A group of Mexican scientists are working to develop a blueberry variety that adapts better to Mexico's climate to reduce the cold hours these fruits require for their growth. The goal is to overcome the challenges posed by using foreign varieties that often fail to adapt adequately to local conditions.
J. Lucina Romero, a researcher at the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Integral Regional Development, Sinaloa Unit (CIIDIR Sinaloa), of the National Polytechnic Institute, leads the project focused on the genetic improvement of fruit species, including citrus and blueberries. Adapting varieties to local conditions is a priority for researchers, as they consider it a significant adaptive advantage.
Polyploidization, which involves multiplying the number of chromosome sets in the plant genome, is a key technique in this process. This method can be artificially induced by physical or chemical treatments, such as using colchicine, which inhibits metaphase during mitosis, thus increasing the plants' gene content.
The benefits of polyploidization include the production of dwarf plants, which facilitates cultivation and harvesting, and an increase in the number of fruits, leaves, and flowers. In addition, this process improves tolerance to abiotic stress, such as rising temperatures, which is crucial in the face of climate change. Other advantages include an increase in the content of secondary metabolites and the production of seedless fruits, which improves the products' quality and marketability.
Currently, 80% of the blueberry varieties used are protected by copyright, which implies paying royalties to use them. This represents a significant cost for Mexican farmers, who grow blueberries in states such as Jalisco, Michoacan, Baja California, and Sinaloa. Sinaloa alone produced 9,000 tons of blueberries in the 2021-2022 season, with 97% of the production destined for the US market.
Developing a blueberry variety adapted to Mexican climate conditions would reduce dependence on imported seeds, decrease royalty payments, and optimize production improving Mexico's competitiveness in the international blueberry market.
Source: infobae.com