Thermoterapy chamber: A rapid and eco-efficient method for cleaning and massive propagation of cassava and plantain seed Report

Transcription

1 Thermoterapy chamber: A rapid and eco-efficient method for cleaning and massive propagation of cassava and plantain seed Report Call For Report Call for final report LAC-Brazil Projects funded in the 2011/12 Report Status Submitted Title Thermoterapy chamber: A rapid and eco-efficient method for cleaning and massive propagation of cassava and plantain seed ID 3354 Thematic Area Productivity Enhancing Technologies Reporting period 07 Nov May 2015 Co-leader Institutions Embrapa Cassava & Tropical Fruits & Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical Project Co-leaders Mr. Saulo Oliveira & Ms. Elizabeth Alvarez Type of LAC Co-leader Institution Research Organization Summary In Latin America, sustainable cassava and plantain production is threatened by systemic diseases which easily spread when farmers establish large plots of susceptible materials and/or move asexual seeds from infested plots to new areas. To address this challenge, we propose an efficient and innovative planting material production system based on thermotherapy chambers. The optimal conditions for cleaning and large scale propagation of both crops were evaluated and adjusted in a thermotherapy chamber prototype at CIAT in order to develop and fine tune the protocol. A molecular diagnosis technology based on qpcr was also developed for early detection of Ralstonia solanacearum in plantain and phytoplasmas in cassava. The diagnosis tool was used to determine the presence/absence of the plant pathogens in both crops in targeted areas in Colombia and Brazil, and also to determine the health of planting material obtained from thermotherapy chambers. In 2013, Dr. Oliveira, researcher at EMBRAPA, traveled to Colombia and received full training in the technologies mentioned and also visited field experiments. Dr. Oliveira validated the diagnosis tools in Brazil and began work to evaluate and scaling out the thermotherapy chamber technology. Human capabilities as well as the partnership between the research-oriented organizations in Colombia and Brazil were strengthened. A broad dissemination of results was achieved through training courses, field days, meetings and publications. Country(ies) of Implementation Colombia, Brazil Project Results Plantain and cassava seed production technology using thermotherapy chambers evaluated, standardized, and its use disseminated in the principal plantainand cassava-growing regions of Colombia and Brazil. Farming communities have ready access to high quality cassava and plantain planting materials, thus increasing their competitiveness. Farmers access to clean materials and use technologies for rapid mass multiplication, thus increasing efficiency in production, reducing costs, and improving livelihoods. The scientific capacity of each country is strengthened through the generation of new knowledge, which then becomes transmitted to future generations. Specialists, technicians, and farmers rely on rapid and effective diagnostic methods for certifying seed as free of important diseases, and also use monitoring in the field as a useful tool for making management decisions, thus reducing losses in production and improving net incomes. The scientific community increases its knowledge on cassava and plantain diseases and their management, facilitating the development of teaching and learning tools in producing regions across the world. An outstanding aspect of this research modality is that farmers are in direct and continuous contact with researchers, thus finding support in their search for answers to cassava and plantain diseases. Feedback occurs between farmers and researchers as each group contributes innate and scientific knowledge. Results also disseminated in Costa Rica, Paraguay and El Salvador. Four thermotherapy chambers built to produce clean cassava or plantain planting material in Colombia (3) and Brazil (1). Through the thermotherapy chamber technology, the planting material production efficiency raised to 60% in plantain and 90% in cassava, compared to the traditional farmers systems. Improved the availability of seed of commercial genotypes for farmers with an estimated monthly production of about 90 plantain plants and 26 cassava plants per square meter. Improved plant health diagnosis systems with the implementation of qpcr-based molecular assays that quantify the presence of R. solanacearum in plantain tissue up to CFU per ml. The diagnostic sensitivity of phytoplasma 16SrIII associated with cassava frogskin disease using Real time qpcr is 1,000 times more sensitive than the nested PCR technique normally used. Partnerships strengthened between research-oriented organizations in Colombia and Brazil. Capacity built and research capacity increased in various study areas and alliances formed with the academic, extension, and private sectors, as well as farmer associations. 7,000 plantain farmers and 750 cassava farmers accessed clean planting material, reduced agrochemicals by 40% and prepared to adapt to climate change impacts. Five publications published.

