Further demonstrating that its vegetable varieties continue to get better with every generation, Seminis® today announced the launch of its new Dixie Red hybrid tomato seed. With its larger fruit, better disease package and higher yield potential compared to Florida 47 R hybrid tomato seed, the variety is expected to quickly become an industry leader.

“Dixie Red tomato seed will help growers get more fruit out of their fields, which is something they really care about,” said Alfredo Moreno, Seminis Technology Development Representative. “I’ve observed Dixie Red through multiple field trials, and it clearly stood out in this capacity -- producing more pounds per acre than Florida 47 R in most trials.”

One reason for Dixie Red’s increased productivity potential can be attributed to its strong disease package, providing the opportunity for more fruit to be harvested at the end of the growth season. The variety features high resistance2 to Tomato spotted wilt virus, Alternanaria stem canker, Fusarium wilt, Gray leaf spot and Verticillium wilt.

Additional benefits of Dixie Red include an earlier maturity (87 days) compared to Florida 47 R, intermediate resistance3 to Root-knot nematodes, hot set capabilities, as well as its ability to be harvested when it’s green or red, while still maintaining its firm fruit.

Dixie Red tomato seed will initially be available in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, and is ideal for the main growing season in those states as well as in the fall in Florida. Next year, Seminis plans to make the variety available throughout the Northeast U.S. as well.

“We’re proud of the research and trials that brought Dixie Red to where it is today,” said Moreno. “But that’s just the beginning. Seminis continues to invest in developing the best hybrids. We’re looking forward to more varieties coming down the pipeline in the future.”