OUTSTANDING QUALITIES

• INTERMEDIATE RESISTANCE TO BLACK ROT
• EXCELLENT SUMMER VARIETY
• EXCEPTIONAL HEAT TOLERANCE
• VERY HIGH YIELD POTENTIAL

Optima is the new summer variety from Sakata that’s in the same class as Tenacity. Optima has resistance to Black rot (Xcc) disease making it perfectly suited to areas with high Black rot pressure – especially in summer. It’s a strong plant that takes 80-95 days to mature form transplants. The big frame protects the heads very well against sunburn and wind damage. Heads are semi-round to round with a good head weight. Optima’s frame has an upright growth habit, so water doesn’t accumulate in the bottom part of the plant.

SPECIAL VARIETAL REQUIREMENTS

• Excellent results are consistently achieved for harvest through the warm season
• Mature heads can tolerate cool and frost conditions well
• Avoid early and late sowings in cooler areas and growing through winter in cold areas as bolting may occur
• Contact area representative for a sowing guide

DESCRIPTION

VARIETY NAME: OPTIMA
TYPE: F1 hybrid fresh market cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. convar.  capitata (L.) Alef.  var. capitata (L.) Alef.
MATURITY: Medium (year round 80 – 95 days from transplanting)
HEAD SIZE: Large
HEAD SHAPE: Round
HEAD WEIGHT: 3.0 – 5.0 kg (could be bigger depending on spacing)
HEAD COVER: Very good
EXTERIOR COLOUR: Deep blue-green
INTERIOR COLOUR: Yellow light green
FLAVOUR: Very good
PLANT SIZE: Large
PLANT HABIT: Semi-erect
BOLTING REACTION: Very sensitive to bolting if produced through winter for spring harvest.  Strictly a warm season cropper
DISEASE REACTION (SCIENTIFIC): Intermediate resistance: Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans (Foc)
FIELD HOLDING: Excellent
YIELD POTENTIAL: Excellent
SUGGESTED POPULATION: 28 000 – 35 000 plants per ha
USE: Sold as individual heads and per bag
SPECIAL FEATURES: Excellent yield potential and intermediate resistance to Black rot