2 Scalability and replicability The group of professionals, technicians, and farmers that participated in the different training activities, using a participatory research (PR) approach, will play a key role in scaling out or replicating the technology in other localities. The aim of PR methodology was to improve communication between farmer and scientist so that farmers concerns and preferences are incorporated earlier in the research process, thus accelerating research and improving adoption rates. Cassava and plantain growers participated directly in the research activities and in the scaling out activities in their regions. According to the results they obtained, proposed technologies are being adopted now and the demand for these technologies is increasing in the target countries and as well as in other nations, particularly in Central America. The thermotherapy chambers built serve as demonstration models or showcases so that any farmer or producer association interested in using this system for mass propagation and cleaning of seeds can be properly trained and can then replicate the system in their own region. Protocols for building and operating thermotherapy chambers and for producing clean planting material are available and technical booklets were published so that this technology can be amply replicated and adapted elsewhere. This will ensure not only national coverage but regional coverage in addition, offering a solution to one of the most important problems of asexual reproducing species such as plantain and cassava: the low availability of high-quality, disease-free, clean seed, at a low cost, one of the main requisites to increase crop yield. Private sector and government support is needed in the countries where the technology will be implemented to ensure that resources are allocated to programs that aim to strengthen the plantain and cassava productive sectors while promoting the formation of alliances to the further establishment of regional centers to produce clean seed. Impacts of project results The incorporation of the thermotherapy chamber as a technology in the integrated management of cassava and plantain diseases reduced the risk of disease dissemination. Farmers reduced crop losses and stabilized or increased food security, crop productivity, sustainability and competitiveness. Massive clean propagation of identified tolerant or resistant genotypes of cassava and plantain favorably impacted the environment and human health. Farmers counteracted the toxic effect of agrochemicals on health both their own and consumers offered a healthier, better quality product. Results obtained serve as methodological references to help improve the health of cassava and plantain crops in countries where systemic diseases are reported as a production constraint. Nursery entrepreneurs and phytosanitary National Plant Protection Institutions had improved their production and certification processes, respectively. Once the thermotherapy was well-suited for eliminating other systemic diseases in cassava and plantains, the widespread use of thermotherapy chambers for the mass propagation of seeds, can impact other diseases caused by viruses and phytoplasmas in both crops. Sustainability of project The combination of using clean planting material, early and reliable disease diagnosis, and the use of resistant genotypes is a reliable strategy to manage plant diseases and significantly reduce yield losses caused by them across South and Central America. One of the thermotherapy chambers that were built in Colombia is currently benefiting 7,000 plantain farmers in central Colombia through a constant offer of low cost, clean and high quality planting materials. The end users show a positive response which is indicated by the farmer s preference to acquire the planting materials produced in thermotherapy chambers versus other traditional propagation systems. This has resulted in an increasing local demand of planting materials produced in thermotherapy chambers. National Research Institutions, the private sector and farmers associations in Colombia, Brazil, Panama, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Peru, Salvador, Brazil and Costa Rica have showed their interest in achieve that results of this project will continue to be implemented by farmers for the production of clean planting material. Similarly, there is an interest to adopt this technology for other crops. Issues in project implementation Due to difficulties in finding a specialized company with capabilities to build the thermotherapy chamber proposed in the project, and originally developed in Colombia, some modifications were needed before building the thermotherapy chamber in Brazil. To cover the top of the thermotherapy chamber a transparent polyethylene film is used. However, this material is not durable and the useful lifetime was less than two years in the thermotherapy chamber built in Colombia. To solve this problem, we change it for a cover made of polycarbonate. Lessons Learned For the construction of thermotherapy chambers in different locations and/or countries some adjustments may be necessary, however, the basic conditions studied (temperature, humidity and photoperiod) are guaranteed. Suggestions for improvement Extend the duration of the project to three years, rather than two, since in the institutions and/or countries involved with the project have differences related product availability, product quality, etc., and bureaucratic aspects, which often interfere with obtaining the final results. Publications 1. Álvarez, E., et al Production of clean planting material for managing plantain diseases. Ed. CIAT (Publication No. 403). E-ISBN Oliveira, S. A. S., et al First report of a 16SrIII-L phytoplasma associated with frogskin disease in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) in Brazil. Plant disease 98(1): Pardo, J. M., et al A real-time PCR assay to detect and quantify 16SrIII-L and 16SrI phytoplasmas associated with cassava frogskin disease in Costa Rica and Paraguay. (Abstr.) Phytopathology 105(Suppl. 1):S Alvarez, E., et al Manejo del Cuero de Sapo enfermedad limitante de la yuca. Ed. CIAT ( Publication No. 405). ISBN Ceballos, G., et al Escalamiento tecnológico en la producción masiva y sostenible de semilla limpia de yuca y plátano para la agricultura familiar. In: Proc III Convención Internacional "Agrodesarrollo 2014": Desarrollo rural sostenible y agricultura familiar para el bienestar humano con equidad de género. Varadero, Matanzas, Cuba El plátano camina hacia sistemas de producción limpios y orgánicos. January In: La Republica 2015, Editorial EL GLOBO Cámara de termoterapia marcando la diferencia en la multiplicación de semilla de yuca y plátano. In: 2/

3 Quantitative Project Results Quantitative - Project Results Number of Key Project Outputs Knowledge Generated Technologies Products Services Training and Technical Visits Name Country/city Number of Days Gender Thermoterapy Chamber: A rapid and massive propagation of cassava and plantain seed, within the scope of the Latin America-Caribbean-Brazil Agricutural innovation Marketplace. Colombia 5 M(1) Technical visits and Training of professionals, technicians, farmers and students. Theme: Production of clean planting material and use of varietal resistance for managing cassava and plantain diseases Colombia 1 M(229), F(121) Events Organized Event Name Country/City Event Type Year (workshop, forum, symposium, etc.) International Course: Cassava Witches Broom Disease: Diagnosis methods and alternatives for the Integrated management of the disease. Colombia Course 2013 Avances realizados en los cultivos de plátano y banano en Colombia. Diffusion of innovative technologies for the management of cassava and plantain limiting diseases, with emphasis in planting material and diagnosis systems Colombia Meeting 2013 Brazil Workshop 2015 Germplasm Exchange Species Number of Recipient Country Accessions Manihot esculenta 12 Colombia Number of Participating Professionals (in the project team as a whole) Female Male 3 5

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