A blog maintained by Tevita Kete, PGR Officer

Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Suva, Fiji Islands

 

   

This weblog documents the activities of Pacific Agricultural Genetic Resources Network (PAPGREN), along with other information on plant genetic resources (PGR) in the Pacific.

The myriad varieties found within cultivated plants are fundamental to the present and future productivity of agriculture. PAPGREN, which is coordinated by the Land Resources Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), helps Pacific countries and territories to conserve their crop genetic diversity sustainably, with technical assistance from the Bioversity International (BI) and support from NZAID and ACIAR.

SPC also hosts the Centre of Pacific Crops and Trees (CEPaCT). The CEPaCT maintains regional in vitro collections of crops important to the Pacific and carries out research on tissue culture technology. The CEPaCT Adviser is Dr Mary Taylor (MaryT@spc.int), the CEPaCT Curator is Ms Valerie Tuia (ValerieT@spc.int).

 

 

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PAPGREN coordination and support

  • IPGRI
  • ACIAR
  • NZAID
  • CTA
  • SPC
  • PAPGREN
  • CEPaCT

     genebank locations
    Click on the thumbnail to see a map of the locations of Pacific genebanks. Click here to download a regional directory of genebanks in the Pacific, including information on their location, contact details and holdings.

    PAPGREN partners


    Mr William Wigmore
    Director of Research
    Ministry of Agriculture
    Department of Resources & Development
    P.O. Box 96
    Rarotonga
    Cook Islands
    Tel: (682) 28711-29720
    Fax: (682) 21881
    Email: cimoa@oyster.net.ck

    Mr Adelino S. Lorens
    Chief
    Agriculture Pohnpei
    Office of Economic Affairs
    P.O. Box 1028
    Kolonia
    Pohnpei 96941
    Federated States of Micronesia
    Tel: (691) 3202400
    Fax: (691) 3202127
    Email: pniagriculture@mail.fm

    Dr Lois Englberger
    Island Food Community of Pohnpei
    Research Advisor
    P.O. Box 2299
    Kolonia
    Pohnpei 96941
    Federated States of Micronesia
    Email: nutrition@mail.fm

    Mr Apisai Ucuboi
    Director of Research
    Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forest
    Koronivia Research Station
    P.O. Box 77
    Nausori
    Fiji Islands
    Tel: (679) 3477044
    Fax: (679) 3477546-400262
    Email: apisainu@yahoo.com

    Dr Maurice Wong
    Service du Developpement Rural
    B.P. 100
    Papeete
    Tahiti 98713
    French Polynesia
    Tel: (689) 42 81 44
    Fax: (689) 42 08 31
    Email: maurice.wong@rural.gov.pf

    Mr Tianeti Beenna Ioane
    Head, Research Section
    Division of Agriculture
    Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development
    P.O. Box 267
    Tarawa
    Kiribati
    Tel: (686) 28096-28108-28080
    Fax: (686) 28121
    Email : agriculture@tskl.net.ki; Beenna_ti@yahoo.com

    Mr Frederick Muller
    Secretary
    Ministry of Resources & Development
    P.O. Box 1727
    Majuro 96960
    Marshall Islands
    Tel: (692) 6253206
    Fax: (692) 6257471
    Email: rndsec@ntamar.net

    Mr Herman Francisco
    Director
    Bureau of Agriculture
    Ministry of Resources & Development
    P.O. Box 460
    Koror 96940
    Palau
    Tel: (680) 4881517
    Fax: (680) 4881725
    Email: bnrd@pnccwg.palaunet.com

    Ms Rosa Kambuou
    Principal Scientist PGR
    NARI Dry Lowlands Programme
    Laloki Agricultural Research Station
    P.O. Box 1828
    Boroko
    National Capital District
    Papua New Guinea
    Tel: (675) 3235511
    Fax: (675) 3234733
    Email: kambuou@global.net.pg

    Ms Laisene Samuelu
    Principal Crop Development Officer
    Crops Division
    Ministry of Agriculture, Forests, Fisheries & Meteorology
    P.O. Box 1874
    Apia
    Samoa
    Tel: (685) 23416-20605
    Fax: (685) 20607-23996
    Email: lsamuelu@lesamoa.net

    Mr Jimi Saelea
    Director of Research
    Department of Agriculture and Livestock
    P.O. Box G13
    Honiara
    Guadalcanal
    Solomon Islands
    Tel: (677) 27987

