Technical Bulletin

Ref. Sweet Candle: 31/07/10

SWEET CANDLE
F1 Hybrid Carrot OUTSTANDING QUALITIES
SUPERIOR FLAVOUR EXCEPTIONAL COLOUR VERY UNIFORM ROOTS VERY WIDELY ADAPTED EXCEPTIONAL YIELD POTENTIAL

Sweet Candle is a revolutionary new type of hybrid carrot for year round production competing in the Nantes high quality market. Maturity is very early up to 2 weeks earlier than other hybrids. Sweet Candle has a unique root quality placing it in a new class. Roots are extremely uniform and smooth with a cylindro-conical shape and well-rounded tip. Yield potential is excellent. Foliage is vigorous and dark green with a medium top attachment. Sweet Candle is an exceptionally promising prospect for the extra high quality in the bunching, bagging, prepack or juicing markets. SPECIAL VARIETAL REQUIREMENTS: Sweet Candle has specific management requirements It is suggested that the variety be tested in specific areas to determine adaptability Please contact your local representative for more details CHARACTERISTIC* KIND TYPE MATURITY SEASON DIMENSIONS COLOUR FLAVOUR CARROT SHAPE AND TIP CORE (COLOUR AND DIAMETRE) SKIN SMOOTHNESS TOP HABIT TOP HEIGHT TOP COLOUR DISEASE REACTION (SCIENTIFIC) FIELD HOLDING BOLTING REACTION YIELD POTENTIAL SUGGESTED POPULATION USE SPECIAL FEATURES SWEET CANDLE F1 hybrid carrot (Daucus carota L.) Nantes Early (Warm: 85 - 90 days and Cool: 105 - 115 days from sowing) Late summer to autumn (trial in specific areas to determine adaptability) 15 - 22 cm x 2.0 - 3.0 cm Dark orange Very sweet Cylindro-conical with blunt tip Excellent Excellent Very strong with erect foliage medium strong attachment 30 45 cm Dark green Very good Very slow Excellent 1.6 2.2 million seeds per ha Pre-pack, bunching, bulk, processing Early maturity of exceptional quality

* Characteristics given are affected by production methods such as soil type, nutrition, planting population, planting date and climatic conditions. Please read disclaimer. WARNING: VARIETY PROTECTED UNDER PLANT BREEDERS RIGHTS. UNAUTHORIZED MULTIPLICATION AND/OR MARKETING OF SEED PROHIBITED.

Disclaimer: This information is based on our observations and/or information from other sources. As crop performance depends on the interaction between the genetic potential of the seed, its physiological characteristics, and the environment, including management, we give no warranty express or implied, for the performance of crops relative to the information given nor do we accept any liability for any loss, direct or consequential, that may arise from whatsoever cause. Please read the Sakata Seed Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd Conditions of Sale before ordering seed. Resistance: is the ability of a plant variety to restrict the growth and development of a specified pest or pathogen and/or the damage they cause when compared to susceptible plant varieties under similar environmental conditions and pest or pathogen pressure. Resistant varieties may exhibit some disease symptoms or damage under heavy pest or pathogen pressure (HR = High resistance, IR = Intermediate resistance). Recent version: Kindly contact Sakata or Area Representative for the most recent version of this Technical Bulletin.

Sakata Seed Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd. Tel. +27 11 548 2800

