Cuban cigar-maker says overcoming bad weather with better seeds

[Guest MrRobusto]

Isn't it the soil? Not so much the seed? At least that's always been the argument about NC's using Cuban seed, and the reason always given for the NC's not being as good as CC's, even though they use Cuban seed, the soil isn't the same. Not too concerned here.

That's a great point brother! Hopefully the soil hasn't been affected. Different soils on different farms in different areas, hopefully there is some successful combination in order to produce these tasty smokes we all love!

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[Dimmers]

I don't see an issue here. Didn't Tabacuba modify the seed strains to get past the blue mold issues in the 80's? Also, this.

True though yet another different strain also brings risk of differing flavour profile right? Thats a concern.

Cuba started playing with differing hybrids/ strains since the late 1980s i think(?), mostly for higher resistance to disease and better leaf production. But flavour profile changes have also been unintended consequences of this (edit - from what ive read and from talking to those who have been smoking for 15+ yrs).

I guess we just draw a circle in the calendar 3 years from now when this new tobacco will be ready, and hope for the best LOL

[Fugu]

The report doesn't say genetically modified by means of genetic engineering. "Genetically improved" would basically simply mean genetically adapted strains, which can be achieved by classic selection and hybridization. No need to suspect GMO-tobacco behind that.

As others have stated, less than about the means (and I doubt they are implementing GMO, and would prefer tobacco to be free of E.coli or Drosophila-genes...) I'd be concerned about the results. If they would select primarily for stress resistance and growth but leave behind the properties of the final product, that indeed would be a bad thing. But I wouldn't expect that, Cuba will have learned its lesson. I rather presume a very cautious approach be taken on by the Cubans, as they know they got something to lose. On the other hand, when the elements dictate, sometimes you find yourself confronted with a Hobson's (Habanos') choice. Risk losing a bit of taste and quality or risk losing your crop....

But I must say, I am concerned already to hear about current tobacco been grown fairly wide out of the normal seasonal window, as Rob had posted before. The very different climatic conditions will certainly have an impact on crop properties, such as tissue structure and composition, concentration of phytochemicals and other parameters that will inevitably have their effect on the processed tobacco. Also, the curing regime will then be a different one.

The biggest crux about all this is the huge time lag linked to it. Since - as Dimmers sais - we will see the result of all this only in years to come. To be on the safe side Cuba would need to be running experimental batches, incl. tobacco processing and sensory testing, in advance for a couple of years before giving a go for the release of new tobacco strains and clones. Perhaps that's what they are actually doing? Any insiders to chime in?

More likely perhaps that we are facing another huge real-time experiment instead of a properly laid-out planning.

I fear - but hope I am wrong - we have to be very happy about what we got today....

[klassikkasp]

noooo GMO!!

[planetary]

Serioulsy It will be interesting to see what the Keystone cops/Benny Hill of Tobacco have come up with

[Fugu]

Thanks for posting, Tommy! Good read.

[Dimmers]

Yup a great read Tommy cheers!