Vegetable breeding company Enza Zaden says it recently tested its spinach portfolio for a new strain of downy mildew (Peronospora effusa) identified by the International Working Group on Peronospora.
This new race of powdery mildew, Pe: 20, threatens the global spinach industry.
The company said it tested its spinach portfolio for resistance to this new fungus and said its current spinach portfolio offers resistance to the new strain.
Enza Zaden also said growers should incorporate disease control measures and good hygiene techniques, such as removing debris and diseased plants to control the spread of the pathogen as well as to manage resistance.
“Resistance plays a crucial role in ensuring successful production of leafy crops,” the company said in a statement. “In our commitment to adding value across the entire agricultural chain, from growers to consumers, we emphasize the importance of leafy crops’ resistance against spinach downy mildew.”
