Brazil launches first guarana cultivar propagated by seed

Guaranazeiro is a plant native to the Amazon. National production occurs in seven states and in a total of seventy municipalities, with the states of Bahia, Amazonas and Mato Grosso representing around 93.5% of national production. Now Brazil announces the first guarana cultivar propagated by seeds. Before, it was only possible through the cutting method, which consists of planting small cuttings of stems, roots or leaves that, planted in a humid environment, develop into new plants. BRS Noçoquém was developed by the Guaranazeiro Genetic Improvement Program, from Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental (AM). The name, of indigenous origin, refers to an enchanted place, mentioned in the legend that tells the origin of guaraná in the mythology of the indigenous peoples of the Sateré-Mawé ethnic group. In addition to increasing annual productivity by more than seven times, reaching 2.3 kg/plant while 0.3 kg/plant is the average for the state of Amazonas, the cultivar has resistance to the main ...