When trialing new varieties, breeders are looking for uniformity - not only within the hybrid, but among the different hybrids in the series-, and easy and fast flowering, which means a short crop time for the growers. "We try to find the best plants for the growers year round and in a worldwide environment", Reid Snyder, Global Product Manager of pansies and violas at PanAmerican Seed.
Interesting to notice are the different requirements from different countries. Novelties seem to be the big thing in the UK. "They still want the core colors like blue blotch and yellow blotch, but novelty is a big factor on what people want nowadays", Peter Mitchell of Ball Colegrave (UK). In France, they are looking for a plant that will be big enough to fill the pot and they want flowers as soon as possible with a uniformity between the different colors of the series, explains Sylvia Rocheteau, Product Representative at PanAmerican Seed. Tanja Nieminen and Niko Grönberg of Helle Oy from Finland told Ross that Finnish growers attach a lot of value to early, fast and uniform flowering. "Our summer season is short so, we need a series that is in flower fast and at the same time."
For more information
PanAmerican Seed
www.panamseed.com