Ministry of Agriculture registers new spontaneous variety of banana in Santa Catarina.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) has registered a new banana variety identified in Santa Catarina, reinforcing the Ministry's role in validating cultivars that add value to national production. The Clarinha banana (SCS455) was discovered spontaneously in the municipality of Luiz Alves, in the Itajaí Valley, an important banana-producing region. The SCS455 Clarinha cultivar is registered in the National Register of Cultivars of the Ministry of Agriculture (RNC-Mapa), under number 58,447. Seedlings can be purchased from producing companies duly registered in the National Register of Seeds and Seedlings (Renasem). Originating from a natural mutation of the Cavendish banana, the new variety has a lighter and shinier peel, a characteristic associated with an approximately 43% reduction in chlorophyll content. This difference helps delay the darkening of the fruit after harvesting and increases its commercial appeal. The identification and validation process relied on studies by Epagri, initiated in 2018. The trials confirmed that Clarinha maintains productivity equivalent to the traditional variety, while adding an aesthetic advantage that can favor the commercialization and profitability of producers in Santa Catarina, especially during the winter period, when the tendency for darkening on the shelves is more pronounced. With its registration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA), the cultivar becomes eligible for commercial use, expanding options for producers and contributing to the competitiveness of banana farming in Santa Catarina. With this, Santa Catarina now has six identified varieties, with notable growth in municipalities such as Luiz Alves and Corupá. In Santa Catarina, the Superintendence of Agriculture and Livestock monitors and supports initiatives that strengthen diversification and add value to agricultural production, contributing to the sustainable development of the sector in the state. “The registration of new cultivars demonstrates the innovative capacity of Santa Catarina's agricultural sector and the role of the Ministry of Agriculture in guaranteeing safety, traceability, and competitiveness for the sector. Santa Catarina has stood out nationally for the organization and quality of its production,” highlighted the superintendent of the Ministry of Agriculture in Santa Catarina, Ivanor Boing. 

This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.