Location: National Programs
Project Number: 0500-00008-001-041-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Apr 1, 2021
End Date: Mar 31, 2024
Objective:
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 (www.icgd.reading.ac.uk); 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. If such transfer is deemed appropriate, an MTA will be developed for the transfer.
Approach:
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, if agreed by the global cocoa community and plant health regulatory authorities. New material imported will be assayed in conjunction with the USDA/ARS Sustainable Perennial Crop Laboratory (SPCL)-Beltsville through molecular fingerprinting and the Cocoa Research Centre in Trinidad, in order to check for trueness to type. The diversity of plant material held will be utilized in physiological and other evaluation studies at the University of Reading and elsewhere.
