Fleursdumal
फूल की बुराई
intanto scienziati brasiliani sono molto avanti nello studio del genoma del caffè , l'obbiettivo è di migliorare consistentemente sia la resistenza della pianta che la qualità del prodotto finale
ODJ Brazilian Scientist Ends First Stage Of GM Coffee Quest
By Alastair Stewart
Sao Paulo, Dec. 10 (OsterDowJones) - Super gene-modified coffee trees will
come a step closer in December when Brazilian scientists finish mapping the
coffee genome.
Over the last 10 months, research teams have identified approximately
200,000 genetic sequences in coffee trees, information which will be the basis
for research into creating more resistant trees that produce higher-quality
coffees, a scientist leading the project told OsterDowJones.
"We now want to find out more about what the genes do," said Carlos
Colombo, chief researcher on the project at the Campinas Agronomic Institute,
or IAC, in Sao Paulo state.
Colombo said the next phase of the project, starting in the new year, will
be to identify key gene sequences and discover their properties.
From this information, scientists aim to modify trees as a way of
increasing the quality of arabica coffee produced at a lower cost.
"We have been told not to focus on increasing yields but adding value to
produce," said Colombo.
Researchers, for example, will look at ways of reducing the arabica coffee
blossoming period to cut time spent picking coffee. This would not only cut
harvesting costs, which account for around 40% of total outlays, but also
increase the likelihood cherries are taken off the trees at exactly the right
time, said the researcher.
"At the moment, very little is known about how the blossoming works," said
Colombo.
Scientists will also look at which genes increase resistance to drought, a
major problem, as well as pest and fungi.
Gene-modified technology offers the potential to reduce herbicide and
pesticide costs by 50% to 100%, according to Agriculture Ministry's research
arm.
But don't expect gene-modified trees to start populating Minas Gerais
hillsides too soon. Colombo estimates it will take five to 10 years to
identify the relevant sequences start creating modified trees.
Meanwhile, funds still have to be raised to sustain the research groups,
which involved 20 laboratories in Sao Paulo state alone, through the next
stage. Around 200,000 Brazilian real ($1 = BRL3.80) are in the coffers but the
first phase alone ate up around BRL2 million in government and state funds.
All 200,000 gene sequences will be stored at the Sao Paulo State
University of Campinas, or Unicamp, one of the country's leading centers of
agricultural research, and the University of Sao Paulo, or USP.
This is by far the most advanced study into coffee genes.
"The hope is that this research allows Brazil to stay ahead of the
competition," said Colombo.
Brazil is the world's No. 1 coffee producer and exporter, accounting for
around 40% of world production, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture
data.
In 2003-04 (July-June), Brazilian coffee production is expected to slip to
around 25 million to 35 million 60-kg bags from 45 million to 52 million bags
this year.
Brazilian researchers have already genetically mapped sugarcane and are in
the process of studying the genes of witches' broom fungus, which has
devastated Brazil's cocoa production in recent years.
ODJ Brazilian Scientist Ends First Stage Of GM Coffee Quest
By Alastair Stewart
Sao Paulo, Dec. 10 (OsterDowJones) - Super gene-modified coffee trees will
come a step closer in December when Brazilian scientists finish mapping the
coffee genome.
Over the last 10 months, research teams have identified approximately
200,000 genetic sequences in coffee trees, information which will be the basis
for research into creating more resistant trees that produce higher-quality
coffees, a scientist leading the project told OsterDowJones.
"We now want to find out more about what the genes do," said Carlos
Colombo, chief researcher on the project at the Campinas Agronomic Institute,
or IAC, in Sao Paulo state.
Colombo said the next phase of the project, starting in the new year, will
be to identify key gene sequences and discover their properties.
From this information, scientists aim to modify trees as a way of
increasing the quality of arabica coffee produced at a lower cost.
"We have been told not to focus on increasing yields but adding value to
produce," said Colombo.
Researchers, for example, will look at ways of reducing the arabica coffee
blossoming period to cut time spent picking coffee. This would not only cut
harvesting costs, which account for around 40% of total outlays, but also
increase the likelihood cherries are taken off the trees at exactly the right
time, said the researcher.
"At the moment, very little is known about how the blossoming works," said
Colombo.
Scientists will also look at which genes increase resistance to drought, a
major problem, as well as pest and fungi.
Gene-modified technology offers the potential to reduce herbicide and
pesticide costs by 50% to 100%, according to Agriculture Ministry's research
arm.
But don't expect gene-modified trees to start populating Minas Gerais
hillsides too soon. Colombo estimates it will take five to 10 years to
identify the relevant sequences start creating modified trees.
Meanwhile, funds still have to be raised to sustain the research groups,
which involved 20 laboratories in Sao Paulo state alone, through the next
stage. Around 200,000 Brazilian real ($1 = BRL3.80) are in the coffers but the
first phase alone ate up around BRL2 million in government and state funds.
All 200,000 gene sequences will be stored at the Sao Paulo State
University of Campinas, or Unicamp, one of the country's leading centers of
agricultural research, and the University of Sao Paulo, or USP.
This is by far the most advanced study into coffee genes.
"The hope is that this research allows Brazil to stay ahead of the
competition," said Colombo.
Brazil is the world's No. 1 coffee producer and exporter, accounting for
around 40% of world production, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture
data.
In 2003-04 (July-June), Brazilian coffee production is expected to slip to
around 25 million to 35 million 60-kg bags from 45 million to 52 million bags
this year.
Brazilian researchers have already genetically mapped sugarcane and are in
the process of studying the genes of witches' broom fungus, which has
devastated Brazil's cocoa production in recent years.
