Center-South gains two varieties of cassava for industrial use

Two new cassava varieties developed by Embrapa combine high productivity in the field with a high starch content (a carbohydrate used in the food, mining, oil exploration, etc. industries), meeting the interests of producers and industry. Named BRS Ocauçu and BRS Boitatá, the cultivars stood out in the Center-South region, responsible for 80% of the national production of starch — starch extracted from cassava roots. Evaluated since 2011 in a network of experiments, the materials, which were initially registered for cultivation in São Paulo and are currently being recommended for the states of Mato Grosso do Sul and Paraná, present high productivity both in the first cycle (harvest at 12 months) and in the second (18 to 24 months).

According to Marco Antonio Rangel, a researcher at Embrapa Cassava and Fruit Farming (BA), who currently works at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa), it is essential to work on the interface between these two sectors. "The unit price of cassava is based on the amount of starch, that is, the more starch the root has, the higher the price. There are varieties that have excellent starch content, but productivity per unit area is low. High starch content is good for the industry, but if it does not have high productivity, it is not good for the producer," he says.

Launch

The BRS Ocauçu and BRS Boitatá cultivars will be launched on July 2, during the Cassava Field Day, promoted by the Mato Grosso do Sul Agricultural Cooperative (Copasul), in Naviraí (MS).

This event annually brings together cassava producers from Brazil and other countries to present new technologies in terms of cultivation techniques, plant varieties and equipment, aiming to increase productivity and production efficiency.

It is always held at the beginning of the harvest, so that participants can apply what they have learned immediately.

Assessments conducted since 2011 in a network of experiments show that BRS Boitatá and BRS Ocauçu stand out for presenting high productivity in both the first cycle (harvest at 12 months) and the second (18 to 24 months). In Naviraí, for example, in the first cycle, BRS Boitatá and BRS Ocauçu produced over 33 tons of roots per hectare, surpassing the local standard variety by 150% (13,22 t/ha) and showing suitability for earlier harvest. In the second cycle, the same trend was observed: the cultivars produced over 41 t/ha, while the variety used as a control produced 25,27 t/ha.

Regarding starch productivity, BRS Boitatá and BRS Ocauçu recorded, respectively, 11,64 and 13,46 t/ha in the first cycle, compared to 4,17 t/ha for the local variety. In the second cycle, performance was 19,32 and 16,88 t/ha, compared to 7,97 t/ha for the control. 

Options for producers

Rangel recalls that Embrapa has already launched two industrial varieties for the Center-South since 2016, BRS CS 01 and BRS 420, which have an earlier profile, that is, materials for harvesting in the first cycle. "The new varieties, in addition to being competitive in the first cycle, express the maximum productive potential in the second. In other words, if the producer prefers, he can wait to harvest later. The strategy is to form a portfolio of products, so that the producer is very well served", he highlights.

Researcher Rudiney Ringenberg, who works in the advanced field of the Center-South and is leading the work of validating cultivars in the region, adds that varieties develop better in certain regions than in others, also depending on the profile of the producers. "Between five and ten years, the materials will be placed where they best adapt. For example, BRS CS 01, which is early, is already present in 70% of the area planted in Copasul, because producers in Mato Grosso do Sul prefer to harvest one year later. The new varieties that are being launched increase the options available to producers. The idea is that they can plant, for example, 40% of BRS CS 01 and 60% of one of the varieties that are being introduced. In other words: in addition to all the characteristics of the genotype, there is the issue of market strategy. When the price is not good, the producer can leave it for the second cycle, because the varieties will show good potential", he states.

The materials have been tested and approved by the most demanding industries, both starch and flour, in the Center-South. "These are producers who give us high-quality feedback. We have a very good relationship with them, and they have also worked on validating the other varieties that have already been launched. The behavior of the materials is very stable in terms of productivity and starch production per hectare, for example," Rangel points out. An interesting aspect is that the industrial varieties launched by Embrapa have already been used as witnesses, for example, in tests carried out in Mato Grosso do Sul. "BRS CS 01 and BRS 420 are very strong varieties, which greatly raises the level," he emphasizes.

Differentiated features

One of the distinguishing features of BRS Boitatá is its roots with a white exterior color, a characteristic desired by both the starch industry and flour mills. Ringenberg says that the whiter the skin, the greater the guarantee of producing high-quality flour. "BRS Boitatá is making a good entry into this market niche. Since it has a white skin, if at any point the skin sticks a little, the flour will not darken. In other words, it will not give this flour pigmentation. Although BRS Ocauçu roots have a light brown exterior color, the variety has also been widely accepted by flour mills," he says. 

BRS Ocauçu stands out for producing well in soils with lower fertility, which is another great advantage, according to researcher Vanderlei Santos, responsible for the cassava genetic improvement program at Embrapa Cassava and Fruits at the time of selection of the varieties, given that the soils in the region where cassava production is concentrated in the states where the materials are being recommended are sandstone, which is poorer.

