World Cocoa Foundation Research Update: July 2007
MEETINGS: The 4th Asia Pacific Regional Cocoa Breeding Meeting was held in Bali, June 29, 2007, a follow-up to 1st Meeting in Singapore (June 2004) where the priorities were defined; the 2nd Meeting in Kuala Lumpur (July 2005) where the three main projects were agreed upon and the 3rd Meeting in Ho Chi Minh City (October 2006), where the progress was updated. This meeting in Bali reviewed the current activities and decided on important decisions for future collaboration. Cocoa breeders from Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines and Vietnam participated to the meeting. Cocoa breeder from India could not participate but sent a report of activities. There are two current projects:
1- regional exchange of hybrid seeds aiming for high yield in the presence of cocoa pod borer, Phytophthora and vascular streak disease, and utilisation of penetrometer for measurement of pod hardness as part of CPB resistance breeding. Results were reviewed and completed actions were reported by each of attending members of the group. Attendees included Romulo Cena, University of Southern Mindanao, Philippines, romy_cena@yahoo.com, Kelvin Lamin, Malaysian Cocoa Board, Malaysia, kelvin@koko.gov.my, Jeffrie Marfu, Cocoa and Coconut Institute of Papua New Guinea, jeffmarfu@yahoo.com.au, Pham Hong Duc Phouc, Nong Lam University, Vietnam, phdphuoc@hcm.vnn.vn, Haya Ramba, Malaysian Cocoa Board, Malaysia, hayaramba@koko.gov.my, Agung Soesilo, Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute, soesiloiccri@yahoo.com, Soetento Abdoellah, Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute, stanto@iccri.net, Bill Guyton, World Cocoa Foundation (part of meeting), Bill.Guyton@worldcocoa.org, Martin Gilmour, Mars, Inc., martin.gilmour@eu.effem.com, Mohd. Hussin Purung, Mars, Inc. hussinp@yahoo.com, Muhammad Hidayat, Mars, Inc. muhammad.hidayat@ap.effem.com, A. Zainuddin, Mars. Inc., zainuddin.hakim@ap.effem.com, Smilja Lambert, Mars, Inc. (Chairperson) smilja.lambert@ap.effem.com.
Summary/Conclusion: Up to now almost 2,000 hybrid seeds were exchanged and these activities are going on as agreed. Trial design for field testing of the exchanged hybrids was agreed upon; however the need for external funds for these field trials was stressed.
All contributing organisations have received a hand held penetrometer and made some basic measurements. Protocol was agreed on for the measurements of pod hardness with this penetrometer. Five clones will be defined to make a ring trial in all the collaborating organisations to check performance and consistency of the penetrometer.
Question about the formalisation of the Regional Cocoa Breeding Group was discussed and the importance taking action was confirmed by all institutions. Final agreement was that it might be the best if it would be possible to join INGENIC as a new Ingenic Asia/Pac working group. Discussions about the possibilities to promote this idea are ongoing with Dr. Bertus Eskes. Dr. Soetanto from Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute suggested to meet again on the occasion of the Indonesian National Cocoa Research Symposium in October 2008 when is planned also a “Workshop on advances in research on controlling Cocoa Pod Borer”. For more information contact Smilja.lambert@ap.effem.com .
The following plant pathology meetings are upcoming:
40th Brazilian Congress of Phytopathology, August 13-17, 2007. Maringa, State of Parana, Brazil.
The Third Asian Conference on Plant Pathology, August 20-23, 2007. Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
20th Venezuelan Congress of Phytopathology, November 13-16, 2007. Yaracuy State, Venezuela.
Third International Conference on Plant Pathology, November 19-21, 2007. Lahore, Pakistan.
3rd International Phytophthora/PythiumWorkshop in association with the 9th ICPP-2008, August 24-24, 2008. Torino, Italy.
9th International Congress of Plant Pathology, August 24-29, 2008. Torino, Italy.
RECENT CACAO PUBLICATIONS:
**Johnson, E.S.; Mora, A.; Schnell, RJ. Field guide efficacy in the identification of reallocated clonally propagated accessions of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.). Genetic Resources Crop Evolution, vol. 54, p. 1301-1313, 2007. (Genomics&PhysiologyGenetics240KB)
**Arnold, A.E.; Engelbrecht, B.M.J. Fungal endophytes nearly double minimum leaf conductance in seedlings of a neotropical tree species. J. of Tropical Ecology, vol. 23, p. 369-372, 2007. (Genomics&PhysiologyPhysiology75KB)
**Zhang, D.; Boccara, M.; Motilal, L.; Butler, S.R.; Umaharan, P.; Mischke, S.; Meinhardt, L. Microsatellite variation and population structure in the’Refractario’ cacao of Ecuador. Conservation Genetics, online first DOI 10.1007/s/0592-007-9345-8, 2008. (Genomics&PhysiologyGenetics)
**Gesteira, A.S.; Micheli, F.; Carels, N.; Da Silva, A.C.; Gramacho, K.P.; Schuster, I; Macedo, J.N.; Pereira, G.A.G.; Cascardo J.C.M. Comparative Analysis of Expressed Genes from Cacao Meristems Infected by Moniliophthora perniciosa. Annals of Botany, vol. 100, p.129-140, 2007. (Diseases&PestsBiology1150KB)
**Garcia, O.; Macedo, J.A.N.; Tibúrcio, R.; Zaparoli, G.; Rincones, J.; Bittencourt, L.M.C.; Ceita, G.O.; Micheli, F.; Gesteira, A.; Mariano, A.C.; Chiavinato, M.A.; Medrano, F.J.; Meinhardt, L.W.; Pereira, G.A.G.; Cascardo J.C.M. Characterization of necrosis and ethylene-inducing proteins (NEP) in the basidiomycete Moniliophthora perniciosa, the causal agent of witches' broom in Theobroma cacao. Mycological Research,Vol. 111, P. 443-455, 2007. (Diseases&PestsBiology205KB)
**Hartemink, A.E. 2005 Nutrient stocks, nutrient cycling and soil changes in cocoa ecosystems - a review. Advances in Agronomy, vol. 86, p. 227-253, 2005. (Genomics&PhysiologyAgronomy333 KB)
Mabbett, T. Pests, diseases and weed growth under shaded cocoa. International Pest Control, vol. 49, p. 68-71, 2007. e-mail: DrTerryMabbett@btinternet.com
**Complete article is available on line at the WCF web site, www.worldcocoafoundation.org : go to:
Cocoa Information Center >Research Document Center > Cacao Research: 1. Genomics and Physiology, 2. Diseases and Pests, 3. Environment and Sustainability, 4. Post Harvest, 5. Socio-Economic, and 6. Human Nutrition. These articles are made accessible to the cacao research community for research purposes only.
Contributions to the UPDATE may be sent to lumsdenr@ba.ars.usda.gov and/or rdlumsden@msn.com. News items will be included in the next month’s update.
Anyone interested in subscribing or unsubscribing to the monthly World Cocoa Foundation Newsletter as well WCF Research Update, send complete name, company/institution, mailing address and e-mail address to Robert Peck, World Cocoa Foundation, robert.peck@worldcocoa.org.
RDL – August 1, 2007.
<< Back