PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 7:00 PM by Luigi

Another interesting taro paper
Assessment of diversity using agro-morphological traits for selecting a core sample of Papua New Guinea taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) collection
T. Okpul, D. Singh, T. Gunua and M.E. Wagih
Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution 51: 671–678, 2004.

Abstract Agro-morphological variation in the taro germplasm of Papua New Guinea was estimated using 18 polymorphic descriptor states to aid in the selection of a core sample for the formation of a regional core collection currently being assembled under the Taro Network for Southeast Asia and Oceania. A total of 276 accessions were stratified into five homogenous groups by using a hierarchical approach according to botanical variety (dasheen or eddoe), altitude (high or low) and stolon formation (present or absent). In selecting the core sample, the eddoe group were directly included because of their rarity in the germplasm collection. While, a ten per cent sample fraction within each group of the dasheen types were selected based on principal component scores. A total of 31 accessions were selected for the core sample. Multivariate analysis of the core sample revealed wide variation, which was mainly influenced by botanical variety, plant height, lamina colour and variegation, petiole colour, corm shape, corm weight and palatability. Cluster analysis identified two homogeneous clusters based on predominant characters that should be useful to breeders. The results obtained in this study provide useful background information for further development of a national core collection.



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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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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. 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DIVA-GIS	Monday, April 26, 2004 Posted 7:00 PM by Luigi Another interesting taro paper Assessment of diversity using agro-morphological traits for selecting a core sample of Papua New Guinea taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) collection T. Okpul, D. Singh, T. Gunua and M.E. Wagih Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution 51: 671–678, 2004. Abstract Agro-morphological variation in the taro germplasm of Papua New Guinea was estimated using 18 polymorphic descriptor states to aid in the selection of a core sample for the formation of a regional core collection currently being assembled under the Taro Network for Southeast Asia and Oceania. A total of 276 accessions were stratified into five homogenous groups by using a hierarchical approach according to botanical variety (dasheen or eddoe), altitude (high or low) and stolon formation (present or absent). In selecting the core sample, the eddoe group were directly included because of their rarity in the germplasm collection. While, a ten per cent sample fraction within each group of the dasheen types were selected based on principal component scores. A total of 31 accessions were selected for the core sample. Multivariate analysis of the core sample revealed wide variation, which was mainly influenced by botanical variety, plant height, lamina colour and variegation, petiole colour, corm shape, corm weight and palatability. Cluster analysis identified two homogeneous clusters based on predominant characters that should be useful to breeders. The results obtained in this study provide useful background information for further development of a national core collection. * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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