Why growers choose Bon Defense

Bon Defense minimises the chance of infection with the cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV), thus offering considerable benefits for growers and their customers. The lack of virus symptoms ensures a higher yield and better fruit quality. Moreover, the much lower concentration of the virus greatly reduces the transmission rate. Thanks to these benefits, the Bon Defense varieties give growers more peace of mind during throughout the crop cycle.

Moreover, a growing number of Rijk Zwaan’s cucumber varieties have this resistance against CGMMV. Bon Defense cucumber varieties are indicated by both the label and the name, which always starts with ‘Bon’, such as Bonbon RZ.

Susceptible versus resistant

CGMMV is spread from plant to plant mechanically, which means that it is transmitted by equipment, tools or people who are working with the crop. A susceptible plant stops growing and dies soon after becoming infected. In contrast, a resistant Bon Defense cucumber variety exhibits few if any symptoms, continues to grow and the level of infection remains very low because the resistance reduces the speed with which the virus multiplies. Moreover, there is a much lower concentration of the virus in the plant, which significantly slows down the spread of the virus from plant to plant.

Although Bon Defense varieties are resistant against CGMMV, they are not entirely immune. Therefore, it is essential to maintain good workplace hygiene in order to minimize the spread, because the Bon Defense variety can still carry the virus and transmit it to other, non-resistant varieties.