SEMANA 6: Comentarios del Dr. Noel Pallais
Centro Internacional de la Papa
Lima, Peru
Deseo agradecer a Ana Maria Ponce por sugerir mi participacion en este importante y bien manejado foro electronico de discusion. He leido con gran interes muchos de los comentarios, y el proposito de mi participacion es plantearles dos preguntas.
1) Nuestras actividades se relacionan a investigaciones de campo realizadas en 1998 y 1999 (Julio y Octubre) en La Molina (CIP, Lima); en las cuales se estudiaron 601 accesiones; 183 fueron clones de material genetico mejorado de variedades locales, y el resto incluye siete especies tuberosas: Solanum; stenotomum (35); tuberosum (spp. andigena (327), spp. tuberosum (7)), goniocalyx (14), phureja (11), juzepsuki (3), chauncha (6), curtilbum (1), y tres variedades hibridas naturales inter-especificas (stenotomum x goniocalyx (3), goniocalyx stenotomum (4), stenotomum x phureja (1). Estos clones fueron evaluados para la produccion de materia seca (foliaje, bayas y tuberculos), y otras condiciones de crecimiento de cultivo, bajo condiciones de "sequia " (i.e. no se aplico irrigacion alguna ni recibio precipitacion, durante los ultimos 50 a 80 dias antes de la cosecha).
Este trabajo tuvo dos objetivos principales. El primero, seleccionar, multiplicar la semilla y "repatriar" accesiones Andinas nativas que producen alto rendimiento de papas "comestibles" dentro de los 120 dias luego de la siembra o menos (bajo "sequia" en Lima). Hemos confirmado datos para seis clones que caen dentro de esta descripcion. Su calidad alimentaria es evaluada por la presencia de fenoles y glicoalcaloides (Espinola et.al). Un clon superior ("Rosada", spp. andigena), recolectado en Colombia ya fue solicitado desde Colombia. Creen Uds. que podria haber interes en las respectivas comunidades donde estos clones superiores fueron recogidos originalmente, para recibir semilla limpia de sus variedades nativas?
2) Quisiera compartir con Uds. mi grave preocupacion respecto a las noticias impactantes sobre la falta de eficiencia del conocimiento ancestral andino para remover los glycoalcaloides (TGA) de las variedades de papas amargas. Si entendi correctamente un comentario que se hizo previamente en este foro, los niveles de TGA de estas preparaciones de papas secas (chuño, etc.), son mas del doble de los niveles que la comunidad cientifica considera permisible para la alimentacion. Si esto es cierto (?), pienso que seria un hecho criminal el promover el consumo de estos alimentos envenenados por niños pequenos. Hay alguien no este de acuerdo conmigo?
Dr. Noel Pallais
Centro Internacional de la Papa
CIP
N.Pallais@cgiar.org
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WEEK 6: Dr. Noel Pallais, "Comments"
I am thankful to Ana Maria Ponce for suggesting my participation in this important and well managed discussion forum. I read with interest most of the comments made, and I am pleased to find such widely held interest in native Andean crops. The purpose of my participation is to pose two questions.
1) Our activity relates to four field trails done in 1998 and 1999 (Jul-Oct) at La Molina (CIP, Lima); in which 601 different accessions, 183 were clones of improved breeding materials and local cultivars, and the rest included seven cultivated tuber-bearing species of Solanum; stenotomum (35); tuberosum (spp. andigena (327), spp. tuberosum (7)), goniocalyx (14), phureja (11), juzepsuki (3), chauncha (6), curtilbum (1), and three natural interspecific hybrids (stenotomum x goniocalyx (3), goniocalyx x stenotomum (4), stenotomum x phureja (1). These clones were tested for dry matter production (partitioning: foliage, berries, tubers) and other plant growth traits, under "terminal drought" (i.e., no irrigation was applied or precipitation fell, during the last 50 to 80 days prior to harvest).
This work has two main objectives. One is; to select, multiply seed and "repatriate" native Andean accessions which produce high tuber yields of "edible" potatoes in 120 days after planting or less (under "terminal drought" in Lima). We have confirmed data for about six clones that fit this description. Eating quality is evaluated for presence of phenols and glyco-alcaloids (Espinola et al.). One superior clone ("Rosada", spp. andigena) was collected in Colombia, and it has already been requested by Colombia.
Do you think there might be interest in the respective communities where these superior clones were originally collected, to receive clean seed from their native cultivars?
2) I would like to share my grave concern with respect to the shocking news of the lack of effectiveness in the ancient Andean knowledge used to remove glycoalcaloids (TGA) from bitter potato species. If my under-standing of a previous comment here made is correct, the levels of TGA in these dried (chuno etc.) potato preparations would be more than twice the levels the scientific community considers to be safe as food. If this is true (?), I think encouraging consumption of such poisoned food by small children would be criminal. I wonder if anybody would disagree with me?
Dr. Noel Pallais
International Potato Center
CIP
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