Development of hop (Humulus lupulus L.) hybrids adapted to the tropical climate

• Grant number: 23/11958-2
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: February 01, 2024
• End date: October 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy
• Principal Investigator: Renan Furlan Gonsaga
• Grantee: Renan Furlan Gonsaga
• CNAE: Cultivo de flores e plantas ornamentais ; Cultivo de plantas de lavoura permanente não especificadas anteriormente
• Associated researchers: Daniele Ribeiro Contin ; Maria Laura Viola Augusto
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/03704-3 - Evaluation and morphological characterization of hop hybrids developed in tropical climates, BP.TT; 24/01630-2 - Development of hop (Humulus lupulus L.) hybrids adapted to the tropical climate, BP.PIPE

Abstract

The brewing industry holds significant economic importance in Brazil, representing 1.6% of the national GDP. Although it is the third-largest beer producer in the world, one of its key ingredients, hops, is predominantly imported, primarily from Germany and the USA, which are the world's largest hop producers. Because hops are a plant native to temperate climates and depend on a long photoperiod for high yields, their production is mainly concentrated in latitude ranges between 35 and 55 degrees north or south. However, in Brazil, the cultivation of this crop has been gaining prominence in recent years, with the production of imported cultivars that are not patented or whose patents have expired. With increased interest from producers and the expansion of hop cultivation across the country, the development of new cultivars with good agronomic performance in tropical climates becomes essential for establishing this industry in the country. Genetic improvement can assist in producing a competitive and high-quality product that can be produced on a large scale and cater to the beer market, reducing import costs and adding new characteristics to domestic beer. Therefore, the project's objective is to obtain female and male hop hybrids adapted to the tropical climate through controlled crossings, aiming for high-quality cultivation and productivity in various regions of the country. To achieve this, crosses will be made between female and male cultivars obtained from licensed nurseries and imports from the USDA. To assess these hybrids as potential tropical climate cultivars, their vegetative and productive agronomic characteristics, as well as the concentrations of resins (±-acids and ²-acids) and essential oils, will be analyzed. In the midst of this scenario of innovation and improvement in the beer industry, the possibility of developing hops hybrids adapted to the tropical climate represents not only a technical advancement but also a unique opportunity for Brazil. Through collaboration between researchers, producers, and beer industry enthusiasts, it is possible to envision a future in which the country establishes itself as a hub for high-quality hop production, promoting economic sustainability. (AU)