World Cocoa Foundation Research Update: April 2008
Robert D. Lumsden, Plant Pathologist and WCF Scientific Advisor
WORLD COCOA FOUNDATION: South East Asia – Cocoa Borlaug Fellowships. The United States Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agriculture Service (USDA/FAS), in cooperation with the WCF is pleased to announce The Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program (Borlaug Fellows Program) Initiative for Improving Cocoa Production in South East Asia. The Borlaug Fellows Program offers training and collaborative research opportunities in international agricultural science, leadership and policy to combat cocoa pests and diseases; build trade and scientific capacity; and improve regional cocoa production and market access. Each Fellow will work one-on-one with a mentor who will coordinate the Fellow’s training and visit the Fellow's home institution after completion of the training. The application deadline for the 2008 Southeast Asia Borlaug Fellows Program for Cocoa Production Improvement is June 6, 2008 (Philippines and Indonesia only).
Objectives
- Provide agricultural research scientists, faculty and policymakers with one-on-one training opportunities in the fields of agricultural research (see targeted research areas below);
- Provide scientists, faculty and policymakers with practical experience and exposure to new technologies that can enhance their own research endeavors;
- Foster increased collaboration and networking to improve agricultural productivity;
- Facilitate the transfer of new science and agricultural technologies to strengthen agricultural practices;
- Address obstacles to the adoption of technology such as ineffectual policies and regulations.
Targeted Research Areas
- Production Research (e.g. Organic Cocoa Production, Best practices, IPM)
- Post-Harvest Technology (e.g. Fermentation, sun drying)
- Policy Issues (e.g. Land-tenure)
- Extension Services (e.g. Farm Management/Co-ops, Niche Market Development)
Length of Fellowships
Fellowships are generally for 5 to 6 weeks but can be slightly longer if merited by the research topic.
Eligibility Requirements. Candidates to be evaluated and selected based on the following criteria:
- Citizen of the Philippines or Indonesia
- Good working knowledge of the English language;
- Minimum Masters degree with 3 years of practical experience or working toward Masters degree with 5 years experience;
- Early-to-mid stage in their professional career;
- Currently employed at a research or policy institution with the intent to continue working in their home country for a minimum of two years following their return from the United States.
Application Requirements. Eligible candidates are invited to submit the complete application including the following attachments no later than June 6, 2008. Please submit application to Kristofer Dodge as a scanned attachment in an email or send by express mail to the contact below.
- Application form
- One page program proposal
- Approval of the home institution
- Two letters of recommendation
- Official copy of transcript of college degrees
- Copy of passport identification page
For application materials, questions and to submit applications, please contact: Kristofer Dodge Kristofer.dodge@Fas.usda.gov ,Agricultural Affairs Specialist, 1400 Independence Ave., Room 3227, Washington DC. 20250, tele.(202) 720.0301 USA. Web site: http://www.fas.usda.gov/icd/borlaug/SE%20Asia.htm
RESEARCH GROUPS:
WCF sponsored Nong Lam University Cocoa Project in Vietnam
Research on: Black Ants and Heliopeltis
Goal of research: Using local cocoa black ant as the best solution to control Helopeltis in cocoa.
Results:
- Trials in Ben Tre: Black ants were introduced in three cocoa farms. The effect came slowly, but after five months, new cherelles were free from symptoms of Helopeltis damage.
- A survey was conducted in provinces having cocoa to find out if the local cocoa black ant can control Helopeltis. Can Tho, Ben Tre and Dak Lak are 3 provinces that cocoa black ants were found in during the survey. Those cocoa farms that have cocoa black ants are free from Helopaltis
- Established demonstrations in Dak Lak and Binh Phuoc: The demonstrations are newly established so there are no observations to report yet.
Research on Breeding
Goal of research: Finding drought tolerant clones that can adapt better to local environments.
Research activities: A progeny trial was conducted on November 2008 at Trang Bom in the same place with a clonal trial. This is part of the Regional Breeding Project using four progenies imported from Malaysia namely: PBC123 x LAFI 7, PBC123 x QH 22, QH 22 x NA 33, MCB C3 x KKM 22; Two progenies imported from Indonesia namely: KW 30 x DRC 15 and ARDACIAR 10 x KKM 22. These are being raised in the nursery and will be planted in coming rainy season. Nong Lam University sent budwoods of 5 clones namely TD17; TD35; TD36; TD62; and TD64 to Malaysia and Indonesia in the agreement to exchange cocoa genetic material among member countries of Regional Breeding Project.
Research on Termite Control
Goal of research: Using vetiver grass as termite repellent in cocoa garden.
Research activities: The evaluation is ongoing, however, during the dry season termites are not a problem. Therefore, no significant difference of termite damage has been found between cocoa with and without vetiver grass.
Research on Fermentation
Goal of research: to reduce the sourness in the bean
Research activities/progress towards goal: Two experiments were conducted at NLU in January 2008 and at Dak Lak and Ben Tre in March 2008. Pod storage in the open air (no shade) during dry season combined with sun drying of wet beans 3 hours before fermentation resulting in an increased high temperature (50C) in the second day (24 hours) after fermentation.
Conclusions: More and more new farmers are planting cocoa and they need knowledge for this new crop in Vietnam. At the same time, new problems have developed on mature cocoa trees, including: pests and diseases, winds in the Highlands, and saline in the Mekong Delta during dry season.
International Cocoa Quarantine Centre (ICQC, R), School of Biological Sciences, Plant Science Laboratories, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, UK, RG6 6AS Report to USDA: “Development of a Cocoa Quarantine Process”: Andrew Daymond, a.j.daymond@reading.ac.uk and Paul Hadley, p.hadley@reading.ac.uk. This report summarises major quarantine and associated research activities between October 2007 and March 2008.
Quarantine Activities:
- A total of 19 new accessions have been received and established from the International Cocoa Genebank, Trinidad during the current reporting period. The majority of these clones were exported to ICQC, R on the basis of resistance to Phytophthora or witches’ broom disease.
- ICQC, R is participating in a programme in conjunction with USDA Miami, CATIE and CRIG to transfer material with potential Moniliophthora resistance into West Africa. Seed from four crosses were sent from CATIE to ICQC, R via a courier at the end of February. Additional seed was hand carried to Reading by Andreas Ebert (of CATIE) on 10th March
- Leaf samples from the germinated seedlings will be sent to USDA, Miami who will carry out QTL analyses to determine which individuals have the Moniliophthora alleles. The resistant plants will be retained at ICQC, R for a quarantine period, whilst the remainder will be destroyed. On completion of the quarantine period, budwood from the plants with the resistance alleles will be sent to the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG).
- A total of six budwood exports have been made during the current reporting period to five cocoa-growing countries.
- Seven accessions have been released from quarantine and are now included in the collection of material available for export.
Continue >>