remarkable,” he says. “Our breeding teams depend heavily on feedback collected from our grower customers. We are humbled by the generosity of the growing community to allow us the resources necessary to execute comprehensive trialing programs that help us identify products that fit their model and need. Localized breeding activity combined with intimate grower partnerships is a recipe for success.”
Galante says the Sakata science and breeding program is backed up by a well-seasoned sales team that treats grower relationships as a priority.
Considering the horticultural and market needs of the Southeast, the following varieties bred out of the Fort Myers research facility would be worth considering:
Thunderbird
Thunderbird has given growers a significant advantage over the heat stress of the Southeast, especially during the fall growing season. Thunderbird has a relevant resistance package for the region with excellent tolerance to bacterial leaf spot, a critical challenge in Florida/Georgia, especially during the wet season. Yield is king on this tomato, and it’s due to its ability to produce extra-large fruit under stress.
STM2255
This variety is the widest adapted determinate round tomato option in the eastern United States and globally. STM2255’s yield performance, resistance package, bacterial tolerance and vine-ripe characteristics (e.g., flavor and color) give it opportunity across many regions, both in mature-green and vine-ripe markets.
Nitro S10®
Nitro S10® is an innovative pepper for the Southeast market and beyond. Not only does it incorporate a critical disease package, but it is tailormade to perform with high yield in the heat. Nitro S10® is an early maturing, high-quality pepper that has performed consistently in Florida and throughout the greater eastern United States. It has intermediate resistance to Phytophthora capsici, tomato spotted wilt virus and Xanthomonas spp: 0-10.
El Capitan
El Capitan is a work horse, and it is part of Sakata’s “New Horizon” series of watermelons. This variety has outstanding yield potential with a good blend of 45- and 36-count fruit. El Capitan has an excellent vine structure and a full disease package making it a very grower-friendly variety. The dark green, crimson rind pattern and deep red internal flesh color are key value traits which focus on consumers’ needs.
