• Submitted by: admin
• Science and Technology
• 04 / 14 / 2007

Cuban experts at a flower bio-factory in central Villa Clara Province said on Friday that they have reproduced heliconias on a large scale, thus guaranteeing the demand for that plant in the domestic market and reducing imports.

Tourist resorts in Varadero, the northern keys, Trinidad, Cienfuegos and Sancti Spiritus are the main markets for this flower, which is used in floral arrangements.

Technicians and professionals at the factory have reproduced the species in vitro for more than a year, as traditional reproduction is very slow and cannot meet market demand.

The National News Agency reported that the original seeds of the Cuban heliconias come from Mexico, which is the world s supplier par excellence of that flower.

This year, Villa Clara s bio-factory will reproduce another 17 species of foreign flowers to reduce imports.