Enkhuizen, The Netherlands
December 16, 2024
"Managing Nasonavia: top priority"
On Thursday afternoon, December 12, Enza Zaden hosted a key event in Enkhuizen, bringing together open-field lettuce growers from across the to discuss the control of the green aphid, Nasonovia. The significant turnout demonstrated the urgency of managing this pest, with more than 90% of the total lettuce-growing surface in the Netherlands represented at the event.
Expert Speakers
At Enza Zaden, we strive to stay connected to market developments and customer needs. This event provided an opportunity to engage with our customers on a critical issue for the sector, demonstrating our understanding and commitment to supporting their challenges. The program featured presentations from four expert speakers: Henry Rombouts from Hortagri, Maarten de Korte from Koppert, and two speakers from Enza Zaden – Crop Breeding Manager Ronald Vriend and Researcher in Phytopathology, Bart André.
Nasonovia event (picture by Izak Heijboer - AGF)
Henry Rombouts from Hortagri shared his practical experiences from the Netherlands and Germany. He explained that the path to a future strategy involves a combination of chemical and green methods, with experience being gathered across different areas and plots. “We need to come up with a Plan B,” Rombouts emphasized.
Maarten de Korte from Koppert was also invited to speak on the use of green solutions. Koppert has been active in biological pest control in horticulture for years but has also started applying it in field crops over the past seven years. The field researcher provided an overview of field trials on two plots, where the effectiveness of biological solutions was clearly demonstrated with the lowest aphid pressure.
Nasonovia ribis-nigri
Breakthrough
Enza Zaden has been working for over ten years to develop lettuce varieties with new resistance to the green aphid, Nasonovia ribis-nigri. Bart André shared his extensive knowledge on the pest, explaining its life cycle and biological aspects. He also discussed the two biotypes, Nas0 and Nas1, that occur in the field, for which Enza Zaden has developed an innovative testing method. Enza Zaden’s gene bank has found a wild lettuce species resistant to Nas1. A recent breakthrough showed that Nas1 aphids from iceberg lettuce were eliminated when treated with Batavia on young plants. However, Bart noted, "This was with small plants; larger iceberg plants still need testing."
Ronald Vriend, Crop Breeding Manager at Enza Zaden, emphasized that developing iceberg lettuce varieties with the new Nasonovia resistance (Nas1) marks a breakthrough for the sector. "While we’re still working toward the ideal iceberg lettuce, we’ve made significant progress with this resistance," said Vriend. "This is a high-priority issue at Enza Zaden, and we are focused on delivering comprehensive solutions for growers."
Ronald Vriend - Crop Breeding Manager Enza Zaden (picture by Izak Heijboer - AGF)
Guided tour
Following the presentations, attendees toured the Enza Zaden production facilities, gaining insights into our processes, before enjoying a delicious buffet. Looking ahead, Enza Zaden will continue its field trials, research, and breeding efforts to uphold high-quality standards and effective support for growers in managing Nasonovia.
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