In addition to these characteristics, Santos also highlights the straight stems of the materials, which makes the architecture of BRS Ocauçu and BRS Boitatá favorable to mechanized planting — predominant in the region — and the production of many leaves. "Both cultivars produce many leaves, which quickly cover the soil, making it difficult for weeds to grow, thus saving on weeding," he explains. The researcher adds that, like the varieties already launched, BRS Ocauçu and BRS Boitatá are adapted to direct planting, a system that provides productive stability and environmental conservation, and is expanding in the region.

Considering bacterial blight, superelongation and anthracnose, the main cassava diseases in the Center-South, both materials proved to be moderately resistant, which provides a good level of safety for their recommendation. The criterion related to diseases is the first observed in the selection process, as Santos points out. "Bacterial blight, for example, is not a relevant problem in the Northeast, due to the climate, but in the Center-South region it is a very important disease, hence the need to observe this aspect in the tests", says the scientist. 

Obtaining and validating cultivars

The two clones originated from crosses carried out at Embrapa Cassava and Fruit Farming, in Cruz das Almas (BA). "These cross-breeding fields were installed in 2009 based on two criteria: one part was destined for planting the best materials from our breeding program, which at the time were mostly from the Northeast; and the other for the best materials grown in the Center-South. In 2010, we obtained the seeds from the cross of these materials", says Santos. 

The plants resulting from the seeds from these crosses were sent to Embrapa Agropecuária Oeste (MS). The selected materials were then evaluated in several network trials, in which clones 2010 55-04 (BRS Ocauçu) and 2010 56-18 (BRS Boitatá) stood out, both registered in 2022 and recommended for the state of São Paulo. In 2024, both varieties were registered for cultivation in the states of Mato Grosso do Sul and Paraná.

The breeder says that, adding up the materials sent by the genetic improvement program of Embrapa Cerrados (DF), around 4 thousand genotypes were studied. All of them were first sent to Dourados. "After three harvests at Embrapa Agropecuária Oeste, around 100 genotypes were selected, evaluated in light of criteria such as resistance to diseases, mainly bacteriosis, superelongation and anthracnose, adequate size, root production and starch content, and sent to other locations in the states of Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraná and São Paulo", he adds. 

Product review

Copasul agricultural engineer Cleiton Zebalho says he received the first batch of the two cultivars in 2022 for experimentation. With about three years of multiplying the varieties in the cooperative area, he highlights as the main aspect the fact that they are cultivars for two cycles. "Today we have difficulty finding material with production potential for two cycles. This becomes an alternative for our producers to have a diversification of cultivars."

Another characteristic highlighted by Zebalho was that, to date, no development of diseases has been identified. "Only the attack of pests, which is normal, in this case the mandarová (caterpillar), the main pest of the crop. But regarding diseases, nothing so far", he points out.

He also highlights the need for direct planting, a necessity in the region, which suffers from erosion. In this conservationist system, straw and plant remains from other crops are kept on the surface, ensuring soil coverage and protection, and planting is carried out on undisturbed soil. “It is a more sustainable system. We try to encourage our producers to use this system, adopting cover crops.”

Zebalho says that both materials have the potential for high productivity. "With the producer's technical skills, correcting the soil, applying good base fertilization, planting as instructed, with adequate spacing, and managing weeds, these two cultivars will certainly have great production potential, considering two cycles," he adds.

Finally, the Copasul representative highlights the importance of the genetic quality of the materials. "In my master's dissertation, I discovered the biophysical management factors that affect the cassava productivity gap in Mato Grosso do Sul. And one of the very important points was genetics. Producers who were working with certain cultivars, including BRS CS 01, were achieving better productivity," he adds.

Genetic and phytosanitary guarantee

Analyst Helton Fleck, from the Technology Transfer Management Sector at Embrapa Cassava and Fruits, manager of assets related to cassava cultivation, emphasizes that Embrapa works to ensure that the varieties developed reach producers with their health and genetic identity preserved, in addition to high quality and vigor. To this end, multiplier partners are licensed. “By purchasing seedlings and cuttings from Embrapa licensees, producers can begin their multiplication with confidence in good results. By following the proper care in the fields, the material will maintain the desired quality for several generations,” he reiterates.

In the case of BRS Boitatá and BRS Ocauçu, Copasul is, for now, the supplier of planting material. Over the second half of the year, new partners will be incorporated into the list of suppliers. 

Alignment with SDGs

The launch of the cassava varieties BRS Ocauçu and BRS Boitatá is in line with Embrapa's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a global agenda adopted during the United Nations Summit on Sustainable Development in 2015 with the mission of building and implementing public policies that aim to guide humanity until 2030 (Agenda 2030). 

It meets Goal Number 2 - “Zero Hunger and Sustainable Agriculture”, which consists of eradicating hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture. In 2017, the Embrapa SDG Network was created, which aims to manage distributed intelligence in research units and respond to demands on the 2030 Agenda.