The conservation of wild cacao populations: the plant breeders most urgent task
The major problem facing cacao farmers throughout the world is disease. The provision of disease resistant varieties is made more complex by the mutations occuring in fungi such as Phytophthora palmivora and Marasmius perniciosus. To meet this ever-changing challenge the Plant Breeders armoury must be as broadly based as possible, yet today there are large areas within the natural habit of Theobroma cacao that have not been explored for valuable germplasm. In the meantime, deforestation is proceeding at unprecedented rates and invaluable cacao germplasm is being lost for ever. There is an urgent need to collate the information gained from previous expeditions. Future collections, ideally by 2-3 man parties, should be coordinated to cover those rivers never previously or inadequately explored. Lack of finance appears to be the limiting factor at present, but those who hold the purse strings must be made aware that time is rapidly running out
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | biblioteca |
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St. Augustine (Trinidad y Tobago)
1972
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| Subjects: | THEOBROMA CACAO, ESPECIES INDIGENAS, GERMOPLASMA, CONSERVACION DEL GERMOPLASMA, RESISTENCIA A LA ENFERMEDAD, EXPEDICIONES, CRINIPELLIS PERNICIOSA, PHYTOPHTHORA PALMIVORA, |
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| Summary: | The major problem facing cacao farmers throughout the world is disease. The provision of disease resistant varieties is made more complex by the mutations occuring in fungi such as Phytophthora palmivora and Marasmius perniciosus. To meet this ever-changing challenge the Plant Breeders armoury must be as broadly based as possible, yet today there are large areas within the natural habit of Theobroma cacao that have not been explored for valuable germplasm. In the meantime, deforestation is proceeding at unprecedented rates and invaluable cacao germplasm is being lost for ever. There is an urgent need to collate the information gained from previous expeditions. Future collections, ideally by 2-3 man parties, should be coordinated to cover those rivers never previously or inadequately explored. Lack of finance appears to be the limiting factor at present, but those who hold the purse strings must be made aware that time is rapidly running out |
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