November 30, 2023
Syngenta Flowers’ Petunia Itsy Bitsy Mix is the People’s Choice award of Gardens By The Bay in Singapore and will be featured in Flower Dome in 2024.
Participants of the ‘˜From Seed to Bloom behind-the-scenes’ tour that was organized on 25 and 26 of November 2023, casted their vote among more than 110 cultivars of the annual Breeder Cultivar Trial this year.
Itsy Bitsy™ Mix is a combination of two strong Syngenta Flowers genetics: Itsy (Magenta and White) and Shortcake Blueberry. Itsy is a small-flowered Petunia and is known for its ability to form a blanket of color. Shortcake Blueberry is a Petunia with a unique color pattern and works well in small pots, combinations but also in the garden.
Mr. Michael van Baekel Head of Marketing Syngenta Flowers APAC: “Winning a people’s choice award is like the icing on the cake. We already knew that Itsy was a hit in European and American markets, but to see this stellar performance in Singapore under tropical circumstances really brought a smile on my face. This is also a huge complement to our technical experts and the team of Gardens by the Bay who worked successful together in creating such an amazing result.”
Breeder Cultivar Trial
The Breeder Cultivar Trial is an annual event organized by the Gardens by the Bay in their Research Glasshouse in Singapore. Due to its excellent technical staff, this trial is known as a very well-equipped place to host a world-leading trial platform in tropical climates.
The organization mainly uses the trial to select the best genetics for a spot in their Flower Dome (cooled conservatory) or in the outdoor landscape designs. Since 2021, they opened up the trial to showcase innovative genetics and to equip the audience with technical knowledge about the latest flowering plant varieties that thrive in both temperate climates (indoor) and sunny tropical climates (outdoor) and growing techniques.
Mr. Ivan Pozdnyakov, Technical Lead Syngenta Flowers APAC: “The circumstances of Singapore are really a stress test for varieties. The combination of hot climate and occasional heavy rain asks a lot from any variety. This is why the trial is so interesting for the industry. You want your varieties to tolerate the heath and revive quickly from heavy tropical showers. We saw our Itsy to revive within two days.”
Syngenta Flowers presented several highlights from its assortment at the trial: Rio Mandevilla, vegetative Petunias Dekko (large flowered) and Itsy (small flowered), Gerbera Cartwheel from seeds and some inspiring combinations of genetics in a single pot or hanging basket.
Mr. Pozdnyakov gave a lecture about the opportunities in high quality cuttings and the phytosanitary requirements for a successful crop cycle. He spoke about fighting all risks regarding hygiene and disciplined crop management. Besides that, he highlighted Syngenta Flowers’ market opportunities in high quality cuttings and its increasingly stronger offer of seed varieties and their benefits.
High quality plant production
The technical team of Gardens by the Bay, led by Dr. Paul Fischer and Ms. Carly Anderson, produced the selection pot and bedding plants from participating breeding companies, in preparation of the event. They managed to create a stunning flower display under challenging tropical circumstances.
Ms. Carly Anderson, Researcher at Gardens by the Bay: “At the 2023 Breeder Cultivar Trials at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore, we were delighted to host more than 100 growers and industry members representing 7 countries: Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the US, and Australia. The event featured an extensive display and evaluation of over 100 plant varieties sourced from 4 breeders, offering visitors a comprehensive glimpse into diverse flowering plants available from each breeders.
This gathering held particular significance for Southeast Asia, an increasingly influential market. Our industry day provided a valuable opportunity for growers across the region to observe and assess how various varieties thrive within our distinct and varied growing environments.”
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