BASF-Nunhems Announces Percyst Carrots

After two decades of research and work, BASF-Nunhems has rolled out Percyst carrot seeds.  Kaitlyn O’Neal BASF-Nunhems Regional Crop Lead, said Percyst is the first carrot variety featuring intermediate resistance to Southern Root-knot and root-knot nematodes.

“We really do think that Persist, and then in the future we are working on other varieties as well, that this will be an opportunity for growers to rely less on fumigants that are controlling nematodes right now and have some more options as far as how we can grow our carrots,” she said.

O’Neal added in addition to resistance, Percyst carrots offer the experience consumers are looking for when it comes to flavor, color and texture.

“The reason that it took us this long, over 20 years, to bring Percyst to the market was to ensure that our growers and their consumers have a good carrot on their hands," O'Neal said.  "And so all of the same things you would come to expect from a carrot that you currently purchase should hold true for Percyst carrots as well. They just have that enhanced nematode resistance as well.”

Nematodes are notorious for reducing carrot yield and quality, causing an estimated $10 billion in crop damage annually in the United States.

By the way, Percyst was developed at the company’s Parma, ID facility.

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com