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Cosenza, fig trees in the national register

Algieri: native biodiversity is very important opportunity

29 March, 14:13

(ANSA) - COSENZA, MAR. 27 - The first clones of Mediterranean 'Ficus carica L' hygienically and genetically improved obtained registration in the ''National Register of Fruit Varieties'', the Chamber of Commerce of Cosenza, a press release reported. ''The Chamber - President Klaus Algieri said - achieved a very important result thanks to research projects funded by our entity and supported by the ''Consorzio Fico Essiccato del Cosentino'', led by President Angelo Rosa. These projects are aimed at recovering, preserving and genetically and hygienically improving local fig tree germplasm, which has high economic potential''.

The registration, the press release reported, was ordered by Decree issued by the Director General of the Department of European Affairs and International Rural Development of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on 25 January 2017, at the request of the Centre for research, experimentation and training in agriculture ''Basile Caramia'' based in Locorotondo (Bari), the Chamber of Commerce of Cosenza and the ''Consorzio Fico Essiccato del Cosentino''.

This step results from the activities implemented by Crsfa ''Basile Caramia'', as subject leader, in collaboration with researchers at the Department of Soil, Plants and Food Sciences of the ''Aldo Moro'' University of Bari, the Sinagri spin-off company (Bari) and the Institute for the sustainable protection of Plants UOS-Cnr (Bari).

''Supporting research in these fields - president Algieri said - means taking care of the local agricultural economy. We believe that the native biodiversity represents a crucial development opportunity for the competitiveness of the agri-food businesses in Cosenza. For this reason, we have already asked the Calabria Region to assess the activation of a regional certification for the establishment of a regional system aimed at producing propagating material of the 'Fico Bianco Dottato Di Cosenza', as well as other Calabrian native virus free varieties of the species Ficus carica L.''. The two clones (Dottato Bianco, Zingarello Nero) are kept at the house screen of Crsfa ''Basile Caramia'' in Locorotondo. ''For all practical purposes - the press release continues - the quality of production labelled 'Dop Fichi di Cosenza' will be preserved and protected beginning with the material used to set up new fig tree plantations''.

(ANSA).

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