Services

Tree Evaluation

We perform tree evaluation on a weekly basis by monitoring and distinguishing tree characteristics at every stage in representative growing areas, providing the client with the full phenological sequence from budbreak to harvest, optimal harvest time, yield potential as well as identifying diseases and disorders that may affect adaptability to the specific planting area.

Phenological Characterisation

Monitoring and dating annual tree development stages

Harvest Indexing

Determine optimal harvest date

Yield Potential Estimation

Determine bearing and production potential

Plant Disorder Identification

Monitor and qualify all ailments and weaknesses of cultivar, e.g. susceptibility to diseases, prolonged dormancy symptoms and incompatability responses

Fruit Evaluation

When it comes to harvest, Provar performs visual and sensory fruit evaluation and characterisation of fruit according to size distribution and total weight.

Four-step Visual and Sensory Evaluation

Perform fruit evaluation to learn and quantify visual and eating quality characteristics of your cultivar at harvest, mid cold storage, after storage and after shelf life.

Market Score and Benchmarking

Score your cultivar in terms of market acceptability and performance

Fruit Disorder Identification

Monitor and qualify all ailments, weaknesses and diseases

Fruit Grading

Classify and quantify different fruit sizes

Storage Evaluation

Provar evaluates the storage potential and shelf-life of your cultivars. We also identify fruit disorders with great attention to detail.

Cold Storage Potential and storage disorders

Monitor and qualify all cold storage ailments, weaknesses and diseases

Shelf Life Potential

Monitor and qualify the ability of your cultivar to keep consistent eating quality after storage

Other Services

We also provide specialised services.

Rootstock Evaluation

Testing factors such as suitability for suboptimal soil conditions, plant-parasitic nematodes and replant situations, as well as horticultural aspects quantifying response and survival rate of rootstock x scion combinations and taking into account all aspects that may have an influence on tree performance and tree health.

Chilling requirement classification

Determine the adaptability of the cultivar by planting in variable environments and quantify adaptability disorders

Identify cross pollinators

Provar can evaluate and identify potential cross pollinators for cultivars through S-Allele characterisation and flower time specification

Authenticity Testing

Provar can test the genotype authenticity of your cultivar by molecular fingerprinting

Cultivar Indentification

We assist clients during the whole chain of events through importation of new cultivars for evaluation in South Africa, coordinating each step through SA Quarantine, Plant Improvement Organisation and placement with the preferred Head Licensee. We will keep you informed through each step.

Product Development Support

Provar can independently consult on genotype/varietal potential and improvement, develop evaluation management strategies, optimising and supporting new product development to meet client objectives.

Design your own Evaluation Package

Provar is flexible in their approach and offers a tailor made “package” where the client can select evaluation sites (more than one site preferred), the period for evaluation (three years recommended) and the number of cultivars.

A Screening evaluation will identify the front-runner from a selection of cultivars, and this is followed by a full evaluation trial. In the full trial, at least 10-20 full bearing trees per area will be planted to quantify adaptability and commercial potential.

"The goal is to turn data into information, and information into insight."

CARLY FIORINA

Become an Evaluation Partner

We see our clients as “Evaluation Partners”, complimenting their in-house evaluation through a thorough screening and advanced evaluation that verifies the commercial potential of new cultivars and minimises planting risk for specific sites.

For our clients, we offer access to our Culteva™ and the Provar Evaluation Manual, enabling them to standardise their inhouse evaluation protocol with ours and to become an evaluation partner to Provar.

We also offer a planting plan to our clients for early evaluation - from quarantine into one or more of our Provar evaluation orchards in representative areas, reducing their own evaluation overheads and scaling down on internal evaluation expenses.

Get your cultivars evaluated by industry specialists

Home of Provar Hosted Tastings

Provar hosts a bi-weekly tasting event at the Provar Laboratory in Paarl. During exhibitions, breeders, IP owners and licensees are able to showcase and promote their new and exciting fruit cultivars. Tasters can then rate these fruit selections based on a standard set of visual and sensory characteristics according to their spontaneous appreciation of the products. Evaluations occur in a structured and controlled manner ensuring standardized responses for objective comparison.

Visit Provar Tastings

Cultivar Evaluation Software

Standaridise your evaluation protocols and procedures with Provar's variety/cultivar evaluation software, Culteva™. Culteva is a comprehensive variety data collection and report management tool - built by evaluators for evaluators. Our mission is to develop easy to use tools to make data collection tasks less tedious and more accurate.

Visit Culteva.pro