By XXXX, XXXX and XXXX.
In construction
References
The one that we still dont have and must read in priority are in red
Omuru, E., & Kingwell, R. S. (2000). Research priority-setting in Papua New Guinea: Policies, methods and practicalities (No. 411-2016-25764).
In construction
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| Aftermath of volcano eruption in Rabaul in 1994 Picture from Wikipedia |
Kerevat (or Keravat) is a town and seat of Gazelle District in East New Britain Province, on the island of New Britain, Papua New Guinea. Rabaul is a township located at 45 drive from Kerevat. It was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province until it was destroyed in 1994 by falling ash of a volcanic eruption in its harbor.
The L.A.E.S., Keravat (Lowlands Agricultural experiment station) dates back to 1928 and was for a long time the major low altitude experiment station in Papua New Guinea. Its major function is applied research in the field of agronomy (including plant genetic resources), entomology, plant pathology, and agricultural chemistery. The station have conducted multilocation trials all over the lowlands of the country.
The station also gave training in production technology and produced "seeds" for distribution among the farmers. Its altitute ranges from a few metres to about 100 m above sea level. The soils are typical Gazelle Peninsula well drained and highly productive.
According to Aburu (1980), the station maintained a modest germplasm collection of tropical fruits, nuts, stalch-food crops, indigenous leaf vegetables, essential oil, spices and plantation crops, including five coconut varieties. Details about these coconut varieties remains unknown.
In the Lowland Agricultural Experimental Station (LAES), 50th anniversary booklet in 1988, it was recorded that:
The PNG Cocoa and Coconut Research Institute (CCRI), was established in 1986, and have its headquarters in Rabaul in the East New Britain province (ENB), a research station in the Madang province majoring in coconut research, and five provincial centres.
Research programs at CCRI include cocoa and coconut agronomy, breeding, product quality improvement/downstream processing, entomology, plant pathology and economics. The institute has an interdisciplinary approach for undertaking R&D for the cocoa and coconut industries in PNG.
In the Lowland Agricultural Experimental Station (LAES), 50th anniversary booklet in 1988, it was recorded that:
In the early 1930's, demonstration plots of different varieties of coconuts were planted. Local selections of palms including a selection of Kabaira (near Tavilo) were planted in block 401.
In 1934, A Dwarf-type variety described as “King coconuts” and Macapuno nuts were planted in blocks 101 and 102. Markham Valley coconuts were also planted during 1934. This enabled crossbreeding experiments to start. Dr Moxon, a former director of CCRI, visited block 101 at LAES in 2000, some labourers reported to him that Macapuno palms were still present in this block.
In 1938, was created the first hybrid between the so-called “King coconut variety” (Dwarf) and Markham Valley (Tall). The collection continued with the addition of a selection from Numa-Numa on Bougainville in 1the same year.
In 1954, another start was made on coconut type collection, selections were obtained from many areas in PNG and planted at LAES, but the heavy dynastid beetle damage resulted in the abandonment of this experiment.
In 1934, A Dwarf-type variety described as “King coconuts” and Macapuno nuts were planted in blocks 101 and 102. Markham Valley coconuts were also planted during 1934. This enabled crossbreeding experiments to start. Dr Moxon, a former director of CCRI, visited block 101 at LAES in 2000, some labourers reported to him that Macapuno palms were still present in this block.
In 1938, was created the first hybrid between the so-called “King coconut variety” (Dwarf) and Markham Valley (Tall). The collection continued with the addition of a selection from Numa-Numa on Bougainville in 1the same year.
In 1954, another start was made on coconut type collection, selections were obtained from many areas in PNG and planted at LAES, but the heavy dynastid beetle damage resulted in the abandonment of this experiment.
In 1960, another germplasm block, planted at Keravat in 1960, was destroyed by insect’s attacks.
In 1964, it was decided to plant a new trial at Kapogere Agricultural Station in the Central District, Papua (approximately -9.795519° 147.715176°). The scope of trial was broadened to include at least 9 foreign introductions: New Hebrides, Solomon Islands, Malaysia, Rennell Island, Singapore, Ceylon‑Random, Ceylon‑Selected, Maldives, Fiji. At least 12 accessions were locally collected: Markham, Kieta in Bougainville, Karkar, Ulavec from Gazelle Peninsula, Buka Island from Bougainville, Baibara, Luburua, Natava, Madang, Belik in New Ireland... The status of these accessions is unknown, they are not registered in the CGRD database and they were not transferred to the international collection in Madang.
In 1973, the first priority in coconut research had shifted to an investigation of hybrids and a collection of seednuts, including hybrids, was received from Salomon Islands and also Ivory Coast. In the following years an experiment to compare selected varieties and hybrids of coconuts was planted at both Keravat and Bubia as well as blocks to supply pollen.
