The Dominican Institute of Agricultural and Forestry Research (Idiaf) and Taiwan's agricultural cooperation in the Dominican Republic, presented three new varieties of bugalu tomatoes that are resistant to viral diseases caused by the Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV). The tomatoes were presented at a field day with technicians specialized in production under protected environment (greenhouses) and producers of vegetables in the Sabana Larga Experimental Station of Idiafen San Jose de Ocoa.
Engineer Rafael Perez Duverge, the Executive Director of Idiaf, and Dr. Daniel Lee of the International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) of the Chinese Republic of Taiwan, who is also the project manager for the management of vegetable health in Greenhouses and the safety inspection of products in RD (PGSHI), highlighted the high productivity and quality of the new bugalu tomato cultivars, which have been genetically selected for their resistance to the TSWV.
The TSWV is considered the main phytosanitary problem affecting the productivity and quality of the tomato table and industrial tomato crops, as well as chili, tobacco, lettuce, and potato crops, among other crops in the country.
During the meeting, the participants were trained in techniques for the rapid detection of pesticide residues in vegetables using state-of-the-art field kits capable of diagnosing the presence of hundreds of chemical contaminant molecules in food. With this training, the Idiaf and the Taiwanese cooperation seek to contribute to generate a system for the management of plant health in protected environments.
The project aims to improve the quality and safety of vegetables consumed and exported by the Dominicans.
Source: hoy.com.do