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The unit’s varietal creation activity was very dynamic in the past. The majority of varieties resulted as achievement with private partners; the goal of INRA is to introduce genetic resistances into new varieties. Today, the only varietal creation that is active is on the tomato.

List of varieties obtained or co-produced by INRA:

Download the list of varieties still inscribed:

Introducing some of our best known varieties:

Tomato :

• The ‘MONTFAVET’ H63-5 (1977) is a F1 hybrid, blooming earlier than the Dutch hybrids. Round fruits averaging 130 grams.  Excellent fruit set in open fields and cold tunnels because of the quality of its pollen. Variety most widely grown in France from 1970 to 1975. Proficient from 1964, a selection of private institutions started to produce seed in 1965.

• The ‘CALADOU’ (2000) tomato is a variety destined for processing with a tomato wilt virus resistance and is rich in soluble matter. Still used today.

• The ‘GARANCE’ (2012) tomato is a F1 hybrid, with indeterminate growth, for ground culture (cold shelter and field), incorporating 8-disease resistance genes.  The fruit combines a high content of lycopene and vitamin C, optimum sugar/acid ratio, very present tomato flavours, creamy flesh and good firmness. It was a first response to consumer demand for better quality. The F1 ‘Garance’ tomato was originally designed to explore other ways to produce fruit of very good organoleptic quality while meeting the requirements of the sector (less treatment, good resistance to manipulation). There are two innovative points that maximize the gustatory potential of the F1 GARANCE: harvesting at full maturity and storage at room temperature.

Download the GARANCE file: Fiche_F1_GARANCE.pdf
 

• The “TERRADOU” (2016) tomato is a F1 hybrid destined for processing. The plant is adapted to mechanical harvesting and displays resistance to 5 diseases. Its fruit is very rich in soluble solids, an essential criterion for the production of tomato paste. The registration of the F1 TERRADOU tomato, rich in soluble solids and multi-disease resistant, opened the way for the establishment of a payment scale of producers to quality. The impact on the energy balance of this sector is very significant.

Pepper :

• The F1 “LAMUYO” (1973) LAMU line pepper is the result of the Carré de Lagnes x YOLO WONDER population. First pepper hybrid on a global scale. It created the “Red Rectangle” ideotype. It will remain a flagship variety for many years and is still grown globally.

• INRA has worked on resistance accumulation involving various mechanisms since 1986. Many hybrids including ALBY (2002 entry) were created, combining resistance to 4 viruses and 1 fungus

Eggplant :

• BONICA (1973), the first French hybrid for this species; early variety still marketed in 2016.

• DOURGA (1975), inbred variety, early, white fruit mid long, tasty.

Melon :

• The “MARGOT” (1988) melon was the first variety to integrate the Vat gene, conferring a resistance to aphid Aphis gossypii colonisation.  This resistance has subsequently been incorporated into many varieties by private breeders and used on a large scale in the south east of France.

• The “DOUBLON” (1973) variety marked the transition of "populations" varieties to "inbred lines" varieties. It was selected for early under tunnel cultivation, with a resistance to Fusarium oxysporum melonis breeds 0 and 2. These varieties are incorporated by breeders.