In 1975, RM Brook, reported on these variety trials planted at Keravat and Bubia. Most of the material was introduced in 1974. The following material was planted:
- MRDxRIT (Malayan Red Dwarf x Rennell Island Tall),
- MYDxRIT (Malayan Yellow Dwarf x Rennell Island Tall),
- MRDxSIT (Malayan REd Dwarf x Solomon Tall from Yandina),
- MYDxWAT from Marc Delorme in Ivory Coast, Africa,
- RIT Rennell Island Tall from Rennell Island – Solomon,
- MYDxGazelle Tall from Ralabang Plantation ENBP,
- KarKar Island Tall from Bulu Plantation on KarKar Island,
- Markham Valley Tall from Riara Village, Markham Valley Morobe Province,
- Gazelle Peninsula Tall from Natava Plantation ENBP.
No information remains about the result of these experiments
In 1973, the Government through DAL launched the Hybrid Coconut Project in an attempt to benefit from the success of DwarfxTall crosses as demonstrated in Ivory Coast, Jamaica and Solomon Islands. The first step was the introduction of the Red and Yellow Malayan Dwarfs, which were first planted at Omuru in Madang province. Omuru, 30 km from Madang town, was chosen as the first coconut seedgarden. At that time, Omuru also served as a base for coconut research, providing planting material for demonstration plots and trials set up throughout the country.
By 1977, 42 ha of seedgarden were planted. The production of hybrid seed nuts began in 1979, by which time the Hybrid Coconut Project commenced under the National Public Expenditure Plan. The operation was funded by this plan and co-ordinated by the DAL. During the three years from 1979 to 1981, 486,000 hybrid coconut seednuts were distributed, 233,000 to smallholders, 222,000 to large estates and 31,000 for demonstration blocks. Other seed gardens were established in Manabo (cape Rodney area in Central province) and Kaut (Kavieng, New Ireland), Dami Oil Palm Research Station (WNBP) and also in some private estates Nomundo (WNBP). Further 68 hybrids demonstration blocks were set up in the 14 provinces throughout the country.
In 1992, the PNG CCRI took over the station at Omuru from DAL and the seedgarden was used again for new breeding research.
From 1993 to 1995, a crossing programme was carried out on a selection of dwarf palms to produce a wide range of D x T hybrids to be tested for their general combining ability. Most of the mother palms were poisoned in 1993 and a replanting programme was undertaken from the end of 1993 to 1995.
In 1997, Mass production of a commercial hybrid (Malayan dwarf x Rennell tall) started again in 1997 on the replanted palms and some 13,500 seeds were produced in 1997, 70,300 seeds in 1998 and 90,000 seeds are expected to be harvested in 1999.
Today?, Omuru seed garden is the only seed garden in PNG which is supplying commercial hybrid seed nuts, its capacity 14 ha is very small to challenge the need for improved varieties and there is an urgent need to establish provincial seed gardens throughout the major producing provinces. CCEA recently took over Manabo seed garden in the Central province which is currently under rehabilitation, but most of the mother palms planted in 1981-82 are too high and poorly producing (due to severe potassium deficiencies) to be in the short term a good source of hybrid seeds. 7,000 MRD seedlings are in the nursery to ensure the restoration of the seedgarden but it will take another 2 to 3 years before it start to produce.
The PNG Cocoa and Coconut Research Institute (CCRI), was established in 1986, and have its headquarters in Rabaul in the East New Britain province (ENB), a research station in the Madang province majoring in coconut research, and five provincial centres.
Research programs at CCRI include cocoa and coconut agronomy, breeding, product quality improvement/downstream processing, entomology, plant pathology and economics. The institute has an interdisciplinary approach for undertaking R&D for the cocoa and coconut industries in PNG.
After 1980?
Devastating pest attack of young hybrid coconuts by beetle pests Scapanes australis and Rhinocophrus bilineatus are particularly damaging in the islands region (Bougainville, New Britain and New Ireland) which unfortunately has the largest number of coconut palms in PNG. It has been estimated that over 95 per cent of palms in this region were destroyed by pests within seven years after planting (Turner, 1988). Accordingly, the CCRI acknowledges that ‘the most important constraint to the rehabilitation and expansion of the PNG copra industry is beetle pests’ (CCRI Annual Report 1996). Consequently a large component of the entomology research at CCRI concentrates on new ways to control this problem.
The one that we still dont have and must read in priority are in red
Omuru, E., & Kingwell, R. S. (2000). Research priority-setting in Papua New Guinea: Policies, methods and practicalities (No. 411-2016-25764).
Turner, P.D. (1988) Assessment of experience with new varieties of coconut: Papua New Guinea. AENVC No. 4, APCC.
PNG Cocoa & Coconut Research Institute Annual Report 1996. PNG CCRI, Rabaul.
Aburu, K. (1980). Germplasm at Lowland Agricultural Experimental Station, Kerevat, Papua New Guinea. IBPGR South East Asia Newsl, 4, 6-9.PNG Cocoa & Coconut Research Institute Annual Report 1996. PNG CCRI, Rabaul.
