Bangkok, 15 September 2021 – Chia Tai Company Limited, Thailand’s leading innovative agricultural company, emphasizes its leadership in the pumpkin business and establishes itself as a genuine market player by launching “Thong Siam Pumpkin,” Thailand’s first virus-tolerant variety, which features more effective tolerance to Squash Leaf Curl China Virus and produces higher A-grade outputs in response to Thailand’s pumpkin business in all aspects.
Leaf Curl Disease caused by Squash Leaf Curl China Virus: SLCCNV – a mortal foe to pumpkin
Chia Tai realizes and understands farmers’ problems in planting pumpkins in current environmental condition which has rapidly changed. Weather becoming hotter every year, and limitations related to cultivating space prompting repetition of plantings on same space have culminated more severe outbreak of disease and insect in pumpkins, especially leaf curl disease caused by Squash Leaf Curl China Virus (SLCCNV), originating from viral disease with whiteflies as disease carriers, which is the main problem for pumpkins. Curled, shrunken, and deformed leaves will appear on the affected pumpkins, and the plant will become dwarf. This will cause incomplete or no fruiting, as a result.
Therefore, Chia Tai has initiated research to breed pumpkin variety to be virus-tolerant via modern innovative and molecular techniques, leading to “Thong Siam Pumpkin” variety, the first of Thailand’s best pumpkin variety which can be tolerant to SLCCNV.
A dedicated 9-year in breeding pumpkin variety to be virus-tolerant via modern innovative and molecular techniques
Mr. Supat Mekiyanon, Assistant Vice President of Research & Development, Chia Tai Company Limited cited upon this success, “Chia Tai has prioritized the development of innovative agriculture to address fellow farmers’ concerns with cultivation, including generating outputs that satisfy market expectations, with the purpose of enhancing people’s quality of life on a sustainable basis by fostering agricultural innovations through quality products and services. Chia Tai has always been considered the leader in the pumpkin market as we have been producing seeds to supply the market covering variable demands, including large-sized medium-sized, and small-sized pumpkins, as well as fancy, butternut, and miniball pumpkins. This year, we launch “Thong Siam Pumpkin”, a brand-new pumpkin variety which is tolerant to SLCCNV, known as the cause of pumpkin leaf curl disease. Chia Tai is able to successfully develop this first variety in Thailand, which is what everyone in Chia Tai is absolutely proud of while delivering quality seeds to farmers.”
Moreover, Ms. Chattra Nartphinich, Crop Breeding Manager, Chia Tai’s Pumpkin Expert who is the person behind the breeding of virus-tolerant pumpkin, i.e., Thong Siam pumpkin variety, added, “Having seen the problems encountered by farmers, we developed the breeding project of virus-tolerant Thong Siam pumpkin variety commencing with surveys and disease diagnosis of viral diseases collected from all regions in Thailand by plant pathologists specializing in disease diagnosis. They utilized molecular technology, a technique using genetic information of germ to identify viral species and variants as cause of disease to come up with relatively accurate, correct, and credible information revealing viral species giving rise to leaf curl disease of some 80% in farmers’ plots, thus the identification of viral disease as the main problem in planting pumpkin. Then, we continue to breed the variety and subsequent selection of cultivars to be used as parent heredity to create virus-tolerant pumpkin like hybrid Thong Siam pumpkin variety, which has gone through the technology of pathology disease screening by plant pathologists specializing in viral diseases from Plant Pathology Department of Chia Tai’s Plant Research and Development Center.”
“Apart from Chia Tai’s plant pathology laboratory tests, the findings reveal that Thong Siam pumpkin is more tolerant to leaf curl disease than other varieties. Since 2016, we have tested with Thong Siam pumpkin plantings in every region in Thailand to analyze variety adaptation in respect of planting space, weather conditions, and farmer’s planting methods. The test result has indicated that Thong Siam pumpkin has stronger stem, more tolerant to environmental conditions in each locality and visibly more tolerant to yellow leaf curl disease caused by SLCCNV. The importance rests with the increase in the quantity of A-grade outputs with No. 1 quality guaranteed for fellow Thai farmers,” Mr. Supat added.
Always No. 1 quality pumpkin!
Because Chia Tai’s pumpkins are synonymous with high-quality pumpkins. It is therefore not simply the increased virus-tolerant feature and higher A-grade outputs that have made “Thong Siam” pumpkin retain the champion among all pumpkin varieties, but also the uniquely leading-edge quality.
“Thong Siam” pumpkin is the large-sized pumpkin with uniform toad-skin, 5-7 kg apiece in weight, beautiful round shape or round and flat shape as usually dubbed, thick bottom, durable and easy to put in place for transportation. The pumpkin texture has beautiful color, slightly yellowish green, firm and thick texture, sturdy and uniquely sweet in taste. This virus-tolerant pumpkin variety has maintained the dominant feature of Chia Tai’s pumpkin, well clicked with farmers, traders, and consumers for sure.
Interested shoppers can buy the virus-tolerant pumpkin seeds “Thong Siam Pumpkin” at agricultural supply stores Thailand-wide. Get more updates on agriculture by visiting Facebook: CHIA TAI SEED www.facebook.com/chiataiseed, Chai Tai’s website: www.chiataiseed.com and a new channel which is ready to update news to you directly at Line: @CHIATAISEED
