A Day in the Seed Lab: Where UCHU's Pepper Legacy Begins
The sun rises over UCHU's 130-acre farm in Central Ecuador, where our day at the Seed Lab begins. Katia who works at UCHU as part of the Agricultural department, will walk us through our seed production process - a journey that starts with a single mother plant and ends with fields full of peppers.
The Mother Plants
Our seed production begins with mother plants carefully grown in individual containers. Here at the R&D center, we meticulously study each variety, examining and documenting crucial characteristics - from flowering patterns to fruit development and timing how long a fruit takes to mature. This observation phase is crucial—we need to verify that each plant displays the exact qualities we want for its specific variety. Working in this controlled environment allows us to understand how each pepper progresses and, when needed, implement corrective actions to optimize their growth conditions.
The Selection and Harvest
After thorough study of the varieties, we move to harvesting from our selected plants. Each fruit is chosen with purpose, representing the best qualities of its variety. Through this process, we ensure only the finest genetics will be passed to future generations. It's a responsibility we take seriously, as these selections will influence many future plants.
The Extraction Process
The harvested peppers then undergo seed extraction - the process that determines the future of our production. At UCHU, we do this technique for over 102 varieties of peppers, each with its unique characteristics and requirements. Each fruit contains the potential for dozens of future plants, making this step vital for maintaining our seed quality, but also for preserving the biodiversity of peppers. Our in-house team maintains strict process controls throughout the extraction, ensuring that every seed we produce is viable and ready to germinate as soon as it touches soil and water. The seeds are then stored under controlled conditions in multiple locations, safeguarding their future.
From Lab to Field
Once a variety is deemed ready for high-volume production, we begin the final mother-plant process. Selected seeds are planted in open-field mother-plant plots, where nature plays its part in the selection process. This step is very important, as it tests each variety's adaptability to real-world conditions - after all, these are the same conditions our farmers will face. By harvesting only the strongest performing plants, we continuously improve our varieties' resilience. The result is a robust seed stock that gives our partner farmers confidence in their crops and minimizes their risk of field losses.
This continuous cycle of selection, extraction, and improvement ensures UCHU maintains the legacy of each pepper variety we grow, while constantly working to make them even better.
Want to learn more about our pepper varieties or seed production?
Contact UCHU, and we'll be happy to share more about our passion for peppers.