The Agronomic Institute (IAC) launched ten cultivars — six of beans and four of cassava this Tuesday, November 30, 2021, at the IAC Headquarters, in Campinas. The grains are destined for domestic and foreign markets and one of the cultivars, IAC 2154, is new in Brazil. The roots stand out for their excellent quality and productivity. One of them, IAC 6-01, has the highest beta-carotene content on the market, equivalent to 800 IU of vitamin A — on average, cultivars have a maximum of 240 IU of vitamin A. The launches were made during the celebration of the 130 years of the Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply, with the presence of vice-governor Rodrigo Garcia, and secretary Itamar Borges.
"With these ten new cultivars, we have added 26 launches of IAC cultivars from June this year until now, results that highlight the vigor and efficiency of the centenary IAC", says the general director of the Institute, Marcos Guimarães de Andrade Landell.
The new bean cultivars are two with white skin, three with red color and one with rounded striped skin. Unprecedented in Brazil, the IAC 2154 cultivar with a white seed coat and small grains has already attracted the interest of some companies for the manufacture of white bean flour, widely used in American and national cuisine. The white-coated bean is known on the international market as Navy Beans. "This name is due to the fact that it is widely used by the American Navy, in the form of canned beans, to feed soldiers", explains Chiorato. The English also consume these beans in the form of sauce during breakfast.
Another intense white bean cultivar with few striations is IAC 2157. Its beans are very heavy and have an elongated, tubular shape. These characteristics qualify it for the international market. It is known as Alúbia, a type widely cultivated in Argentina. "The IAC has been working for years on the development of an Alúbia seed coat cultivar and we were successful with the IAC 2157 cultivar, which has an early cycle and is very productive", summarizes the IAC researcher, Sérgio Augusto Morais Carbonell.
With a red color, IAC 2152 has high production potential, with a small grain, similar to carioca beans, which is well accepted by Brazilians. This type of bean is known on the international market as small red. This cultivar can be used for export practices, but its main destination is the domestic market. "The regions that already consume this type of beans are the coast of Santa Catarina, the south of Minas Gerais and the east of the state of Rio de Janeiro", comments Chiorato, researcher at IAC, from the São Paulo Agribusiness Technology Agency (APTA).
Another red color is IAC 2155, which has excellent grain quality. Known as red balls, this type of grain is very popular in the states of Santa Catarina and Minas Gerais. "It is also widely sold in bulk in municipal markets and has small niche markets", says Chiorato.
IAC 2156 is red in color, with a long, tubular shape. Known as Dark Red Kidney, it is highly appreciated in European countries. However, a large part of all the beans exported by Brazil regarding this type of grain comes from landraces, acquired from other countries and without registration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA), according to the IAC scientist . The Agronomic Institute had been working on this type of grain for some time and was successful with IAC 2156 due to its excellent grain quality, uniform red color, high productivity, resistance to the main crop diseases and an early cycle. "The cultivar is already in the production phase, with interest from the main national packaging companies. Work is underway to encourage domestic consumption of this type of grain in Brazil", comments Carbonell.
With a rounded, cranberry-like striped seed coat, IAC 2153 is mainly aimed at export as it is highly appreciated in Europe. It has high productivity, heavy grains and a size that corresponds to 170 grains in a 100-gram sample, according to Chiorato. IAC 2153 was developed to replace the IAC Nuance cultivar, launched in 2015, which was the first cranberry-type striped seed cultivar developed in Brazil.
The Cassava Improvement Program of the Agronomic Institute (IAC) launches two table cassava cultivars: IAC 6-01 and IAC 28-00. The objective of research carried out over 20 years is to make cassava available to the market with high productivity and short cooking time for the tuberous roots, as well as resistance to bacteriosis, the main disease of the crop, and adapted to the production system.
IAC 6-01 brings together qualities that appeal to consumers and farmers. For the consumer, IAC 6-01 offers yellow pulp, with a beta-carotene content equivalent to 800 IU of vitamin A — on average, cultivars on the market have a maximum of 240 IU of vitamin A. Beta-carotene is one of the ways to naturally obtain vitamin A.
"In addition to this increase in the nutritional quality of the food, the IAC 6-01 also has quick cooking, less than 35 minutes. In other words, it brings the complete package to win over connoisseurs in retailers and markets", comments José Carlos Feltran, IAC researcher.
For farmers, the new cultivar attracts due to its productive potential of more than 30 tons per hectare, being harvested 12 months after planting. The roots have a regular cylindrical shape, with tall, compact plants: the first branch is around 0,60 cm.
With high productivity — it has a production potential of more than 35 tons per hectare. The roots have a regular cylindrical conical shape and the root skin is light brown in color, with cream pulp. Harvesting takes place 12 months after planting, on a tall, compact plant, with the first branch measuring around 0,60 cm. For the consumer, the good news is that it cooks quickly: in less than 30 minutes it is ready to be enjoyed.
"After 20 years of research, we arrived at two table cultivars that combine qualities to generate income for producers and greatly please consumers", says Feltran.
Evaluations of the material began in 2001 and were carried out in several regions of São Paulo, including São José do Rio Pardo, Monte Alegre do Sul, Pindamonhangaba and Engenheiro Coelho. "In these experiments we verified the stability and productive capacity of these two IAC table cultivars", says the IAC researcher, from the São Paulo Agribusiness Technology Agency (APTA).
The industrial cassava cultivar IAC 90 stands out for its high productivity, with a production potential of more than 25 tons per hectare, with one cycle. Another highlight is the skin of the clear roots and white pulp. According to Feltran, these characteristics, added to the high dry matter content in the roots, are highly appreciated by the flour and starch industry. "The clear film and the high dry matter content, which in this cultivar is around 36%, provide high quality and high industrial yield in the production of flour and starch", he states.
The industrial cassava cultivar IAC118-95 is one of the most productive on the market. Its productive potential is more than 30 tons per hectare with one cycle. It has characteristics highly appreciated by the flour and starch industry as it has a light cream root skin and very intense white pulp, in addition to a high dry matter content in the roots — around 40% dry matter. This technological package provides high quality and high industrial performance in the production of flour and starch. "Both IAC 90 and IAC 118-95 have long roots with a regular cylindrical conical shape and little presence of fibers, a profile that is appreciated by the market", says Feltran.
The two IAC cassava cultivars for industry are the result of research that began in the 1990s. The experiments, carried out in Assis, Santa Maria da Serra, Presidente Prodente and Martinópolis, in the interior of São Paulo, made it possible to verify the stability and productive capacity of the new materials in different environments and times. The materials are registered with the National Cultivar Registry of the Ministry of Agriculture, Supply and Livestock (RNC/MAPA).
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