East Azarbaijan - For the first time in Iran, red sumac from Hurand - a city in the Central District of Hurand County, East Azarbaijan province - has successfully produced fruit using tissue culture techniques, according to a senior researcher at the Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute.

 

Reza Mohammadi, a faculty member at the institute and head of the Tissue Culture Unit at the Northwest and West Agricultural Technology Research Center, announced the breakthrough, noting that traditional methods of propagating sumac—such as using seeds or suckers—have faced major challenges, including slow growth and the prevalence of male, non-fruiting plants.

 

He emphasized that sumac is one of Hurand’s key agricultural products, typically cultivated under dryland conditions and on steep slopes. It plays an important role in improving farmers’ livelihoods and preserving local vegetation cover.

 

Mohammadi added that the success of this tissue-culture project will significantly advance the expansion of red sumac cultivation in Hurand and other suitable regions across the country.