Avances del mejoramiento genético participativo del frijol en Cuba

Abstract

Progress in participatory plant breeding of common beans in Cuba. Participatory Plant Breeding activities were performed with the support of farmers from both San Antonio de los Baños Municipality in Habana province and La Palma community in Pinar del Río province between 2001 and 2004. In the diagnosis phase, it was observed that more than 80 % of farmers did not use the seeds provided by the official system in the target areas of the project. Therefore, the varieties obtained by conventional breeding programs did not reach most farmers. An alternative mechanism was developed to introduce genetic diversity to several localities, with the objective of facilitating seed transfer from research institutions to the farmer and viceversa. After conducting diversity fairs, rural experimentation will follow in farms and cooperatives, developing a broad experimental network difficult to achieve by any breeding program that does not consider producer's participation. Rural experimentation, increases in diversity due to the use of greater number of varieties, and larger proportion of areas dedicated to the cultivation of these species resulted in the improvement of the wellbeing of the farmers and their families.

Durum Wheat Breeding in the Mediterranean Region: Current Status and Future Prospects

“…Farmer-selected populations are not genetically homogenous, which may lead to higher yield stability in varying environments [125]. PPB projects including farmers have resulted in the wider and simpler adoption of new varieties [114,126,127]. Wheat populations after PPB will evolve by adapting gradually and continuously to climate change [128].…”

Rhizoctoniaspp. Causing Root and Hypocotyl Rot inPhaseolus vulgarisin Cuba

“…The isolates were collected in 8 different provinces of Cuba from black and red bean seeds growing in different soil types during the bean growing season in Cuba (September–February). Cultivar information is not available as Cuban farmers have little access to seeds derived from national breeding systems and they produce, select and exchange seeds among themselves without any knowledge about the cultivar (Ortiz‐Pérez et al., 2006). Of the isolates obtained from plant tissue, 8 isolates were recovered from the roots and 34 were isolated from the stem.…”