Project Number: 1275-22000-242-12
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Aug 01, 2007
End Date: Aug 01, 2012

Objective:
1. Establish and evaluate different management systems to assess the production potentials of cacao and other commodity species in economically viable and environmentally sustainable manner. 2. Select, establish, and evaluate Peruvian Cacao germplasms for genetic and production potentials. 3. Develop and optimize strategies for biological control of cacao diseases caused by Moniliophthora spp. An amendment to this agreement was implemented in 2009 to address the critical needs of our cooperator with regard to collecting specific data. A large number of new cacao plants must be analyzed via DNA analysis. To improve the accuracy of the analysis high quality DNA must be extracted in Peru from freshly harvested material. This multi-years analysis requires a more robust method to extract DNA. To address this need it is in the best interest of the agency to provide DNA extraction kits and equipment to handle large numbers of samples. The Equipment Savant Fast Prep, DNA extraction kits and accessories presently held in surplus with SPCL will be sent to the cooperator for the duration of the agreement and any subsequent agreements. Due to the age of the Fast Prep apparatus, and the projected usage that it will receive during this agreement, we believe that it is in the best interest of the agency that the title will vest with the collaborator at the end of this agreement. SPCL will send ICT an Savant Bio101 Fast Prep unit and consumable DNA kits.

Approach:
1. Establish field and controlled studies to assess the impact of different agroecosystem management practices, abiotic and biotic stresses and perennial legume cover crops on growth, development and production potentials of high value crops such as cacao. 2. Assess genetic diversity in wild populations and farmer selections using molecular markers. A core set of the germplasm then will be selected and evaluated in clonal garden and farmers¿ fields for agronomic traits. 3. A collection of isolates of Trichoderma from Peru will be characterized for their ability to control cacao diseases and Trichoderma formulations will be developed that increase coverage and persistence leading to improved biocontrol of cacao diseases in the field.