Cuba has the largest network of germplasm banks (12) in the Caribbean and is the only country in the area with an organized program of conservation, maintenance and use of important species in agriculture.

Cuba has the largest network of germplasm banks (12) in the Caribbean and is the only country in the area with an organized program of conservation, maintenance and use of important species in agriculture.

Germplasm is a term used to describe the genetic resources, or more precisely the DNA of an organism and collections of that material.

Dr. Zoila Fundora, from the Tropical Agriculture Research Institute, said her institution is currently working with farmers in their rural communities to make an inventory of native fruit trees including varieties that rarely appear in the markets.

Cuba is taking particular care at preserving its biodiversity in the mountains and zones around the Biosphere reserves, said Fundora.

She said the conservation effort has recovered several disappearing fruit and spice varieties including the original apple-bananas and several types of mammee, a large tropical American tree having large edible red fruit with red rind and a sweet yellow-orange flesh.

The Research Institute organizes fairs in which the farmers exchange genetic material. When they plant new varieties they are encouraged to save the traditional ones to increase the diversity.

The Institute, located south of the capital in Santiago de las Vegas, has a botanical garden with 400 species and 2,000 examples of fruit trees and plants.

Source: By Raisa Pagés, Periódico26