World Cocoa Foundation Research Update: June 2008
FROM BIOVERSITY: Jan Engels j.engels@cgiar.org reports on training opportunities relevant to cacao genetic resources: Huazhang Agricultural University and Bioversity International are pleased to announce a scholarship call for the "Post-Doctoral Programme on Molecular Characterization for Use of Genetic Resources 2008". Two scholarships will be awarded for an 18-24 month programme beginning December 2008. The Post-Doctoral Programme is hosted by the HZAU/Bioversity Centere of Excellence for Training on Molecular Technologies for Management of Plant Genetic Resources located at Huazhang Agricultural University in Wuhan, China. Scholarships cover room and board and research support expenses, but not international travel. The Announcement and application form may be downloaded from the Bioversity website. The deadline for application is: 31 August 2008. For more information contact: Mr. Yuan Youlian (HZAU) Fao@mail.hzau.edu.cn or Mr. Zhang Zongwen (Bioversity Office for East Asia) z.zhang@cgiar.org
Also, The National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) and Bioversity International are pleased to announce a call for applications for an international training course "In Vitro and Cryopreservation Techniques for Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources 2008". The course will be held 3-15 November 2008 at NBPGR, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, India. The 2008 training course is being organized by the NBPGR/Bioversity International Center of Excellence for In Vitro and Cryopreservation Techniques for Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources and the Asia-Pacific Consortium on Agricultural Biotechnology (APCoAB), a programme of the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutes (APAARI). A press release on the workshop can be found on the Bioversity website.
The Workshop Announcement and Application form may be downloaded from the Bioversity website. The deadline for application is: 30 August 2008. For more information contact: The Director of NBPGR, E-mail: director@nbpgr.ernet.in or Dr. Prem Mathur, South Asia Coordinator, Bioversity International, E-mail: p.mathur@cgiar.org .
CACAONET: Global Strategy for the Conservation and Utilization of Cacao Genetic Resources. During the Expert Consultation Meeting held at Reading, U.K., 10-13 March 2008 (see also World Cocoa Foundation Research Update: March 2008) the content of a a global cacao conservation strategy was discussed and the meeting proposed an annotated outline to the CacaoNet Steering Committee. This committee agreed upon the chapters and sub-chapters for the strategy document, including the responsible authors and co-authors for those (sub-)chapters and a timeframe. Below is a summary of the strategy document that is now being prepared and on which a broad consultation with the stakeholders is planned.
1. Vision
Based on a brief listing of the major constraints, threats, etc. this chapter describes the long-term conservation and facilitation of the use of cacao genetic resources.
2. Purpose and objectives of the Global Strategy for the Conservation of Cacao Genetic Resources
This chapter describes briefly the purpose of the strategy and what the main objectives are.
4. Current status of cacao conservation and utilization at the global level
4.1 Status of the in situ cacao genepool (including related wild species) will provide an overview of the status of the genetic resources in the entire cacao genepool, including wild and cultivated Theobroma cacao as well as the other Theobroma species and related genera.
4.2 Status of key information available, and database/informatics resources will provide an overview of the available and/or to-be-collected data that underpin the process, including compilation of current accession holdings of the various collections.
4.3 Analysis of the cacao genetic diversity held in genebank collections, a critical analysis of national, international and other collections and the presence of known wild relatives.
4.4 Current status (including constraints) of cacao genetic resources conservation activities: Past and recent acquisitions and collecting; Field genebank collections; Identification, classification and characterization of cacao germplasm; Evaluation of collections; Documentation and access to information; Conservation approaches, including storage and maintenance; Safety duplication; Health status of cacao germplasm collections; Germplasm exchange; General management of germplasm.
4.5 Collaborations and networks for collaboration between genebanks, and bbetween research groups
4.6 Utilisation of collections and involvement of institutions not holding collections
4.7 General constraints, needs and opportunities for capacity building
5. Components of the global cacao conservation strategy describes the vision for agreed-upon strategy; including: Global Strategic Base Collection; Global Strategic Active Collection; Safe movement strategy; Information management strategy; Collecting policy; Utilization policy; Germplasm distribution policy Networks and partnerships.
6. Process for the implementation of the strategy - Responsibilities, roles and timelines.
7. Key resources required to implement the Global Strategy - Anticipated resources needs for each of the strategic components and the proposed (public and private) donors or donor groups, including the Global Crop Diversity Trust, the role of the International Treaty, individual countries, international collections, etc.
For comments or input into the above CacaoNet outline organization, please contact: Jan Engels, Bioversity International j.engels@cgiar.org.
NEW PUBLICATION: From The American Phytopathological Society (APS), a new book is on sale:
Phytophthora: Identifying Species by Morphology and DNA Fingerprints The new identification key enables diagnosticians and researchers to identify Phytophthora species with speed and confidence. This book presents a new key, integrating the classical morphological approach and a new DNA fingerprinting technique called PCR-SSCP, and covers several species. Sixty of the important species and taxons are presented in the book. A total of 652 original photos are included to illustrate individual species covered as well as a partial list of other molecular characters used for description of new species and differentiation of existing species in recent years. This book will be an excellent resource for those who are interested in identifying Phytophthora species. Each section includes a description, PCR-SSCP fingerprint key, and illustrations for morphological characters. To view the pages in full size, go to SHOP APS PRESS.
MEETING PRESENTATIONS: From Victor Walton González-Lauck, Mérida,Yucatán, México. E-mail: lauckv@yahoo.com.mx and lauckv@hotmail.com Nine presentations are available at the WCF web site from the Memoria de la XX Reunión Científica-Tecnológica, Forestal y Agropecuaria de Tabasco (Twentieth Forestry and Agriculture Science and Technology Meeting) held April 22-23, 2008 in Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico.
This meeting is a local yearly scientific meeting, organized by INIFAP and other research and education institutions in Tabasco, Mexico. For the last two decades research results in agriculture, mainly from the state of Tabasco, have been reported. There is a database with the articles from all other years. This has helped as a general reference of the work that has been done, who the researchers are, and which institutions are involved. It has been an important product to bring order to the national efforts on cacao research. Much still has to be done, including developing international linkages to increase quality and relevance. For more information on the nine articles available at the WCF web site, interested readers should contact the individual authors for clarification or more information.
The following presentations (In Spanish) can be viewed on the WCF web site:
- Aminopeptidase activity and amplification of cDNA genes during the process of fermentation and germination in cacao seed [PDF: 31 KB]
- Evaluation of organic biofertilizers in Tabasco [PDF: 59 KB]
- Indicators for evaluation of sustainability of cacao in Tabasco [PDF: 70 KB]
- Adoption of innovations in cacao cultivation [PDF: 32 KB]
- Commericialization of criollo cacao in Tabasco [PDF: 65 KB]
- Biology of the storage moth of cacao, Cadra canletta [PDF: 157 KB]
- Microbiological quality of cacao and chocolates produced in Tabasco [PDF: 131 KB]
- Study of the well-being of organic cacao produced in Tabasco [PDF: 40 KB]
- Species of Lepidoptera (insects) trapped during the fruiting stage of cacao in Tabasco [PDF: 354 KB]