Cuba creates climate change resistant varieties of crops

SANTA CLARA, Cuba, Aug 2 (acn) Professionals from the National Research Institute of Tropical Viandas (INIVIT by its Spanish acronym) created varieties of cassava, sweet potato, yams and banana genetically engineered to withstand climatic variations.

These clones require less water and are more resistant to pests, among other qualities.

Sergio Rodriguez Morales, director of the institution, told ACN that the work began in the late 90s of the previous century.

The expert noted that climate variations greatly affect the behavior of vegetables, and as an example he said that the increase in one Celsius degree of the maximum average temperature causes a reduction of 10 percent in agricultural yields.

Currently, various clones of viands that tolerate drought and the effects of cyclones are cultivated in the fields of Cuba. In all cases, peasants say that maintain high yields, he added.

Among the new clones he cited the short-statured INIVIT PV 06 30 plantain, producing minor damage in the case of hurricane winds and have higher yields than traditional varieties of this crop in Cuba.

We also managed to change the morphology of cassava up to produce smaller plants, including INIVIT 93-4, 40 centimeters smaller than conventional ones, he noted.
Victor Mederos, biotechnology director of the center, told ACN that with the In Vitro technology sweet potato seed more adaptable to adverse weather conditions were obtained.
He added that viand is very demanding in terms of humidity, soil quality and environmental conditions, hence the scientific impact of the improvement achieved.

He recalled that in Cuba, for years, modified varieties, such as sweet potato INIVIT B 65-2013, used both for human and animal consumption, are produced.
Its genetic design allows it to develop with minimal water consumption, and only with the water the rain provides can yield up to 10 tons per hectare, which is acceptable under these conditions.

He acknowledged that it is already in the hands of the planters the INIVIT BS 16, a variety of sweet potato high in vitamin A and very resistant to tetuán, the plague that causes more damage to the crop.

Between 35,000 to 53,000 seedlings designed according to the needs of agricultural production of the country, and in accordance with the peculiarities of each region they are created annually at INIVIT bio-factory.