Global strategy for the conservation and use of Musa genetic resources

The Strategy has been updated by Musa genetic resources and breeding experts within the framework of MusaNet, which has the mandate to oversee the implementation and further development of the Strategy. The Strategy provides a framework and roadmap to be used by the Musa community for the efficient and effective conservation of the globally important collections of Musa and to strengthen the utilization of the genetic resources. It covers numerous topics, with 12 chapters divided into four main parts: Diversity, Identity, Management and Use. Each chapter contains the three sections: Where we are, Where do we want to go, and How will we get there. It includes recommendations and priorities indicated in several consultation processes following the 2006 version and particularly following the expertise of key groups represented, such as the Regional Research Networks (BAPNET, BARNESA, Innovate Plantain, MusaLAC) and global networks such as ProMusa

A review of research on the effects of drought and temperature stress and increased CO2 on Theobroma cacao L., and the role of genetic diversity to address climate change

The global status of research on the effects of drought, temperature and elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) levels on the cacao plant, and the role of genetic diversity in producing more resilient cacao, are presented in this report. With the aim to enhance what we know about the resilience of cacao to climate change, and generate a comprehensive understanding of the questions that remain, this report highlights significant advances in published and ongoing research on drought and temperature tolerance in cacao. Most of the information about ongoing or unpublished work was obtained from personal communications and surveys involving research institutes around the globe. Organizations were selected to participate in the survey based on their presence in the relevant literature, referrals from other organizations, or personal communications from individuals attesting to their involvement in research related to drought and temperature tolerance, or increased CO2 response, in cacao. A vast network of public and private sector partners including research institutes, producer organizations, and industry representatives around the world participated and were involved to collect additional information on unpublished and on-going research work in this area. Over a 100 scientists from 50 institutes across 29 countries participated. Additional information was gathered from personal communications, surveys carried out in collaboration with WCF and its USAID-supported Feed the Future Partnership for the Climate-Smart Cocoa Program, the Global Network for Cacao Genetic Resources (CacaoNet), the International Network for Cacao Genetic Improvement (INGENIC), the Regional Breeders Working Groups, and the research team on cacao and climate change at the University of Reading, UK. Fundamentally, the literature compiled in this report serves as a basis to understand the questions that still remain regarding cacao’s responses to abiotic stresses, highlight the resources that are available to answer them, and identify synergies and complementarities. The report also helps to identify key research questions and partners for the development of a proposal for an international/multi-institutional research programme, to be implemented over the next three to five years, as part of the Collaborative Framework for Cacao Evaluation (CFCE). Although future climatic predictions are worrisome, the genetic materials held within national and international collections offer much potential in the development of improved planting material. The objective of the report is to gather as much information as possible, so that we can aim to maximize the resilience of cacao through the discovery and use of improved planting material, in combination with improved management practices.  We express our gratitude to all of those who provided details of their research on cacao genetic resources and abiotic stress and we acknowledge financial support of WCF and its Feed the Future Partnership for Climate Smart Cocoa, through a grant to Bioversity International from USDA-FAS, the ECA/CAOBISCO/FCC Joint Working Group on Cocoa Quality and Productivity; and the CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry (FTA)

Summary booklet of the global strategy for the conservation and use of Musa genetic resources : A consultative document prepared by the Global Musa Genetic Resources Network (MusaNet)

This publication summarizes the Global Strategy for the Conservation and Use of Musa Genetic Resources

Alien Registration- Laliberte, Marie-Jeanne B. (Fort Fairfield, Aroostook County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/35970/thumbnail.jp

Cadmium in cacao from Latin America and the Caribbean: A review of research and potential mitigation solutions

Cadmium is a heavy metal which accumulates in the body and affects our health. In order to control the amount we consume, the EU has set maximum permissible levels for different foods. A regulation specifying maximum levels of cadmium in cocoa and chocolate products came into force in January 2019 and similar regulations are being developed by other countries. In comparison to other cacao growing regions such as Africa and Asia-Pacific, some countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) are particularly impacted by worrying levels of cadmium in cacao beans that are a concern for the manufacturers of high-cacao content products. In this context, there is a pressing need to identify solutions that reduce cadmium levels in cacao beans and provide mitigation solutions at key processing stages in the value chain. This review presents the status of research on sources of cadmium contamination in soils, soil properties that affect cadmium bioavailability, physiological mechanisms and varietal differences in cadmium uptake by the cacao tree and the consequence of post-harvest processes. It presents potential mitigation solutions applicable to cacao that have been investigated through trials or considered by the research community. The review also includes information on ongoing research projects to gain a better understanding of the direction of research and potential gaps to be filled. This work was coordinated by Bioversity International and the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) through the Latin American Cacao Initiative (ILAC). We thank all the institutions and individuals that provided information concerning research on cadmium and cacao and contributed to the review. We hope that this document is useful to understand the status of knowledge on this complex issue and guide future investments and collaboration to urgently provide solutions for stakeholders and particularly smallholder producers in LAC that are the most impacted. ✔ Spanish version available below: Related materia

Cadmio en el cacao de América Latina y el Caribe: Análisis de la investigación y soluciones potenciales para la mitigación

