Youwang squash is delicious and virus-resistant, with a loose, sweet, sticky and chewy texture and good prices for summer harvest

In recent years, squash virus disease has seriously affected harvests. The virus-resistant squash "Hualien ASVEG No. 2 - Youwang", developed through cooperation between the Hualien District Agricultural Research and Extension Station and the "Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center - World Vegetable Center", has officially been transferred for production and launched on the market. "Youwang" is heat-tolerant and virus-resistant and has high yield. It can be transplanted only after March and harvested from early July to mid-August, when squash prices are better. Wang Qizheng, associate researcher in the Horticulture Laboratory of the Crop Improvement Section, said that Youwang tastes loose and sweet, sticky and chewy, and is easier to pack into boxes than traditional papaya-shaped squash, making it more advantageous on the auction market. It has currently been transferred to Xinhua Seedling Company, and farmers in need can purchase it directly.