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Impact of - IDL-BNC @ IDRC - International Development Research ...

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occurs, the results can be severe, e.g., in Asia recently with rice blast and brown<br />

plant hopper on rice.<br />

Much <strong>of</strong> <strong>IDRC</strong>'s support over the past 17 years has been in the field <strong>of</strong> crop<br />

breeding, including resistance to pests and disease. <strong>IDRC</strong> support has <strong>of</strong>ten<br />

been directed toward minor crops, such as food legumes, root crops (cassava<br />

and sweet potato), oil seeds, and bananas and plantains. In some cases, <strong>IDRC</strong><br />

has promoted germ-plasm exchange to increase genetic diversity and make<br />

resistant material available. Some <strong>of</strong> the germ plasm <strong>of</strong> bananas and plantains<br />

from Southeast Asia (Philippines and New Guinea) is resistant to the leaf<br />

diseases devastating smaliholders in Latin America and Africa. However,<br />

because <strong>of</strong> the presence <strong>of</strong> viruses in Southeast Asia, it has not been possible<br />

to exchange material. <strong>Research</strong> has, therefore, focused on identifying viruses,<br />

developing screening techniques including monoclonal antibodies, and perfecting<br />

tissue-culture techniques to enable virus indexing and clean-up necessary<br />

for the exchange <strong>of</strong> banana genetic material.<br />

A survey <strong>of</strong> <strong>IDRC</strong> crop-breeding projects in China, Indonesia, the Philippines,<br />

and Thailand has just been completed to assess the use <strong>of</strong> pesticides and the<br />

approach to breeding in these areas. Some project teams are selecting for<br />

horizontal resistance and tolerance rather than resistance. However, their use<br />

<strong>of</strong> chemical pesticides was much higher than among local farmers. Although<br />

safety precautions and level <strong>of</strong> training <strong>of</strong> people applying pesticides was<br />

inadequate, follow-up training is planned.<br />

Other alternatives are now receiving considerable attention from researchers<br />

and are starting to have an effect in farmers' fields. They include integrated<br />

pest management (1PM) and biocontrol. These are the areas in which <strong>IDRC</strong><br />

has been, and continues to be, heavily involved.<br />

Classic biocontrol<br />

C<strong>of</strong>fee berry borer<br />

Hypothenemus ham pei, a pest <strong>of</strong> African origin, is now a problem in Ecuador<br />

and Mexico. Commercial c<strong>of</strong>fee has little resistance. Parasites <strong>of</strong> this pest have<br />

been collected in Kenya and Togo, reared in quarantine, then sent to Latin<br />

America. One parasite is now established in Ecuador (Cephalonomia<br />

stephanoderis) and two populations <strong>of</strong> Prorops nasuta from east and west Africa<br />

are being tested to see if they can exert control over a wide geographic range.<br />

Cassava green mite<br />

Monongchellus tanajoa was accidentally introduced into Africa from South<br />

America in 1971 and significantly reduced cassava yields. Since 1974, <strong>IDRC</strong><br />

has supported control efforts. Natural enemies were surveyed, tested in field<br />

conditions in Trinidad, reared in the United Kingdom under quarantine,<br />

evaluated in field conditions in Africa, and mass-released throughout West<br />

307

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