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IAC celebrates 135 years with the launch of an unprecedented cultivar in the world

Lippia alba and six ornamental sweet potatoes are among the 40 IAC cultivars launched in the last 12 months

24.06.2022 | 16:46 (UTC -3)

Fernanda Domiciano da Silva

The Agronomic Institute (IAC) celebrates 135 years of existence with the launch of new material in Brazil and the world. This is the cultivar IAC Citral 1 of Lippia alba developed by IAC -- the first cultivar in the world resulting from genetic improvement. In 2022, the IAC Citral 1 cultivar was registered with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA) with the minimum descriptors of the species for the first time. Lippia alba. The novelty will serve the growing market for aromatic and medicinal plants, tea and essential oils. A Lippia alba, known as lemon balm, occurs throughout Brazil, but what exists are native plants, of spontaneous origin in nature, without ever having been improved to present better aromatic and chemical qualities. The commemorative ceremony will take place on June 28th, starting at 15pm, in Campinas. With the presence of the Secretary of Agriculture and Supply of São Paulo, Francisco Maturro, and leaders of science and agriculture in Brazil, farmers from different sectors and representatives of the agribusiness industry. The celebration will also feature the launch of six ornamental sweet potato cultivars and other technologies, in addition to the presentation of the IAC Award, offered annually to IAC employees. In the last 12 months, the IAC has made 40 new cultivars of different species available.

“These seven new IAC cultivars that will be launched on the 135th anniversary of the Agronomic Institute and which, added to the results in the last 12 months, total 40 new cultivars show the strength and competence of this Institution in the generation and transfer of these technologies, which contribute with various agricultural segments in São Paulo and Brazil. Our teams bring together scientific excellence and motivation capable of overcoming difficulties and continuing to demonstrate why the IAC has unshaken credibility with farmers, companies, development agencies and other research and teaching institutions in Brazil and abroad”, comments the general director from IAC, Marcos Guimarães de Andrade Landell.

The agro-industrial potential of Lippia alba motivated the research that began, in 2003, the Genetic Improvement Program for the species at the IAC. According to IAC researcher Márcia Ortiz Mayo Marques, the species produces essential oils with wide chemical variation, called chemotypes, including citral, linalool, myrcene/camphor and eucalyptol. This broad profile contributes to the potential use of Lippia alba as raw material for various purposes or applications in the industrial sector, including food and beverages, biodefensive, veterinary, pharmaceutical, aromatherapy, perfumery and cosmetics.

To evaluate the potential use of clones of Lippia alba of the citral chemotype by the beverage industry, especially the tea industry, the researcher coordinated a study, from 2018 to 2019, with four cultivars from the IAC Germplasm Bank. “We cultivated four selected cultivars of Lippia alba in which biomass productivity, chemical composition of essential oils and sensory analysis of teas were evaluated, where aroma and flavor are evaluated”, comments Márcia.

The IAC citral 1 cultivar stood out from the others due to its good biomass production, essential oil production and sensory characteristics, being recommended for consumption in the form of tea.

As part of the study, the team carried out a sensory analysis with the aim of meeting beverage industry criteria to evaluate public reception of the tea produced with the IAC Citral 1 cultivar. This stage involved the participation of 60 evaluators, who tasted the drink and carried out the sensory analysis, after drinking the tea with the IAC material and two other drinks made with lemongrass.

“The evaluators tasted the tea with Lippia alba improved by IAC and compared with two samples of tea made with lemongrass from two brands available on the market”, explains Márcia.

This phase had the collaboration of the Institute of Food Technology (ITAL), also linked to the São Paulo Agribusiness Technology Agency (APTA) and the Department of Agriculture.

The exchange of diverse genetic material led to the formation of a Germplasm Bank of Lippia alba at the IAC, in Campinas, with plants with different chemical characteristics. “With this germplasm, phenotypic stability and adaptability experiments were carried out in different regions of the State of São Paulo and controlled crossings and open pollination, resulting in 110 clones of Lippia alba with essential oils of different chemotypes”, explains the IAC researcher who led the research, Walter Siqueira, currently retired. The scientists explain that among these 110 clones there is a specific collection of plants of the citral chemotype, which gave rise to the cultivar selected for the tea market.

“The tea market is very large worldwide and consumption has been increasing. Therefore, the IAC Citral 1 cultivar is a new income option for rural producers in the area of aromatic and medicinal plants and for the Brazilian tea industry”, assesses the IAC researcher.

The market for natural, functional and healthier drinks with a focus on health, such as tea, has gained space in the daily lives of the world's population. This trend has been followed by the Brazilian consumer. According to Euromonitor International, tea consumption in Brazil grew 25% from 2013 to 2020, corresponding to almost double the world average.

Get to know Lippia alba

A Lippia alba stands out among the native species of the genus lippia of the flora of the Americas, belonging to the group of aromatic and medicinal plants, with potential for agronomic and industrial exploitation.

In Brazil, it is distributed throughout the national territory. Around here it is popularly known as lemon balm, Brazilian lemon balm, false melissa, among other names.

According to Walter Siqueira, it is a non-domesticated species, but very well known and widespread in Brazil due to the renowned use of its leaves and inflorescences in traditional medicine, in the form of decoctions and infusions due to its digestive, tonic and anti-inflammatory properties. and analgesics.

The entire research also included IAC researchers Carlos A. Colombo, Joaquim Adelino, Sandra Maria Pereira da Silva, Hélio Minoru Takada, Antonio Lúcio M. Martins and Luís Carlos Bernacci, the latter responsible for the minimum descriptors present in the material record.

Celebrations of the 135th anniversary of the IAC

How many science institutions in Brazil have completed more than a century of existence with uninterrupted operations? There is one in Campinas, in the interior of São Paulo, a rare example of tradition, modernity and excellence in agronomic research, which transfers its results throughout the national territory. Founded on June 27, 1887 by D. Pedro II, the Agronomic Institute (IAC) will celebrate its 135 years this Tuesday, June 28, starting at 15 pm, at its Headquarters, in Campinas.

Beyond the Lippia alba Six cultivars of ornamental sweet potatoes will also be launched, the IAC Open Platform for Agricultural Solutions and two publications: Bulletin 100 -- Fertilization and Liming Recommendations for the state of São Paulo and the book A Cultura da Batata-doce.

This year, scientific researcher Hamilton Humberto Ramos, responsible for the Aplique Bem Program, has trained approximately 75 workers to correctly apply agricultural pesticides with greater efficiency for crops and greater safety for the environment and people. The Program has already been transferred to six countries. In partnership with UPL, Aplique Bem evaluates sprayers in use based on ISO 16122 and trains workers on the use of pesticides. The activity is carried out using mobile laboratories, called TechMóveis, taken to rural properties across the country. Two support employees will also be recognized: Roselaine de Fátima Baradel Testi de Lima, who works in the administrative area and is responsible for the IAC's human resources sector, and Sebastião Boarolo, an employee in the technical area of rubber tree research. Rural producer Magno Della Coletta will be honored in the external category.