The Institute for Industrial and Biotechnological Innovation (IIBI), through its Plant Biotechnology Centre (CEBIVE) is working in different agricultural production programs. One of those programs is for the mass multiplication of planting material for plantains, bananas, potatoes, pineapples, yams, etc., in order to favour domestic producers so they can acquire planting material of high genetic quality that is sanitary and clean, using the in vitro cultivation technique.
The information was provided by Dr. Bernarda Castillo, IIBI's executive director, noting that this is very important when establishing commercial plantations of various crops in order to get the best returns.
Castillo said the IIBI, concerns about the progress of agriculture in the country, is committed to developing technology to benefit agricultural production and agribusiness in order to counteract various diseases in important crops, as in the case of potatoes, which is affected by different pathogens that affect tuber production.
In this regard the Institute for Industrial and Biotechnological Innovation has carried out a program of basic seed production of potato using plantlets and obtaining quality seeds, which are being used by producers from Constance, Ocoa and Restauración.
The director of the IIBI said that if this technique were generalized, it would save the country large amounts of foreign currency and protect it from pests and diseases for this important crop, thus helping to reduce production costs.
Castillo said the IIBI began a technological support program for the basic production of potatoes through validations by which they will strengthen national food security, trade competitiveness and reduce imports of basic seeds of this crop that is fundamental in the Dominican diet.
She stressed that "currently, this centre has the capacity to produce all of the plantlets that are demanded to cover all of the planting areas with the best varieties adapted for the production of tubers for consumption and for processing."
Source: Elnuevodiario.com.do