News - 02-06-2026
Px Defense in Galuna™: “We succeeded in combining vigour, taste and quality”
At the Global Melon & Watermelon Event in Spain, Rijk Zwaan is presenting two new Galuna™ melon varieties that are also resistant against races 6 and 7 of Podosphaera xanthii (Px). These are exciting times for Breeder Alba Garcia Martinez and her team, who have been intensively involved with the varieties over the past years: “We are very eager to hear growers’ reactions. I believe we have succeeded in selecting Galia melon varieties that combine resistance against powdery mildew with vigour while also meeting our high Galuna standards for taste and quality.” In this Q&A, she answers five questions about the journey so far and the path ahead.
What’s so exciting about this launch?
“What makes this launch so exciting is the impact our resistant varieties can have for melon growers. Through our close collaboration with them and extensive trial evaluations at their facilities, our breeding team knows first-hand how serious a challenge Podosphaera xanthii (Px) is. Growers really need an effective solution, and we can now provide one. I truly hope they are just as enthusiastic about these varieties as we are.”
What did the development process involve?
“Our phytopathology researchers and pre-breeders played a key role in the initial phase, identifying new races through the sampling we carry out and providing the breeding teams with the necessary information to introduce resistance to these new races into our breeding programmes. Then it was time to hand over to our Galia breeding team, which is located in Spain. As with most new resistances, introgression required several generations to cross the resistance into our materials. That was followed by selection to maintain agronomic performance and fruit quality. It was not an immediate process, as we needed to balance resistance, productivity and commercial traits.”
Did the team manage to strike that balance?
“Definitely. We only launch varieties under the Px Defense labels when they are also resistant against races 6 and 7 and when we are completely satisfied with them ourselves. Our Galuna range is known for its consistently high quality and excellent flavour. We want to uphold that reputation. The varieties 34 GL0186 RZ and 34 GL0188 RZ combine Px resistance with plant vigour, which ensures good yields and tasty, high-quality Galia melons. These two varieties are suitable for late crop cycles in the Mediterranean region and are similar to Galuna Hiron RZ.”
What are the next steps?
“We are already working on developing Galuna varieties with Px Defense for early crop cycles and protected cultivation. Other breeding teams are doing the same for other melon types. They are adapting the resistance to the specific needs of each melon type, while always respecting market expectations.”
Are you going to continue searching for Px resistances?
“Absolutely. The search for new genetic sources is a continuous process. In addition to that, we will keep monitoring these new varieties and the performance of our resistance. This is necessary because the fungus can mutate again. Therefore, close collaboration with growers is essential. If they spot a new outbreak in their crop, they can send us a sample through their Rijk Zwaan representative. We perform diagnostics, check whether our varieties are resistant and share our findings with the growers. By keeping a close eye on the development of Px together, we can take fast action.”