Brazil: Embrapa lettuce cultivars demonstrate heat resistance

Researchers from Embrapa Hortaliças observed exceptional performance of the lettuce cultivars BRS Leila and BRS Mediterrânea in experiments simulating higher temperatures. While other varieties struggled under rising temperature conditions, these two cultivars stood out, maintaining healthy growth for 45 days at an average temperature of 30°C. The study aimed to understand how climate change can affect plant development, especially in relation to temperature. With projections of increasing global temperatures, understanding the response of crops to adverse conditions becomes essential to ensure food security in the future. According to the researchers, both BRS Leila and BRS Mediterrânea have characteristics that make them more resistant to heat. BRS Leila, for example, has a delay in flowering, allowing it to withstand higher temperatures for a longer period. BRS Mediterrânea has a shorter production cycle, reducing its exposure to heat and avoiding early flowering, which can ...