Dr Bradley Campbell checking a taro crop.
(Photo credit: University of Queensland )
A breakthrough in breeding hybrids of one of Papua New Guinea's most culturally significant crops could solve growing problems caused by climate change in the Pacific nation.
The University of Queensland-led project, funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), is investigating taro, a starchy, tuberous staple food grown in PNG for more than 9,000 years.
UQ plant scientist Dr Bradley Campbell said hotter temperatures, longer dry spells and the increasing coastal salinity put immense pressure on traditional crops like taro.
"Farmers are really feeling the impact, but hybrids made from the Dasheen and Eddoe taro varieties could be a potential solution," Dr Campbell said.
"Dasheen is a larger variety that perishes quickly and is highly vulnerable to drought, while Eddoe is smaller, and able to survive in the ground when conditions are dry."
Project partner Dr Tom Okpul from PNG's University of Technology produced fertile offspring from crossing the different varieties.
He said the hybrid was both large and drought tolerant, providing the best of both worlds.
"Taro is one of the highest‑value crops for farmers in PNG, but in some regions, it's failing under dry conditions, so we need varieties that can withstand the new reality," Dr Okpul said.
"Storage is a big problem because the taro spoils quickly and drought is a big problem so if these hybrids can address both, that's a major win for farmers."
The UQ team including Professor Ian Godwin and Dr Millicent Smith , is testing the hybrids with the help of farmers in PNG.
"We're giving these hybrids to farmers to grow, taste and assess," Dr Okpul said.
"They tell us what works in the field, what resists disease and what they like to eat, which is the quickest and most meaningful way to see if we're on the right track.
"This approach could also overcome a common challenge in crop development where varieties created by researchers are not always adopted in villages."
Dr Campbell said unlike seed crops, taro was propagated from cuttings, meaning promising varieties could be multiplied and distributed quickly.
"If farmers like these hybrids, we're probably looking at 5 or 6 years to have new varieties out in the community," Dr Campbell said.
"If we can deliver both big and drought ‑tolerant taro with improved storage, there are huge food security flow-on effects for PNG and the wider Pacific."
Acting ACIAR CEO, Dr Nick Austin, said the new varieties had many long-term benefits.
"Increasing resilience of any cropping system is usually the combination of improved agronomic techniques, and improved crop varieties," Dr Austin said.
"This project provides valuable new sources of the latter, in a crop where there has traditionally only been a narrow range of varieties to choose from, especially across the Pacific.
"It's an exciting development."
Collaboration and acknowledgements
The Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation is a research institute at The University of Queensland, established with and supported by the Department of Primary Industries.
