Embrapa prepares to launch new varieties of virus-free garlic

The results verified in experiments that have been carried out in several production areas point to an increase in the supply of new varieties of virus-free seed garlic, with very promising characteristics for conventional and organic cultivation systems: these are materials that belong to the group called of semi-noble garlic and which, due to its more rustic appearance, has less commercial acceptance, however with a seasoning quality (aroma and flavor) superior to other types of garlic.

“Our objective is to make these varieties available to family farmers and organic producers who normally operate in less demanding markets such as street markets, street vendors, small markets and greengrocers”, informs researcher Francisco Vilela, coordinator of the virus-free garlic program ( ALV) from Embrapa Hortaliças (Brasília-DF), which points out another advantage of these materials, such as the simpler and lower-cost production system compared to that of noble garlic.

This advantage, according to the researcher, serves less specialized and technical producers, such as those from family farming – these are varieties that do not require vernalization, are little susceptible to pseudo-tillering, and do not require strict irrigation and fertilization controls to avoid physiological abnormalities. .

Validation 

The process included experiments and validation with conventional and organic family farmers in Bahia and the Federal District, which this year included the south of Minas Gerais, in partnership with the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), and in São Paulo also in the conventional and organic. Two varieties were selected that showed excellent performance in conventional family farmers in Bahia, where they exceeded 20 tons per hectare, “a level of productivity generally achieved with noble garlic by highly technified producers in the Cerrado region”.

According to Vilela, in the organic system, productivity was more modest, between 07 and 11 tons per hectare in DF and BA. “Now, we will wait for the results of validations on this system in MG and SP”, points out the researcher. “The idea is to carry out some final validation tests and bureaucratic processes in 2022 and make these materials available to farmers in 2023.”