In 2019, HEKTAŞ, a leader in plant protection sector and part of OYAK's chemical and agricultural group, acquired Akça Tohumculuk to expand its work in the seed industry. The company was renamed as Hektaş Tohum in 2020. As of 2024, Hektaş Tohumculuk continues its efforts under the name HEKTAŞ Tohum, aiming to become a global leader by building a bridge to the future through HEKTAŞ's strong foundation. HEKTAŞ Tohum conducts advanced breeding studies utilizing the latest global technologies for seeds including tomato, pepper, cucumber, eggplant, melon, watermelon, wheat, barley, corn, sunflower, and cotton. At its own research and development greenhouses located in the Technopark of Akdeniz University, HEKTAŞ Tohum focuses on hybrid vegetable seed breeding. Additionally, it collaborates with universities and research institutes on joint projects in partnership with the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
The first phase of the "Traceable Safe Food Platform" project, initiated by HEKTAŞ, has been successfully completed by transforming the 5-decare greenhouse area at HEKTAŞ Tohum's facilities in Antalya Technopark at Akdeniz University into a smart greenhouse. The project is expanding through the 30-decare operational greenhouses and farmers' greenhouses at HEKTAŞ F.A.R.M located in Orhangazi, Bursa.
Hektaş Tohumculuk is focused on vegetable breeding studies, enhancing the gene pool of tomato, pepper, cucumber, and eggplant varieties. Within Hektaş Tohumculuk, laboratory and field studies are being conducted on the development of seed varieties through the transfer of the Yellow Rust resistance gene (YR15 Marker) using "Molecular Biotechnology" for 10 different wheat varieties. Research on resistance to Fusarium diseases and root-knot nematodes in tomatoes is also ongoing at Hektaş Tohumculuk. Additionally, breeding efforts are being made for varieties resistant to the Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV), which causes significant economic losses in tomato cultivation worldwide.
Additionally, breeding efforts are being conducted for varieties of peppers that are resistant to economically damaging diseases caused by fungi, such as Pythium and Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV), as well as root-knot nematodes.
In cucumber cultivation, varieties resistant to economically harmful fungal diseases like powdery mildew and downy mildew are being developed, along with varieties that can maintain plant health and fruit quality in accordance with the growing season.
As a final objective, alongside these efforts, we aim to increase the average vitamin values per fruit while considering the rapidly growing global population and end consumers. The breeding studies prioritize criteria such as flavour, aroma, shape, and high fruit quality, as well as multiple disease resistances, high yield, and fruit criteria that meet the demands of target markets. Our work is progressing in alignment with these goals.
nspired by the words of our Great Leader, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, "The foundation of the national economy is agriculture," we are dedicated to the agriculture sector, which is vital for achieving economic independence, for the present and future of our country. With our motto of "domestic seeds, domestic R&D," we aim to continuously offer better solutions for an independent Turkish agriculture and economy.
