A group of Chilean scientists in the horticultural region of O'Higgins, which is two hours away from Santiago, is striving to create a generation of super trees that are resistant to the damaging effects of climate change.
If successful, the first species of this experiment could be marketed worldwide in 2019.
The super trees would be able to resist the effects of global warming, such as droughts, reduced rainfalls, short periods of winds, frosts, and storms.
The ravages of climate change in fruit productivity is mainly associated with manifestations of environmental abiotic stress, such as flooding, frosts, and the acidification of the land.
Additionally, experts predict that there will be a drastic decline in water resources by 2050, which will subsequently affect agriculture.
To avoid this scenario, the researchers at the Chilean Center for Advanced Studies in Fruit culture (CEAF) have been working since 2009 in the development of species of fruit trees that are resistant to the weather hardships.
"We focus on the roots, the program is focused on obtaining new plant materials for rootstocks," Felipe Gainza, the director of the CEAF genetic improvement told EFE.
Scientists are working on developing new rootstocks that can be an alternative to the ones that are commonly used, which are genetically obsolete, said Gainza.
The region of O'Higgins, where the CEAF is located, has 25,684 hectares cultivated with peaches, nectarines, and cherries, i.e. half of the area devoted to these crops in Chile.
The national scientists are working on these stonefruit trees to make them more resistant or tolerant to adverse weather conditions.
In 2011, the scientists began crossing nine stone rootstocks selections in order to make them more tolerant to extreme conditions.
"For example, the hybrid between a peach and an almond is resistant to drought and tolerant to nematodes, a soil pathogen that affects the roots, because of the almond," said Dr. Ortiz.
Scientists have also crossed peaches with plums, which provide them with a greater resistance to floods and the ability to make a fruit that can tolerate adverse environmental conditions.
According to the president of the Association of Producers and Exporters of the region of O'Higgins, Francisco Duboy, since the weather in central Chile is similar to that in California, producers brought plants from California when they started growing fruit in Chile.
"However, no one thought about the postharvest," said Duboy. "That's why they are working in creating clone trees that can adapt to sudden weather changes and that can withstand long transfers during export," he added.
Source: EFE / eldinamo.cl
