RubyRed challenges faced head-on RubyRed正面面臨挑戰(zhàn)

RubyRed challenges faced head-on RubyRed正面面臨挑戰(zhàn)
As red kiwifruit finds favour with consumers, researchers are tackling any issues the variety still presents.隨著紅獼猴桃受到消費(fèi)者的青睞，研究人員正在解決該品種仍然存在的任何問(wèn)題。

Tray volumes of RubyRed kiwifruit are set to double this season as consumers develop a taste for the red variety, with Zespri and the Kiwifruit Breeding Centre committed to resolving some of the challenges the fruit continues to present to growers.

The latest kiwifruit cultivar in Zespri’s portfolio has been in development for over 20 years and has been well received in markets it has reached.

But, while its berry-like flavour is highly palatable, growers have faced issues with smaller fruit size, lower yields per hectare, and susceptibility to?Psa?in certain areas. Additionally, its shorter shelf life limits its export to closer Asian markets.

The Kiwifruit Breeding Centre, jointly owned by Plant and Food Research and Zespri and based in Te Puke, is the hub for resolving some of those issues.

The centre’s chief commercial officer, Dr Bart Challis, said unlike SunGold, which followed a direct cultivar-to-concept approach, RubyRed may evolve through multiple cultivars.

▲Rather than a one cultivar, one fruit, Dr Bart Challis of the Kiwifruit Breeding Centre says RubyRed’s solution may involve at least two cultivars. Photo: Supplied

隨著消費(fèi)者對(duì)紅色獼猴桃的喜愛(ài)，本季RubyRed獼猴桃的托盤(pán)量將翻一番，Zespri和獼猴桃育種中心致力于解決這種水果繼續(xù)給種植者帶來(lái)的一些挑戰(zhàn)。
Zespri產(chǎn)品組合中的最新獼猴桃品種已經(jīng)開(kāi)發(fā)了20多年，在其所覆蓋的市場(chǎng)上廣受歡迎。
但是，雖然其漿果般的味道非?？煽冢N植者面臨著水果尺寸較小、每公頃產(chǎn)量較低以及在某些地區(qū)易受Psa影響的問(wèn)題。此外，其較短的保質(zhì)期限制了其向更接近的亞洲市場(chǎng)的出口。
Kiwifruit育種中心由植物與食品研究公司和Zespri共同擁有，位于特普克，是解決其中一些問(wèn)題的中心。
該中心的首席商務(wù)官Bart Challis博士表示，與遵循直接品種到概念方法的SunGold不同，RubyRed可能會(huì)通過(guò)多種品種進(jìn)化。

“We run a continuous pipeline of cultivars, selecting from additional red varieties to make incremental improvements.”

In November, Zespri CEO Jason Te Brake reaffirmed the company’s commitment to RubyRed, despite sizing and storage challenges.

He highlighted ongoing trials for a new cultivar with the potential to extend the shipping and retail window beyond eight weeks, complementing the current variety. With accelerated assessment, commercial availability could be possible within two years.

“我們經(jīng)營(yíng)著一個(gè)連續(xù)的品種管道，從額外的紅色品種中進(jìn)行選擇，以進(jìn)行漸進(jìn)式的改進(jìn)?！?br /> 11月，Zespri首席執(zhí)行官Jason Te Brake重申了公司對(duì)RubyRed的承諾，盡管存在規(guī)模和存儲(chǔ)方面的挑戰(zhàn)。
他強(qiáng)調(diào)了正在進(jìn)行的一種新品種的試驗(yàn)，該品種有可能將運(yùn)輸和零售窗口延長(zhǎng)到八周以上，以補(bǔ)充目前的品種。通過(guò)加速評(píng)估，商業(yè)可用性可能在兩年內(nèi)實(shí)現(xiàn)。

Challis said Psa’s emergence in 2010 meant breeders had to reset their breeding plan and incorporate greater Psa tolerance, delaying RubyRed’s commercial release.

The disease remains a significant challenge, prompting Zespri’s grower and industry engagement officer Tracy McCarthy to stress the importance of farm and sheltered sites for improved resistance.

“In partnership with growers, we have developed many management tools that work well on Red19 (RubyRed),” she said.

Challis believes RubyRed’s Psa tolerance has advanced beyond that of the varieties of competitors overseas.

Meantime, Zespri has temporarily suspended issuing new licensed areas for the fruit, pending an announcement in its five-year outlook plan later this year.

Finding the right balance for the fruit cultivar remains a priority to meet the needs of growers, consumers and the supply chain.

“That supply chain component is very much a New Zealand Inc issue, due to our distance to market,” Challis said.

