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 | | Sukal, Amit Chand
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|  | In vitro virus elimination from taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) for conservation and safe international exchange
Author:Sukal, Amit Chand
Institution: University of the South Pacific.
Award: M.Sc.
Subject: Taro -- Diseases and pests -- Control -- Oceania , Taro industry -- Oceania
Date: 2014
Call No.: Pac SB 608 .T26 S85 2014
BRN: 1197211
Copyright:40-60% of this thesis may be copied without the authors written permission
Abstract: Taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) is a very important Pacific Island crop for food and nutritional security, being ranked in the top five of food crops. It is also very important culturally and for a few countries, makes a significant contribution to its economic growth. However pests and diseases as well as the increasing challenge of climate change are affecting taro production. Failure to address these challenges could lead to serious consequences on food security and trade. Crop improvement either through selection or breeding offers a solution to these challenges, but availability of and access to taro diversity is essential for any worthwhile and effective selection and breeding programme to be implemented. The Centre for Pacific Crops and Trees (CePaCT) of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) has a unique repository of taro diversity and is mandated to facilitate the conservation and safe exchange of this diversity. CePaCT, SPC is able to achieve this exchange through in vitro cultures but the challenge of virus infection in taro cultures has prevented the exchange of some of its valuable diversity. The aim of this research was to investigate methods for the elimination of different viruses in taro. Using Dasheen mosaic virus (DsMV) as a model virus, the research evaluates different elimination methodologies (meristem extraction, chemotherapy, electrotherapy and thermotherapy), and proposes possible techniques for the routine elimination of viruses from taro. All methods evaluated were successful in the elimination of DsMV from taro. However, with electrotherapy, the highest regeneration was obtained (avg. 91.66%), as well as effective elimination of DsMV (avg. 76.57%) compared to the other three methods. Importantly with electrotherapy plantlets recovered faster than the other therapies (at least 1½ month faster than the other therapies). Of the four techniques evaluated, electrotherapy and thermotherapy had the highest therapy efficiency rates, 71.66% and 43.3%, respectively. Either of these methods can be used routinely to eliminate DsMV and optimized for the elimination of other viruses infecting taro.
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