Location: National Programs
Project Number: 0500-00008-001-40-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Apr 1, 2016
End Date: Mar 31, 2021
Objective:
The objective of this project is to maintain an intermediate-term cocoa quarantine system (the "International Cocoa Quarantine Centre (ICQC, R)"; distribute quarantined material worldwide; maintain data relevant to the quarantine process on the ICGD website; conduct research on enhancing the efficacy of the quarantine procedures; provide material and, where appropriate, support for USDA/ARS research and breeding programs, participate with USDA/ARS and other international partners in selected international meetings and committees, ICCO initiatives, INGENIC, ECA/CAOBISCO, CacaoNet and WCF Partnership.
Approach:
The approach of this project is to continue to identify Theobroma cacao germplasm that has been evaluated for disease resistance and quality/production traits and/or which is genetically distinct and to import, quarantine and distribute such material. Research will be conducted to improve the efficacy of the procedures, which may lead to a shortening of the quarantine period. New material imported will be assayed in conjunction with USDA/ARS Sustainable Perennial Crop Laboratory (SPCL)-Beltsville through molecular fingerprinting in order to check for trueness to type. The diversity of plant material held will be utilised in physiological and other evaluation studies.
