Mexico has been able to develop and produce yellow corn seed resistant to the fungus known as asphalt stain

By Rosa María Bolaños / Free Press After 5 years of research, the new seed Icta Grano de Oro was developed, which, according to the authorities, is resistant to the so-called “asphalt stain complex”, a disease that is caused by fungi and that causes damage and losses in crops of yellow corn. “The new seed is a hybrid that is being developed for the first time for this grain; it is highly resistant and although the plant contracts the disease, its impact is less and does not affect the yield ”, explained Héctor Martínez Figueroa, director of Basic Grains of the Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (Icta). In 2018, the first white grain hybrid called Icta HB-17 (mainly used for human consumption) had already been launched and in the case of the Icta Grano de Oro, it was created to mainly meet the demand of the agro-industrial sector, which uses it for the production of concentrates for animals and processed foods such as snacks, fried foods and others. According to ...