    Mr Tony Jansen
    Planting Materials Network
    Kastom Gaden Association
    Burns Creek, Honiara
    P.O. Box 742
    Honiara
    Solomon Islands
    Tel: (677) 39551
    Email: kastomgaden@solomon.com.sb

    Mr Finao Pole
    Head of Research
    Ministry of Agriculture & Forests
    P.O. Box 14
    Nuku'alofa
    Tonga
    Tel: (676) 23038
    Fax: (676) 24271
    Email: thaangana@hotmail.com

    Mr Frazer Bule Lehi
    Head of Research
    Department of Agriculture & Rural Development
    Private Mail Bag 040
    Port Vila
    Vanuatu
    Tel: (678) 22525
    Fax: (678) 25265
    Email: flehi@hotmail.com

    Other links

    Other CROP agencies
    Forum Secretariat
    University of the South Pacific
    SPREP

    Pacific biodiversity
    Biodiversity hotspots
    Breadfruit Institute
    Hawaiian native plants
    Intellectual property rights
    Nature Conservancy
    PBIF
    PestNet
    SIDS
    WWF South Pacific Program

    Other Pacific organizations
    Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific
    Micronesian Seminar
    Te Puna web directory

    Pacific news
    Cafe Pacific
    CocoNET Wireless
    Island Directory
    Pacific Islands News
    Pacific Islands Report
    Pacific Islands Travel
    Pacific Time
    South Pacific travel
    Time Pacific

    Interested in GIS?
    DIVA-GIS

     

  •  

    Thursday, August 14, 2003


    Samoa’s endangered atiu vine found in Manua Isles

    This recent article seems to refer to a Cucumis species.

    PAGO PAGO, American Samoa, (Samoa News, Aug. 9) - A native plant said to have disappeared from its natural habitat in the Manu'a islands has now reappeared.

    The atiu vine, a plant with cultural significance that is thought to have vanished from natural habitats Ofu and Ta'u, are growing well on Tutuila where they never grew before. That's according to American Samoa National Park Service (ASNPS) field technician Tavita Togia.

    It has been transplanted in Fagasa where it exists today although there is no written record of the atiu having grown before on Tutuila soil.

    Thought to have completely died out at its natural growth areas Ofu and Tau, the vine was last collected in 1991 by noted Pacific botanist Dr. Art Whistler at the Fitiuta airstrip (Tau Island). In his book "Plants in the Samoan Culture", Whistler surmised the plant had disappeared from natural habitats on Ta'u and Ofu islands in 1991.

    Ten years later in 2001, it was rediscovered at the same area by Togia.

    He took the plants and replanted them in the Fagasa reforestation project immediately after, a project controlled jointly by ASNPS and the Fagasa Village Council.

    Whistler had determined in 1991 that although the plant had disappeared, it still had many seeds lying dormant in the ground and needed to be disturbed to give shoot. "The soil had to be disturbed in order for the seeds to germinate and give shoot," Tavita told Samoa News. "This is exactly what happened in 2001 at the Fitiuta airstrip."

    Togia said it was fortunate machinery belonging to the construction company which did work at the airstrip had provided the needed disturbing of the soil. The act may have caused the seeds lying dormant in the ground to germinate and provide shoot as it did.

    The National Park technician said he shifted the plants from the Manu'a airstrip to the Fagasa Reforestation Project.

    "The vines have grown well at Fagasa," Togia said "and they are the only atiu plants known to have grown on Tutuila island. There is no record of any growing on Tutuila before."

    A plant of cultural significance, Whistler said it was decreasing in popularity with the people. "The plant is now rare in Samoa and the name is nearly forgotten,' he wrote.

    Togia said when he took samples of the regrown plants from his discovery in 2001 to several Manu'a people for identification; he said many did not know what plant was. "Many mentioned names of other plants for the atiu, but out of close to ten people I questioned, only one was able to identify it correctly, a Manu'a man by the name of Patea," he said.

    A noted member of the To'oto'o Council of Orators is named Atiulagi (atiu from/of heaven) after the plant according to Manu'a sources. Little else is known of its cultural importance.

    The plant is has been reported to be one of the imports of the original Samoans in the Samoan archipelago. It is reported to have flourished in the Marquesas (Nuku Hiva), where it is called katiu (with a 'k') by the natives.

    It is used as ornament, scent agent for its fragrance and food during famine. It is of the cucumber family.

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