tradicionalmenteinovador - Brazil Buyers & Sellers

A well-deserved homage
>> New variety of tomatoes,
called BRS Couto, was
named after the first
chief-executive director of
Embrapa Vegetables
Embrapa Vegetables, based in Brasília (DF), completed 30
years on 19th May 2011. To celebrate the occasion, a new variety
of tomatoes was launched. BRS Couto pays homage to researcher
Flávio Augusto D’Araújo Couto, who was responsible
for building the Research Center, a work that started in 1975,
and he was also the first chief-executive director of the unit, a
term that extended from 1981 to 1985. In the 1960s, he was a
co-founder of the Brazilian Horticultural Association (BHA).
Couto, who has already retired, spent a lot of his time working
on tomato genetic enhancement programs.
The new cultivar is a hybrid of the Mini-Italian segment,
with elongated fruit weighing from 40 to 80 grams. A major
characteristic of this variety is its resistance to an array of diseases,
and is one of the few varieties tolerant to giminiviruses, a
major problem that affects tomato crops. Furthermore, the variety
is resistant to root-gall nematodes and to mite outbreaks.
Another characteristic is its resistance to several strains of fungi.
It is expected that the new variety will reach the market before
the end of this year, and Embrapa Technology Transference,
also based in Brasília (DF), is responsible for the production of
seeds.
Sweet potatoes also made headlines in 2011 with the
launching of three new varieties — BRS Amélia, BRS Rubis-
sol and BRS Cuia, developed by Embrapa Temperate Climate,
based in Pelotas (RS). The varieties produce upwards of 32 tons
per hectare, four times the national average. BRS Amélia is rich
in pro-vitamin A, with a high level of succulence. BRS Rubissol is
ideal for consumption at the dining table and also for industrial
purposes, characterized by uniform roots. BRS Cuia is famous
for its uniformity and the rather big size of the potatoes, and
adapts well to industrial processes.
The sweet-potato Beauregard variety is also available to
the growers, introduced into Brazil by Embrapa through the
International La Papa Center in Peru. The product is part of the
Biofort program, an initiative that comprises 11 research centers
of the state corporation, besides private entities. The variety
boasts 10 times as many pro-vitamin A carotenodes as its major
competitors.
>> ALTERNATIVES The Agronomic Institute of Campinas
(IAC) is also launching new varieties of potatoes into the
market. Genotypes
IAC 6090 (Ibituaçu) and IAC 2.5 (Vitória) are now being registered
in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply
(Mapa) and should be available to the growers late this year or,
in early 2012, at the latest.
IAC 6090 is indicated for industrial processing purposes,
specifically for the production of chips. The variety stands out
for its high content of dry material and high productive potential,
and performs well in extremely humid environments and
mild temperatures. It is resistant to all major leaf diseases. IAC
2.5 is also resistant to diseases, tolerant to major potato virus
diseases and moderately tolerant to drought conditions. It is
recommended for dining table consumption.
Sílvio Ávila
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