Training manual on spatial analysis of plant diversity and distribution

This training manual is intended for scientists and students who work with biodiversity data and are interested in developing skills to effectively carry out spatial analysis based on (free) GIS applications with a focus on diversity and ecological analyses. These analyses offer a better understanding of spatial patterns of plant diversity and distribution, helping to improve conservation efforts. The training manual focuses on plants of interest for improving livelihoods (e.g. crops, trees and crop wild relatives) and/or those which are endangered. Spatial analyses of interspecific and intraspecific diversity are explained using different types of data: • species presence • morphological characterization data • molecular data Although this training focuses on plant diversity, many of the types of analyses described can also be applied for other organisms such as animals and fungi. The manual is based on specific exercises, based on real project data. In order to use the manual, you will also need to download (please click on reference material to download exercises) the relevant exercise data (listed below). Exercise data: 2.1 Importing observation data 5.2 Diversity - Phenotypic data 2.2 Importing climate data 5.3 Diversity - Molecular marker data 3.1 Basic elements 5.4 Conservation strategies 3.2 Export to Google Earth 6.1 Realized niche 4.1 Quality control – Administrative units 6.2_potential_distribution.zip 4.2 Quality control – Atypical points 6.3 Climate change 5.1 Species diversity 6.4 Gap analysis The manual can be used for self-learning as well as for training events like seminars or short courses on the fundamentals of spatial analysis

Combining interactive GIS tools and expert knowledge in validation of tree species models

Poster presented at XIII Congreso Forestal Mundial. FAO, Buenos Aires (Argentina). 18-25 Oct 200

Diversity of cacao trees in Waslala, Nicaragua: Associations between genotype spectra, product quality and yield potential

The sensory quality and the contents of quality-determining chemical compounds in unfermented and fermented cocoa from 100 cacao trees (individual genotypes) representing groups of nine genotype spectra (GG), grown at smallholder plantings in the municipality of Waslala, Nicaragua, were evaluated for two successive harvest periods. Cocoa samples were fermented using a technique mimicking recommended on-farm practices. The sensory cocoa quality was assessed by experienced tasters, and seven major chemical taste compounds were quantified by near infrared spectrometry (NIRS). The association of the nine, partially admixed, genotype spectra with the analytical and sensory quality parameters was tested. The individual parameters were analyzed as a function of the factors GG and harvest (including the date of fermentation), individual trees within a single GG were used as replications. In fermented cocoa, significant GG-specific differences were observed for methylxanthines, theobromine-to-caffeine (T/C) ratio, total fat, procyanidin B5 and epicatechin, as well as the sensory attributes global score, astringency, and dry fruit aroma, but differences related to harvest were also apparent. The potential cocoa yield was also highly determined by the individual GG, although there was significant tree-to-tree variation within every single GG. Non-fermented samples showed large harvest-to-harvest variation of their chemical composition, while differences between GG were insignificant. These results suggest that selection by the genetic background, represented here by groups of partially admixed genotype spectra, would be a useful strategy toward enhancing quality and yield of cocoa in Nicaragua. Selection by the GG within the local, genetically segregating populations of seedpropagated cacao, followed by clonal propagation of best-performing individuals of the selected GG could be a viable alternative to traditional propagation of cacao by seed from open pollination. Fast and gentle air-drying of the fermented beans and their permanent dry storage were an efficient and comparatively easy precondition for high cocoa quality. (Résumé d'auteur

Diversidad genética y morfológica de Bactris gasipaes y su distribución geográfica

El fruto de Bactris gasipaes (Kunth), localmente llamado chontaduro, pejibaye, pupunha, entre otros, ha sido un alimento básico de muchos pueblos pre-colombinos que ocupaban las tierras bajas del neotrópico húmedo. Como resultado de la domesticación y subsecuente difusión a lo largo de la cuenca amazónica, noroeste de la región andina y América Central, se ha producido en Bactris un complejo de poblaciones con alta diversidad genética. A pesar de que relativamente pocas comunidades todavía cultivan la especie y casi siempre a escala pequeña, su potencial nutricional y comercial está siendo redescubierto, exigiendo estudios básicos sobre nivel y distribución de diversidad genética y variabilidad en caracteres morfo-bioquímicos. Utilizando nueve marcadores moleculares (SSR), se analizó la diversidad genética en 87 accesiones de Bactris gasipaes representativas del área de distribución de la especie y mantenidas en colecciones ex situ. Todos los marcadores resultaron polimórficos, y el análisis de estructura genética destacó la presencia de dos grandes grupos geográficamente definidos, el Andino y el Amazónico, coincidiendo con estudios previos basados en caracteres morfológicos. Estos resultados confirman el alto nivel de diversidad genética y la probable hibridación que ocurrió repetidamente entre poblaciones a lo largo de la historia evolutiva y la domesticación de la especie. Se presentan también los primeros resultados de estudios de variabilidad en caracteres morfológicos del fruto y las relaciones con la diversidad genética. Estas evidencias preliminares, junto con estudios sobre caracteres bioquímicos se espera contribuirán al mejoramiento de caracteres claves para un mayor uso alimenticio de la especie en Latino América. (Texte intégral

Screening genetic resources of Capsicum peppers in their primary centre of diversity in Bolivia and Peru

For most crops, like Capsicum, their diversity remains under-researched for traits of interest for food, nutrition and other purposes. A small investment in screening this diversity for a wide range of traits is likely to reveal many traditional varieties with distinguished values. One objective of this study was to demonstrate, with Capsicum as model crop, the application of indicators of phenotypic and geographic diversity as effective criteria for selecting promising genebank accessions for multiple uses from crop centers of diversity. A second objective was to evaluate the expression of biochemical and agromorphological properties of the selected Capsicum accessions in different conditions. Four steps were involved: 1) Develop the necessary diversity by expanding genebank collections in Bolivia and Peru; 2) Establish representative subsets of ~100 accessions for biochemical screening of Capsicum fruits; 3) Select promising accessions for different uses after screening; and 4) Examine how these promising accessions express biochemical and agromorphological properties when grown in different environmental conditions. The Peruvian Capsicum collection now contains 712 accessions encompassing all five domesticated species (C. annuum, C. chinense, C. frutescens, C. baccatum, and C. pubescens). The collection in Bolivia now contains 487 accessions, representing all five domesticates plus four wild taxa (C. baccatum var. baccatum, C. caballeroi, C. cardenasii, and C. eximium). Following the biochemical screening, 44 Bolivian and 39 Peruvian accessions were selected as promising, representing wide variation in levels of antioxidant capacity, capsaicinoids, fat, flavonoids, polyphenols, quercetins, tocopherols, and color. In Peru, 23 promising accessions performed well in different environments, while each of the promising Bolivian accessions only performed well in a certain environment. Differences in Capsicum diversity and local contexts led to distinct outcomes in each country. In Peru, mild landraces with high values in health-related attributes were of interest to entrepreneurs. In Bolivia, wild Capsicum have high commercial demand