PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 1:05 PM by Luigi

Dwarf Coconut Palm Trees Originally from PNG Found in French Polynesia

From Pacific Magazine, March 10, 2006

Tahitipresse reports that a research team headed by Dr. Roland Bourdeix of the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development recently discovered on the Leeward Island of Raiatea three varieties of miniature coconut palm trees originally from Papua New Guinea.

Their discovery by Dr. Bourdeix and two researchers from the French Polynesia Rural Development Department—Taraina Pinson and Daniel Teriipaia—immediately raised a question as to how the coconut palms arrived on Raiatea. The answer may mean the palm trees are older than originally thought, Dr. Bourdeix suggested.

Their discovery also prompted the researchers to call for the creation of repositories for preserving older varieties of coconut palm trees and the traditional knowledge associated with them.

In scientific and botanical circles, the French researcher said, one question whose answer has remained unanswered and mysterious for a long time is: Were these "Haari Papua" coconut palm trees originally from Papua New Guinea introduced in what is today French Polynesia several hundreds of years ago by ancient Polynesians? Or were they introduced only 100 or 150 years ago by European discoverers? Up until now, researchers have tended to side with the second hypothesis, he said.

But the discovery of the three varieties of the Haari Papua coconut palm on Raiatea may refute that theory, said Dr. Bourdeix, who works for the research center known by its French acronym of CIRAD. The abundance of this type of coconut palm would indicate that its arrival in French Polynesia from Papua New Guinea was not accidental, he said.

The introduction of this coconut palm obviously did not occur simply by an occasional voyager bringing one or two seeds with him, according to Dr. Bourdeix. Instead, he continued, at some point in history there was an organized collection of several different varieties of coconut palms in Papua New Guinea. Those varieties were then introduced in what is today French Polynesia, probably Raiatea rather than the island of Tahiti, he reasoned.

But the European discovery of Raiatea occurred after that of Tahiti and Raiatea is known as the cradle of Polynesian culture within the Pacific's Polynesian Triangle. Such elements, Dr. Bourdeix said, thus reinforce the hypothesis that it could have been Polynesians rather than Europeans who introduced these coconut palms from New Guinea in this sector of Pacific Islands.

However, a definite conclusion is still difficult to make. Scientists led by Dr. Bourdeix continue to seek any information concerning the history of the "Haari Papua" in French Polynesia.



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DIVA-GIS	Sunday, March 12, 2006 Posted 1:05 PM by Luigi Dwarf Coconut Palm Trees Originally from PNG Found in French Polynesia From Pacific Magazine, March 10, 2006 Tahitipresse reports that a research team headed by Dr. Roland Bourdeix of the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development recently discovered on the Leeward Island of Raiatea three varieties of miniature coconut palm trees originally from Papua New Guinea. Their discovery by Dr. Bourdeix and two researchers from the French Polynesia Rural Development Department—Taraina Pinson and Daniel Teriipaia—immediately raised a question as to how the coconut palms arrived on Raiatea. The answer may mean the palm trees are older than originally thought, Dr. Bourdeix suggested. Their discovery also prompted the researchers to call for the creation of repositories for preserving older varieties of coconut palm trees and the traditional knowledge associated with them. In scientific and botanical circles, the French researcher said, one question whose answer has remained unanswered and mysterious for a long time is: Were these "Haari Papua" coconut palm trees originally from Papua New Guinea introduced in what is today French Polynesia several hundreds of years ago by ancient Polynesians? Or were they introduced only 100 or 150 years ago by European discoverers? Up until now, researchers have tended to side with the second hypothesis, he said. But the discovery of the three varieties of the Haari Papua coconut palm on Raiatea may refute that theory, said Dr. Bourdeix, who works for the research center known by its French acronym of CIRAD. The abundance of this type of coconut palm would indicate that its arrival in French Polynesia from Papua New Guinea was not accidental, he said. The introduction of this coconut palm obviously did not occur simply by an occasional voyager bringing one or two seeds with him, according to Dr. Bourdeix. Instead, he continued, at some point in history there was an organized collection of several different varieties of coconut palms in Papua New Guinea. Those varieties were then introduced in what is today French Polynesia, probably Raiatea rather than the island of Tahiti, he reasoned. But the European discovery of Raiatea occurred after that of Tahiti and Raiatea is known as the cradle of Polynesian culture within the Pacific's Polynesian Triangle. Such elements, Dr. Bourdeix said, thus reinforce the hypothesis that it could have been Polynesians rather than Europeans who introduced these coconut palms from New Guinea in this sector of Pacific Islands. However, a definite conclusion is still difficult to make. Scientists led by Dr. Bourdeix continue to seek any information concerning the history of the "Haari Papua" in French Polynesia. * 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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