Collaborative project against viruses that threaten vegetable production

In Chile, the agricultural sector of the Arica and Parinacota region, which normally supplies 40% of the country's total vegetables, today faces a dangerous scenario due to the transmission of viruses that reduce production in its early phase of cultivation.

 

For this reason, entities join forces to help affected producers after the identification of viral agents through the implementation of sustainable management practices and molecular biology technologies.

 

The project is carried out by the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (PUC) and the University of Tarapacá, supported by the Foundation for Agrarian Innovation (FIA).

 

To date, two very invasive viruses have been detected: the Pepper Necrotic Spot Virus, also known as the necrotic spot virus, and the Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus or the “tomato bronzing virus”. These diseases are capable of affecting 30% to 100% of harvest.

 

The objective of this collaborative work is to identify viral agents, define the particular problem that is affecting horticultural production, and train producers in the sustainable management of their crops, and in the proper use of pesticides. All this to minimize the impact of these diseases on crop yield and commercial quality.

 

The project was born after the researchers received samples of tomatoes and peppers with virus symptoms from different points in the Lluta, Azapa and Pampa Concordia valleys.

 

 

 

source: fia.cl