Cocoa introductions into Ghana

Cocoa breeding and selection programmes in Ghana and other West African countries have been based largely on existing cultivated populations or on few collections of wild cocoa. The most widely used cocoa germplasm derives from the material collected by F. J. Pound during the periods 1937-1938 and 1942-1943 and distributed as the Iquitos Mixed Calabacillos (IMC), Nanay, Parinari, Scavina, and the Pound series of clones. This material collected in the Upper Amazon region has been particularly successful, suggesting that cacao would be greatly improved if more germplasm material were provided for use by breeders. Maintaining adequate genetic variability in cocoa germplasm collection, essential for sustainable cocoa production, can be realised through active and conscious germplasm acquisition. Because there is the risk of accidentally introducing diseases and pests along with cocoa germplasm material, effective indexing procedures, together with the availability of final quarantine houses in individual producing countries, are essential to ensure that introduced materials are free of diseases and pests. To be successful as breeding material for producing improved varieties for farmers, the introductions must have some desirable characteristics acceptable to chocolate manufacturers and farmers.Les programmes de reproduction et de sélection de cacao au Ghana et dans d'autres pays de l'Afrique occidentale ont été fondé en grande partie sur les populations de cultures existantes oú sur un tous petit nombre de collections de cacao sauvage. Le germeplasme de cacao le plus utilisé sur une grande étendue vient de matières ramassées par F. J. Pound en 1937-1938 et en 1942-1943 et distribuées sous les noms d'Iquitos Mixed Calabacillos (IMC), Nanay, Parinari, Scavina et Pound comme des séries de clones. Une succès particulier a été réalisé avec cette matière ramassée de la région de Haute Amazone. Ce succès suggère que même de plus grandes améliorations en cacao pourraient être possible si beaucoup auraient été disponible pour utilisation par les phytogéticiens. Le maintien de variabilité génétique adéquate en collection de germeplasme de cacao est essentiel pour la production durable de cacao et ceci pourrait être réalisé par acquisition active et consciente de germeplasme. Puisqu'il y a le risque d'introduire par hasard les maladies et les insectes nuisibles avec la matière de germeplasme du cacao, les procédures efficaces d'indexation, ainsi que la disponibilité de salles de quarantaine finale dans chaque pay producteur sont essentiel pour assurer que les matietes introduietes sont sans maladies et insectes nuisibles. Pour réussir comme matière de reproduction pour la production de variétés améliorés pour les agriculteurs, les introductions devraient avoir quelques caractéristiques désirables er acceptables aux fabriquants de chocolat et aux agriculteurs. Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science Vol. 39 (2) 2006: pp. 22

Environmental influence on the expression of resistance/susceptibility to Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands in Lupinus albus L

Available from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:DX98154 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Vegetative propagation of kola (Cola nitida Vent. Schott and Endl.) by stem cuttings

The effects of some technical, environmental and physiological factors on the rooting of kola stem cuttings were investigated at the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana from 1997 to 2002. These factors included hormonal, fungicidal and wounding treatments, rooting media, leaf area, and effects of type of wood. Within the range of concentration tested, indole-butyric acid (IBA) rooting hormone did not have any significant effect on rooting success. All the candidate fungicides tested were effective in reducing rotting of cuttings. However, the copper-based fungicides caused a slight reduction in rooting. No significant differences were recorded for effect of rooting media. Wounding treatment improved rooting in hardwood cuttings. Rooting was significantly better (P ≤ 0.05) in semi-hard- wood cuttings than in hardwood cuttings. Clipping of leaves to half the normal size had virtually the same results as leaving all leaves intact. Further areas to improve success in propagating kola by stem cuttings are discussed. Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science Vol. 38, 2005: 43-5