Just playing around on the CARDI site...... here is an update of some of the developments in the Caribbean (i would sure like to get my hands on the "Tiger Teeth" they been talking about):
Activities of Regional Scope
Activities of National Scope
Activities of Regional Scope
- CARDI regional varietal improvement programme is currently focused on exploiting the variability within the ‘Red Congo’ and ‘Scotch Bonnet’ x ‘Bird Pepper’ populations. Three outstanding variants (two red and one yellow) from ‘Red Congo’ and four selections (three red and one yellow) from the ‘Scotch Bonnet’ x ‘Bird Pepper’ cross have been selected and ready to undergo yield trials.
- Breeder Seed for the eight stabilised commercial cultivars – ‘Red Congo’, ‘Yellow Congo’, ‘Scotch Bonnet’, ‘Cayenne’, ‘Tiger Teeth’, ‘CARDI Green’, ‘CARDI Red’ and ‘West Indies Red’ - was produced in Barbados. Some 25 kg of Nucleus Seeds, which produce plants for commercial seeds were produced in Belize, while Antigua and Barbuda produced 6 kg of Commercial Seeds for use by farmers in the region. A seed development and production strategy involving CARDI and its collaborators is being prepared.
- The regional varietal trial on the productivity of the eight stabilised varieties continued in Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines. ‘CARDI Green’ and ‘West Indies Red’ were the most productive in terms of yield and berry weight. The results were consistent with those obtained in other locations, such as Dominica and Belize.
- The investigation of pests and diseases that contribute to reduced productivity of hot peppers has been ongoing. In Belize, baseline data collected on major pests in Cayo and Belize districts showed that white flies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum (Fabricius) and Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber) were the most prevalent pests. Virus infection is still a major problem for hot pepper production. Screening of hot pepper fields in Barbados for Potato Virus Y (PVY) and Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV) revealed that 60% of the samples were positive for CMV and 78% for PVY. A survey of common weeds in the hot pepper fields showed many species testing positive for the viruses. Future studies will investigate weed seeds as sources for transmission of the viruses. Meanwhile, the results suggest that field sanitation will be important in managing the viruses.
- In addition to the specific research and development actions highlighted above, we also keep track of the major developments in the hot pepper industry. During 26 February, 2008 to 8 March, 2008, three CARDI scientists participated in the premier hemispheric hot pepper show, the 20th National Fiery-foods & Barbecue Show in Albuquerque; met with Miami importers of fresh produce from the Caribbean Region; and visited the Chile Pepper Institute at the New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico. At the Fiery-foods Show, the team became aware of developing trends in the hot pepper industry (consumer preferences, production, product development and marketing). The meeting with the Miami importers revealed that very little hot pepper from the Caribbean was available in the USA market. However, the CARDI Green hot pepper produced in Dominica was deemed of very high quality. At the Chile Pepper Institute the three scientists familiarised themselves with some of the cutting-edge technological developments in hot pepper breeding and production. The observations and information garnered on the visit will be used to inform the CARDI work programme, in particular, and in the overall development of the hot pepper industry in the Region in general.
Activities of National Scope
- Antigua and Barbudaand Dominica are very interested in further development and commercial exploitation of the indigenous hot peppers, ‘Peggy Mouth’ and ‘Bonda Ma Jacque’ respectively. Therefore, CARDI is using its expertise to facilitate the selection and evaluation of the productivity of landraces of these varieties.
- In Trinidad and Tobago, work on the development of indigenous varieties is most advanced. Eight elite accessions (seven hot pepper and one seasoning pepper lines) selected from 24 accessions have been characterised and catalogued. These purified and stabilised lines are now undergoing seed multiplication to supply farmers in the twin-island Republic with planting material. Two publications, Hot Pepper Production Manual for Trinidad and Tobago and A Catalogue of the Commercial Hot Pepper Landraces of Trinidad and Tobago, have been completed.
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