A NEW variety of Australian truss tomato is quickly making its mark in the protected cropping industry.
The Merlice, a new glasshouse cultivar from De Ruiter, a Monsanto company, was developed to withstand powdery mildew and deliver extra yield to growers.
Murphyfresh Hydroponics, grower and general manager, Jon Murphy, Victoria, said the tomato’s performance has been impressive.
“It has gone past the limitations of what it is meant to handle, we keep throwing more at it and it keeps on giving,” Mr Murphy said.
“The Merlice variety has delivered extraordinary value. It is setting terrific fruit over the summer, making for easy to pickings at harvest.
“It is hands down the best variety we’ve ever grown. The shorter internodes will reduce labour and the powdery mildew resistance means our fungicide inputs are very low.”
Merlice has average fruit weights between 130-150gm.
Sowing for Merlice occurs in late autumn and early winter with harvest generally underway from late August to the middle of June.
The characteristics of Merlice include good overall production, uniform fruit and outstanding quality and colour – particularly during the winter months.
Monsanto’s Global vegetable lead Kenny Avery recently toured Murphyfresh Hydroponics to see the variety first hand.
