Development of a Marker Assisted Selection Program for Cacao

Production of cacao in tropical America has been severely affected by fungal pathogens causing diseases known as witches' broom (WB, caused by Moniliophthora perniciosa), frosty pod (FP, caused by M. roreri) and black pod (BP, caused by Phytophthora spp.). BP is pan-tropical and causes losses in all producing areas. WB is found in South America and parts of the Caribbean, while FP is found in Central America and parts of South America. Together, these diseases were responsible for over 700 million US dollars in losses in 2001 (4). Commercial cacao production in West Africa and South Asia are not yet affected by WB and FP, but cacao grown in these regions is susceptible to both. With the goal of providing new disease resistant cultivars the USDA-ARS and Mars, Inc. have developed a marker assisted selection (MAS) program. Quantitative trait loci have been identified for resistance to WB, FP, and BP. The potential usefulness of these markers in identifying resistant individuals has been confirmed in an experimental F1 family in Ecuador.

Download Full-text

Recovery Plan for Tar Spot of Corn, Caused by Phyllachora maydis

Plant Health Progress ◽

10.1094/php-04-21-0074-rp ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Camila Rocco da Silva ◽

Jill Check ◽

Joshua S MacCready ◽

Amos E Alakonya ◽

Robert L Beiriger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South America ◽

Central America ◽

Environmental Conditions ◽

Fungal Pathogens ◽

Yield Losses ◽

Tar Spot ◽

America South ◽

The Caribbean ◽

First Time ◽

The U.S

Tar spot is a foliar disease of corn threatening production across the Americas. The disease was first documented in Mexico in 1904 and is now present in 15 additional countries throughout Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Researchers and growers in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean consider tar spot to be a disease complex caused by multiple fungal pathogens. When environmental conditions are conducive for infection, these regions have experienced yield losses can reach up to 100%. In 2015, tar spot was detected in the U.S. for the first time in Illinois and Indiana. Since that time tar spot has spread across the U.S. corn-growing region, and the disease has been found in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. In 2020, tar spot was also found in southwest Ontario, Canada. Losses in the U.S. due to tar spot totaled an estimated 241 million bushels from 2018 to 2020. With the potential to continue to spread across the U.S. corn-growing states, much greater losses could result when environmental conditions are conducive.

Download Full-text

Hellmayr's 'Catalogue of Birds of the Americas' Catalogue of Birds of the Americas and the Adjacent Islands in Field Museum of Natural History including All Species and Subspecies Known to Occur in North America, Central America, South America, the West Indies, and Islands of the Caribbean Sea, the Galapagos Archipelago, and Other Islands Which May Be Included on Account of Their Faunal Affinities Part IX Charles E. Hellmayr

The Auk ◽

10.2307/4078574 ◽

1937 ◽

Vol 54 (2) ◽

pp. 212-213

Keyword(s):

North America ◽

Natural History ◽

South America ◽

Central America ◽

West Indies ◽

Caribbean Sea ◽

The West ◽

Galapagos Archipelago ◽

America South ◽

The Caribbean

Download Full-text

Myrcia (Myrtaceae) in the state of Paraná, Brazil

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.486.1.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 486 (1) ◽

pp. 1-105

Author(s):

LAURA C. DE LANNOY ◽

AYRTON I. DE OLIVEIRA ◽

RENATO GOLDENBERG ◽

DUANE F. LIMA

Keyword(s):