“There’s no point in developing a fruit with great consumer appeal unless it can be delivered in good condition.”

He noted that relying on controlled atmosphere storage to extend shipping life affects profitability, compared to breeding storage quality directly into the fruit. However, Zespri’s Global Supply agreements in the northern hemisphere could help address some of the distance challenge.

Growers have also raised concerns about RubyRed’s size – it is considerably smaller than SunGold and Green.

Challis hopes the pre-commercial trials of the new cultivar will provide more clarity on larger size potential.

With gene editing legislation now getting a government hearing, the technology could also prove a tool to help iron out some of the fruit’s issues.

Challis說(shuō)，2010年P(guān)sa的出現(xiàn)意味著育種者必須重新制定繁殖計(jì)劃，并納入更大的Psa耐受性，從而推遲了RubyRed的商業(yè)發(fā)布。
這種疾病仍然是一個(gè)重大挑戰(zhàn)，促使Zespri的種植者和行業(yè)參與官員Tracy McCarthy強(qiáng)調(diào)了農(nóng)場(chǎng)和庇護(hù)場(chǎng)所對(duì)提高抗性的重要性。
她說(shuō)：“我們與種植者合作，開(kāi)發(fā)了許多在Red19（RubyRed）上運(yùn)行良好的管理工具?！?。
Challis認(rèn)為，RubyRed的Psa耐受性已經(jīng)超越了海外競(jìng)爭(zhēng)對(duì)手的品種。
與此同時(shí)，Zespri已暫停為該水果發(fā)放新的許可區(qū)域，等待今年晚些時(shí)候在其五年展望計(jì)劃中公布。
為水果品種找到適當(dāng)?shù)钠胶馊匀皇菨M足種植者、消費(fèi)者和供應(yīng)鏈需求的首要任務(wù)。
Challis表示：“由于我們與市場(chǎng)的距離遙遠(yuǎn)，供應(yīng)鏈部分在很大程度上是新西蘭公司的問(wèn)題?！?。
“除非能夠完好無(wú)損地交付，否則開(kāi)發(fā)一種具有巨大消費(fèi)者吸引力的水果是沒(méi)有意義的?！?br /> 他指出，相較于將貯藏品質(zhì)直接培育成果實(shí)，依靠可控氣氛儲(chǔ)存來(lái)延長(zhǎng)運(yùn)輸壽命會(huì)影響盈利能力。然而，Zespri在北半球的全球供應(yīng)協(xié)議可能有助于解決一些距離挑戰(zhàn)。
種植者也對(duì)RubyRed的規(guī)模表示擔(dān)憂——它比SunGold和Green小得多。
Challis希望新品種的商業(yè)前試驗(yàn)將為更大尺寸的潛力提供更多清晰度。
隨著基因編輯立法現(xiàn)在正在政府聽(tīng)證會(huì)上，這項(xiàng)技術(shù)也可能被證明是一種幫助解決水果問(wèn)題的工具。

Zespri and the centre support precision breeding tools in principle, but not gene modification that transfers genes between species.

Challis said the tech is also no silver bullet and in the context of a 25-year breeding cycle the timelines are still considerable when employing it.

In response to claims that RubyRed struggles to crop with volume, he pointed to evidence that growers consistently achieve higher yields than trial crops.

Farmers Weekly confirmed some growers have exceeded 13,000 trays per hectare through strong cropping and management practices.

With over 50,000 hectares of red kiwifruit grown globally, particularly in China, a red kiwifruit’s? place in consumer fruit bowls is well established.

“And RubyRed is commanding a very good premium despite global competition,” Challis said.

Zespri和該中心原則上支持精準(zhǔn)育種工具，但不支持在物種之間轉(zhuǎn)移基因的基因改造。
Challis說(shuō)，這項(xiàng)技術(shù)也不是靈丹妙藥，在25年的繁殖周期內(nèi)，使用它的時(shí)間仍然很長(zhǎng)。
針對(duì)RubyRed難以大量種植的說(shuō)法，他指出有證據(jù)表明，種植者一直比試驗(yàn)作物獲得更高的產(chǎn)量。
《農(nóng)民周刊》證實(shí)，通過(guò)強(qiáng)有力的種植和管理措施，一些種植者每公頃的托盤(pán)數(shù)已超過(guò)13000個(gè)。
全球種植了5萬(wàn)多公頃的紅獼猴桃，特別是在中國(guó)，紅獼猴桃在消費(fèi)者水果碗中的地位已經(jīng)確立。
Challis表示：“盡管面臨全球競(jìng)爭(zhēng)，RubyRed的溢價(jià)仍然很高?！?。