Graft is good: the economic and environmental benefits of grafted naranjilla in the Andean region

Abstract

Naranjilla cultivation is highly profitable in many parts of the Andean foothills in Colombia and Ecuador. Its susceptibility to soil-borne diseases, however, lowers its economic benefits, reduces sustainability of production and increases its contribution to environmental degradation. This paper presents an analysis of the potential market and non-market benefits of research that developed and tested the grafting of common naranjilla onto disease-resistant rootstock. Grafting reduces the need for pesticide application and increases the longevity and sustainability of the plant. An economic surplus approach, carefully calibrated to reflect the realities of naranjilla production, was employed to show the large benefits from such research. Environmental and health benefits are very close in magnitude to market-mediated surplus gains. The results show substantial potential benefits from an outreach program to diffuse the new technology.

Adopción e impacto de las tecnologías agropecuarias generadas en el Ecuador

“…El efecto o impacto de varias de esas tecnologías liberadas por el INIAP han sido evaluadas y publicadas de manera dispersa en el marco de varios proyectos de investigación de varias instituciones (Barrera y col., 2017;Clements y col., 2016;Barrowclough y Dominguez, 2016). En consecuencia, es necesario consolidar y cuantificar el impacto de las tecnologías, de tal manera que sirva como herramienta a políticos y tomadores de decisiones para el análisis y el direccionamiento estratégico de la investigación para el desarrollo tecnológico agropecuario del país.…”

Phenology and growth of lulo (Solanum quitoense Lam) plants grafted onto Solanum hirtum Vahl.

“…Grafting fruit tree species, such as lulo, is a promising technique used for the vegetative propagation of outstanding plants, in which the rootstock is diseasetolerant or resistant (Rojas et al, 2004). Considering the resistance of several wild Solananceae species to Fusarium oxysporum and Meilodigine incognita (Arizala et al, 2011;Clements et al, 2016;Navarrete et al, 2018;Vargas et al, 2018). There are studies on lulo plants grafted onto resistant rootstocks, such as Solanum hirtum; however, the behavior of these grafts and their implications on crop productivity and fruit quality are unknown.…”