El cadmio es un metal pesado que se acumula en el cuerpo y afecta nuestra salud. Para controlar la cantidad que consumimos, la UE ha establecido los niveles máximos permitidos para diferentes alimentos. Un reglamento que especifica los niveles máximos de cadmio en los productos de cacao y chocolate entró en vigor en enero de 2019 y otros países están elaborando reglamentos similares. En comparación con otras regiones productoras de cacao como África y Asia-Pacífico, algunos países de América Latina y el Caribe (ALC) se ven particularmente afectados por los preocupantes niveles de cadmio en los granos de cacao que son una preocupación para los fabricantes de productos con alto contenido de cacao. En este contexto, existe una necesidad apremiante de identificar soluciones que reduzcan los niveles de cadmio en los granos de cacao y brinden soluciones de mitigación en etapas clave de procesamiento en la cadena de valor. Esta análisis presenta el estado de la investigación sobre las fuentes de contaminación de cadmio en los suelos, las propiedades del suelo que afectan la biodisponibilidad del cadmio, los mecanismos fisiológicos y las diferencias de variedades en la absorción de cadmio por parte del árbol de cacao y las consecuencias de los procesos posteriores a la cosecha. La análisis presenta posibles soluciones de mitigación aplicables al cacao que han sido investigadas a través de ensayos o consideradas por la comunidad de investigación. La análisis también incluye información sobre proyectos de investigación en curso para obtener una mejor comprensión de la dirección de la investigación y las posibles lagunas que deben cubrirse. Este trabajo fue coordinado por Bioversity International y el Banco de Desarrollo de América Latina (CAF) a través de la Iniciativa Latinoamericana de Cacao (ILAC). Agradecemos a todas las instituciones y personas que proporcionaron información sobre la investigación sobre cadmio y cacao y contribuyeron a la análisis. Esperamos que este documento sea útil para comprender el estado del conocimiento sobre este tema complejo y guiar las inversiones futuras y la colaboración para brindar soluciones urgentes a las partes interesadas y en particular a los pequeños productores en ALC que son los más afectados. ✔ Versión en inglés disponible a continuación: Related materia

Review of the CFC/ICCO/Bioversity project on cacao germplasm evaluation (1998-2010)

The CFC/ICCO/Bioversity project was in response to an urgent need to revitalize cacao breeding and research globally for increasing resistance to pests and disease. It aimed to strengthen national cacao improvement programmes and increase international collaboration by carrying out joint evaluation, selection and breeding activities in ten cocoa-producing countries. The project implemented in two phases – Phase I (1998- 2004) and Phase II (2004-2010), has been one of the most ambitious collaborative efforts in cacao breeding. With an understanding that a similar global collaboration is needed to tackle the impacts of climate change on cacao production, this review was developed in response to a request from the cocoa industry and research partners to evaluate the effectiveness of the project, identify key lessons learned for the implementation of new multisite evaluation field trials focused on increasing the resilience of cacao to the effects of climate change. The cacao research community will be able to use these lessons learned to be better prepared for, and more effective in, the execution of future collaborative research initiatives

Fermi-surface transformation across the pseudogap critical point of the cuprate superconductor La1.6−x_{1.6-x}Nd0.4_{0.4}Srx_{x}CuO4_4

The electrical resistivity $\rho$ and Hall coefficient R$_H$ of the tetragonal single-layer cuprate Nd-LSCO were measured in magnetic fields up to $H = 37.5$ T, large enough to access the normal state at $T \to 0$, for closely spaced dopings $p$ across the pseudogap critical point at $p^\star = 0.235$. Below $p^\star$, both coefficients exhibit an upturn at low temperature, which gets more pronounced with decreasing $p$. Taken together, these upturns show that the normal-state carrier density $n$ at $T = 0$ drops upon entering the pseudogap phase. Quantitatively, it goes from $n = 1 + p$ at $p = 0.24$ to $n = p$ at $p = 0.20$. By contrast, the mobility does not change appreciably, as revealed by the magneto-resistance. The transition has a width in doping and some internal structure, whereby R$_H$ responds more slowly than $\rho$ to the opening of the pseudogap. We attribute this difference to a Fermi surface that supports both hole-like and electron-like carriers in the interval $0.2 < p < p^\star$, with compensating contributions to R$_H$. Our data are in excellent agreement with recent high-field data on YBCO and LSCO. The quantitative consistency across three different cuprates shows that a drop in carrier density from $1 + p$ to $p$ is a universal signature of the pseudogap transition at $T=0$. We discuss the implication of these findings for the nature of the pseudogap phase.Comment: 11 pages, 12 figure

Long-Baseline Interferometric Multiplicity Survey of the Sco-Cen OB Association

We present the first multiplicity-dedicated long baseline optical interferometric survey of the Scorpius-Centaurus-Lupus-Crux association. We used the Sydney University Stellar Interferometer to undertake a survey for new companions to 58 Sco-Cen B- type stars and have detected 24 companions at separations ranging from 7-130mas, 14 of which are new detections. Furthermore, we use a Bayesian analysis and all available information in the literature to determine the multiplicity distribution of the 58 stars in our sample, showing that the companion frequency is F = 1.35 and the mass ratio distribution is best described as a power law with exponent equal to -0.46, agreeing with previous Sco-Cen high mass work and differing significantly from lower-mass stars in Tau-Aur. Based on our analysis, we estimate that among young B-type stars in moving groups, up to 23% are apparently single stars. This has strong implications for the understanding of high-mass star formation, which requires angular momentum dispersal through some mechanism such as formation of multiple systems.Comment: 7 figures, 5 tables, accepted for publication in MNRA