Gokseong-gun Advances as a Taro Hub with Selection of Superior Local Taro Varieties Representing the Region

Farmers Actively Respond to Gokseong Taro Superior Variety Selection Trial Results

Salt-Tolerant Mutant Secured in First Year of Research, Patent Application for Treatment Conditions Underway

[Gokseong=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on the 24th that it held a result report meeting on the selection of superior taro varieties cultivated locally and the verification of production capacity on the 23rd.

Gokseong-gun, the largest taro production area nationwide, conducted this project with Jeonnam Science University to establish indigenous varieties and select superior varieties to solidify the position of regionally specialized crops.

The project was funded by the "One Special Crop per City/County" cultivation project budget of the Jeollanam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services and Gokseong-gun's own budget.

Taro does not reproduce sexually under domestic cultivation conditions, making new variety development difficult, and since there are no seeds, seed tubers must be used, making storage important.

Also, while taro is resistant to moisture in the soil, its yield often decreases or its shape becomes elongated due to moisture influence, resulting in poor market prices.

To address these challenges, in the first year of research this year, efforts were made to establish in vitro propagation conditions for taro, explore growth characteristics by collected taro species, and select taro mutants.

Currently, optimal media conditions for excellent sprout proliferation and root formation of taro during in vitro culture have been established.

Yield characteristics in soil and hydroponic cultivation were analyzed, and quality characteristic testing of taro is underway.

In particular, through the research, treatment conditions for securing salt-tolerant mutants were established, and a patent application is in progress for the derived results.

A representative of farmers in the main taro production area showed great interest in the research results and expressed willingness to actively participate in the future. Especially, before the second-year research project starts next year, they agreed to jointly discuss detailed research items by providing various opinions on the standards for demonstration test cultivation.

A county official said, “We will do our best to select superior varieties representing Gokseong through collaboration with local universities and producing farmers.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.