South America ◽

Central America ◽

Herbarium Specimens ◽

Vegetation Types ◽

Northern Limit ◽

Southern South America ◽

Taxonomic Descriptions ◽

Online Databases ◽

The Caribbean ◽

Doubtful Species

Myrtaceae is one of the largest families in number of species within the order Myrtales and one of the richest families in Brazil. Myrcia is the fourth largest genus of Myrtaceae, with approximately 770 species distributed from Central America and the Caribbean to southern South America. In Brazil Myrcia is represented by 397 species, of which 309 are endemic. In this study, we present the taxonomic treatment for all species of Myrcia that occur in Paraná state, Brazil. Analyses of herbarium specimens, online databases, and bibliography were performed. Fifty-three species of Myrcia occur in Paraná, distributed in all vegetation types. Twenty-three names were excluded from previous lists of species or listed as doubtful species. Neither of the recorded species is endemic to Paraná, but this state is the southern and northern limit of distribution of six and two species, respectively. We present an identification key, taxonomic descriptions, figures, maps, and comments on phenology, habitat, and morphology for each species.

Download Full-text

Cassia grandis (pink shower).

10.1079/fc.11439.20210115105 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Marianne Jennifer Datiles ◽

Pedro Acevedo-Rodríguez

Keyword(s):

Costa Rica ◽

South America ◽

Central America ◽

Landscape Design ◽

Direct Sunlight ◽

Tropical America ◽

Gallery Forests ◽

Medicinal Properties ◽

Live Fences ◽

Flooded Areas

Abstract C. grandis is an element of lowland and riparian, semideciduous forests, occurring naturally from Mexico to South America. The species is usually 10-15 m high, and is very ornamental, especially due to its pink flowers which appear when the tree is partially defoliate and cover the entire crown. It is used in landscape design and urban arborization in tropical America, although in some cases its use is restricted due to the size of its fruits, which can reach 40-60 cm long. The species is recommended for live fences and revegetation in gallery forests in periodically flooded areas, but it is also adapted to a more or less pronounced dry season. C. grandis can be planted under direct sunlight in mixed tree systems, in fertile soils. The species has agroforestry potential for dry zones, especially in Central America, and is recommended for arborization of perennial crops and pastures, the fruits are highly appreciated by the cattle. C. grandis requires periodical pruning, however this may cause early decay and rot. The wood is used in construction, especially for carpentry, joinery, flooring, posts, beams, also for rustic furniture, tool handles, small bridges and boats. It is considered good for charcoal and fuelwood, and inadequate for cellulose and paper. In Central America, especially in Costa Rica, the membrane which surrounds the seeds is used as a substitute for chocolate, and is also used in many countries due to its medicinal properties. Researches have shown that extracts from this plant exhibit activity against the most common dermatophytes.

Download Full-text

Fall and Winter Movements of Newfoundland Graycheeked Thrushes (Catharus Minimus Minimus)

Animal Migration ◽

10.1515/ami-2018-0004 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 42-48 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Darroch M. Whitaker ◽

Ian G. Warkentin ◽

Keith A. Hobson ◽

Peter Thomas ◽

Rinchen Boardman

Keyword(s):

South America ◽

Central America ◽

Sierra Nevada ◽

Winter Habitat ◽

Winter Range ◽

Contemporary Research ◽

The Caribbean ◽

Northern South America ◽

Migratory Stopover

Abstract The Newfoundland subspecies of Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus minimus) has declined since the 1980s and degradation of winter habitat has been suggested as a contributing stressor. However, the winter range of this subspecies is not well understood, so we fitted 29 males with archival GPS tags during summer 2016. Four tagged thrushes were recaptured in summer 2017 and, though all tags had missing locations and broken antennae, the data retrieved showed that one thrush wintered in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (SNSM) in northern Colombia, one in the nearby Sierra de Perija in Venezuela, and a third may have settled in the same region. One tag provided locations until April 21 and that thrush was consistently detected within a ~1 ha area through the winter. Locations obtained during fall migration indicated that thrushes travelled to South America via Central America and possibly by directly crossing the Caribbean. Contemporary research indicates that the SNSM is an important migratory stopover for Northern Gray-cheeked Thrushes (C. m. aliciae) but a historical report coupled with our observations suggest winter use of the SNSM and adjacent areas in northern South America by C. m. minimus, though numbers may be lower than during the 1900s.

Download Full-text