Spain: New artichoke variety

The Council for Agriculture and Water, through the Institute of Investigation and Agricultural and Food Development of Murcia, successfully developed some "in vitro" cultivation techniques for micro-propagation of tissues of vegetable matter, allowing healthy and qualitative artichoke plants, more vigorous and uniform, with a bigger production and smaller amount of deficiencies and plantation failure.

The director of IMIDA, Adrián Martínez, highlighted that the Horticultural department "works for years in different processes to improve the artichoke's cultivation and we are pioneers in the application of "in vitro" cultivation techniques".

Murcia region is the main artichoke producer in Spain and one of the most important cultivated areas in the world. In 2011, 9,000 hectares were cultivated from which 98% were of Tudela's White variety, with an average production per hectare of 18,000 kilos and a total production above the 153,000 tons.

Competition from countries like Morocco, Tunis, Egypt, Chile, Peru and China, encouraged the start of the investigation process to improve production and commerce of this artichoke, for fresh consumption and the industry as well.

The objective, according to Adrián Martínez, is "to introduce new cultivations that allow us to reach the international markets with a wider offer in terms of varieties, and new industrial processes orientated to the European market, where 80% of the artichoke produced in the whole world is consumed".

Source: Carm