For more than fifteen years, Gautier Semences has been opening its doors at the beginning of spring to showcase its range of lettuce and new varieties grown under cover. Once again this year, the event was a great success. "We are very pleased with this Discovery Day. We were able to welcome some 30 professionals, including growers, major specifiers of the sector, and leading experts in lettuce grown under cover. The feedback was very positive, both in terms of the quality of the discussions and the condition and organization of the event. It is a real opportunity for privileged discussions to get feedback directly from the field, and to understand the changing needs of our clients and their expectations," explains Léo Vaillant, lettuce range manager at Gautier Semences. 
Combating new strains of Bremia and Fusarium wilt
While the protection of lettuce against pathologies is constantly changing, Gautier Semences is launching a new variety this year, as well as 3 varieties for trial. "These new varieties complement our offer through their agronomic criteria: Presentation, Volume, Weight, and Quality of the underside. They also provide resistance to the main pathogens encountered, such as Bremia and Fusarium wilt. Today, growers are faced with the appearance of one or more new strains of Bremia almost every year, and Fusarium head blight is also increasingly present (Fol:1 and Fol:4). Our priority is to develop varieties that are resistant to these two pathogens, to provide our clients with a 'double defense and zero compromise'."
Very positive feedback on the newly launched Batavia variety
In the Batavia range, H1519 has proved its worth over the past season in the early autumn/late spring niche. "After being evaluated and validated by our development team, H1519 was offered to our clients for trial this year. So far, we have received only positive feedback on the variety, with no traces of tip burn and good resistance to bolting (the 2 main criteria for hot conditions). The variety is compact and easy to handle thanks to its short, supple leaves. Being resistant to all official Bremia strains as well as to Fol:4 (the most widespread strain of Fusariosis), it offers optimum protection."
H1519
Another Batavia variety with a superior underside in trial
Also within this range, a new variety is available for trial: H1530. "H1530, which is in the same niche as H1519, will be available for trial for the next season. It will not be marketed but distributed to the clients who wish to try it. It is related to the H1519 variety, offering the same qualities in terms of presentation and similar resistance, but it stands out thanks to a superior underside: more rounded for minimum leaf contact with the ground, less moisture accumulation, and fewer losses linked to trimming damaged leaves."
H1530
Two other varieties for trial: a Batavia for the autumn/spring niche and a Rougette
For trial in the autumn/spring segment, the Batavia H1512 completes the existing range, with good filling capacity and a more compact, curly look. For the heart of the season, the Gautier Semences Batavia range includes 4 commercial varieties with double resistance to Bremia and Fol:1 or Fol:4.
H1512
Finally, in the Rougette range, a Provençal specialty emblematic of Gautier Semences, the G1539 is offered for trial. This is the first Rougette to offer complete resistance to Bremia Bl:29-40EU coupled with Fusarium resistance Fol:4. It has an attractive look, with a more intense, brilliant red, "a sure hit on the shelves!"
G1539
For more information:
Claire Gaudin
Gautier Semences
Phone: +33 (0)4 90 240 292
claire.gaudin@gautiersemences.com
www.gautiersemences.com