New crop varieties improve tomato and soybean yields in Cuba

Published 2021년 8월 30일

Tridge summary

Cuba's National Institute of Agricultural Science, with support from the IAEA and FAO, has developed new tomato and soybean varieties using irradiation and biotechnology. These varieties, which include the nationally licensed Giron 50 and Cuvin 22, are more climate-hardy and will be distributed to farmers. The institute has also used nuclear techniques to improve bio-fertilisers, enhancing the production of high-quality soybeans. This approach aims to reduce the use of harmful chemicals and decrease agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. The technique involves exposing plant material to radiation to generate genetic diversity for faster and more effective selection of new varieties.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

By Puja Daya Tomatoes and soybeans are enjoyed in cuisines all around the world – and demand for them constantly grows. Have you ever wondered how farmers have been able to meet this demand and the role nuclear techniques play in it? With the help of the IAEA, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Cuba’s National Institute of Agricultural Science (INCA) has been implementing breeding programmes using irradiation and biotechnology to develop new varieties that can better cope with extremes in growing conditions imposed by climate change. As a result of this work, improved new varieties of tomato and soybean (Giron 50 and Cuvin 22) were successfully harvested for the first time this May on a research test field. They will now be distributed to farmers, alongside the 21 other varieties developed previously by the Institute in a diverse range of crops such as rice, green beans and roselle – a species of hibiscus. The new varieties ...

Source: Agropages