Copyright: (not to be reproduced) Fax. +27 11 548 2820

Email. info.saf@sakata-eu.com Website. www.sakata.com

Technical Bulletin
Ref. Sweet Candle: 31/07/10

GENERAL TIPS FOR CARROT PRODUCTION

Plant population Much debate over plant populations do exist. Plant population does govern final carrot size whereby higher populations tend to create more competition between plants and roots resulting in smaller carrots. Lower populations tend to be the opposite. Season also plays a role along with light interception. Under warmer or hotter conditions lower populations are suggested due to the natural vigour of the carrots under such temperatures. Leaf growth can become large and lush resulting in competition for light and therefore reduced energy storage in the root. Under cooler conditions, higher populations are often used since carrot growth is slower and tops tend to be smaller. As a result, competition for light is reduced allowing for higher populations to be planted. Bed planters vary in their design. Generally 3 or 4 double rows are planted per bed. What can be found is that plants in the middle or middle 2 rows on the bed tend to have larger leaves due to the increased competition for light in the centre of the bed. Plants in the outer rows can be much shorter due to higher light interception. Disease reaction definitions: Resistance: is the ability of a plant variety to restrict the growth and development of a specified pest or pathogen and/or the damage they cause when compared to susceptible plant varieties under similar environmental conditions and pest or pathogen pressure. Resistant varieties may exhibit some disease symptoms or damage under heavy pest or pathogen pressure. Two levels of resistance are defined: High/standard resistance (HR): plant varieties that highly restrict the growth and development of the specified pest or pathogen under normal pest or pathogen pressure when compared to susceptible varieties. These plant varieties may, however, exhibit some symptoms or damage under heavy pest or pathogen pressure. Moderate/intermediate resistance (IR): plant varieties that restrict the growth and development of the specified pest or pathogen, but may exhibit a greater range of symptoms or damage compared to resistant varieties. Moderately/ intermediately resistant plant varieties will still show less severe symptoms or damage than susceptible plant varieties when grown under similar environmental conditions and/or pest or pathogen pressure. Alternaria leaf blight (Alternaria dauci) Cause Alternaria leaf blight is caused by the fungal pathogen Alternaria dauci and is commonly found in South Africa. This disease is prevalent during summer months when temperatures are high and the leaves remain wet following good rainfall and high humidity. The leaves must be wet for infection to occur. Control Control can be achieved through using more resistant varieties or adopting an integrated management approach. This would include planting wider rows, stricter irrigation control, planting clean seed, optimal fertilisation and minimal stress on the plants. A minimum of a 2 year rotation should be adopted as well. Cavity spot (Pythium sulcatum, P. ultimum, P. violae) Cause Cavity spot is identified usually as the development of small black lesions on the surface of the carrot that grow and coalesce as the infection spreads. The causal organism of this problem is suspected to be of the Pythium family (Pythium violae and Pythium sulcatum). Fungicides such as metalaxyl have been found to be effective against Pythium violae, but not Pythium sulcatum. Control Control has been found through the use of resistant varieties, the use of calcium carbonate (Lime) in the field, avoiding fields of high incidence, as well as managing irrigation, soil cultivation and rotation of crops carefully. Soil sterilisation may help reduce incidence too. Powdery mildew (Erysiphe heraclei) Cause Powdery mildew is also a common disease that affects the leaves of carrots. Powdery mildew can be identified by white fungal growth developing on the leaves. As the disease covers the leaves, they turn brown and die. Powdery mildew is caused by the organism Erysiphe heraclei. Control Powdery mildew can be easily controlled through the use of a variety of registered chemicals. Infected material should be destroyed quickly after harvest. Maintain good rotation and avoid heavily infected fields. Fertilisation Carrots require specific fertilisation to ensure good production. Firstly, good leaf growth and development are required to establish the crop followed by the encouragement of sugar production and storage. Therefore in the earlier stages of growth, the carrot plant responds well to nitrogen stimulating the production of good healthy tops on the plants. Stimulation of sugar production can be boosted after leaf development by increasing phosphates and potassium, but primarily potassium. Calcium is also important to improve strength of the carrot. Magnesium can also be applied in the later stages of growth to help improve colour. Nitrogen should not be removed as it is important that a small continual supply will maintain healthy leaf production. Over application of nitrogen at any stage will stimulate leaf production and can negatively affect the production of excess sugars for the roots.

Disclaimer: This information is based on our observations and/or information from other sources. As crop performance depends on the interaction between the genetic potential of the seed, its physiological characteristics, and the environment, including management, we give no warranty express or implied, for the performance of crops relative to the information given nor do we accept any liability for any loss, direct or consequential, that may arise from whatsoever cause. Please read the Sakata Seed Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd Conditions of Sale before ordering seed. Resistance: is the ability of a plant variety to restrict the growth and development of a specified pest or pathogen and/or the damage they cause when compared to susceptible plant varieties under similar environmental conditions and pest or pathogen pressure. Resistant varieties may exhibit some disease symptoms or damage under heavy pest or pathogen pressure (HR = High resistance, IR = Intermediate resistance). Recent version: Kindly contact Sakata or Area Representative for the most recent version of this Technical Bulletin.

Sakata Seed Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd. Tel. +27 11 548 2800

Copyright: (not to be reproduced) Fax. +27 11 548 2820

Email. info.saf@sakata-eu.com Website. www.sakata.com