to satisfy the local market demand for major fruits as citrus, bananas, mangoes, litchis, pineapple, avocados and for miscellaneous tropical fruits as passion fruit, guava, carambolas etc.. and some temperate fruits
secondly to improve the quality and adequation of fruits for export and processing markets
Therefore improved plant material are introduced and evaluated under the specific local climatic and soil conditions of New Caledonia. Local selection permits to save natural genetic ressources. The main criteria that allows the selection of varieties are the agronomic behavior of each variety : growing, tolerance to pest and diseases, ability of flowering, yield but also the production period in order to display products on the market for a longer period. The pomology and quality of each variety of fruit is also described in order to focus one specific market being sure that the product meets the demand.
The sanitary constraints are also evaluated and methods of control with respect of environment of these pests are also priorities given in these research programmes. Updating the pests diseases inventory of New Caledonia, setting up and monitoring rational chemical control calendars, evaluation and diffusion of tolerant varietrol calendars, evaluation and diffusion of tolerant varieties against pests and diseases are the main objectives of this programme.
Finally all the post-harvest technology is also studied in order to improve the quality and the storage of fruits but also a large programme has been developed in entomology in order to determine post harvest quarantine treatments (pulsed hot-air against fruit flies) to allow exports of fruits and vegetables to New Zealand
Analysis of the technical itineraries and of the systems of production in pure culture or associated cultures will give some information for the extension services and the producers in order to develop fruit agriculture in New Caledonia.
Fruit crops concerned by research programmes in New Caledonia
Citrus :
study of behaviour of 182 varieties
varietal evaluation regarding pests and diseases (acariens, fruit flies,
moths)
indexing work of viruses (tristeza)
varietal creation (hybridizations)
study of the adequation between rootstocks, soil constraints and quality
of fruit
agronomical and economical studies of rootstocks enhancing dwarfing
(Flying dragon)
conservation of fruits by storage
improving fruit appearence by ethylene treatments
proposal of an technical itinerary for producers (intensive or semi-intensive
production)
Bananas
study of behaviour of 80 varieties including 25 local varieties
stuf behaviour of 80 varieties including 25 local varieties
study of behaviour of 12 hybrides tolerant to Black Leaf Streak disease
epidemiological study of Mycosphaerella fijiensis (Black Leaf
Streak disease) under subtropical climatic conditions
physiology of banana related to climatic conditions
banana production (length of the production cycle and yield) in relation
with the choice of the date of plantation or the selection date of the
suckers
technical and economical studies of banana production
Mangoes
study of behaviour of 36 varieties
proposal of new plantation density in relation with the growth of each
varieties
varietal evaluation regarding pests and diseases (anthracnose due to
Colletotrichum gloesporioides and bacterial spot disease due to
Xanthomonas campestris pv. Mangiferaeindica)
post harvest treatments to control diseases and disorders
conservation of fruit by storage
Litchis
study of behaviour of 22 varieties
technical itinerary
Pineapple
ananas cultivation
comparative studies of different cultivars
Avocados
study of behaviour of 23 varieties
technical itinerary
Passion fruits
selection of hybrids suitable for fresh market or transformation
selection of rootstock tolerant to collar rot (due to Fusarium solani)
Other miscellaneous fruits for the study ousarium solani)
Other miscellaneous fruits for the study of varietal behaviour (guava,
carambola, macadamia, strawberries, grapefruits)
to satisfy the local demand in vegetables
to answer to agronomic and commercial requirements for export through
quality and regular supply of products
to control pests and diseases
to diversify the agricultural production with plant with high ouputs
(ornementals and flowers)
to develop agro-industrial products
Therefore the activities of research and development are :
setting up of systems of production in fields
setting up of systems of production under cover
integrated control for pests
rationalize the control of diseases
analysis of commercial markets
The main vegetable crops concerned with research and development are
Tomatoes
Varietal behaviour
control of weeds
Onions
varietal behaviour
control of weeds
Cabbage
varietal behaviour in cold season
varietal behaviour in hot season
control of Plutella xylostella
Squash
control of fertilisation
Melon
varietal behaviour
Eggplant
control of thrips ans tarsonemus
Capsicum
test of cultivation
Courgette
control of virus
mus
Capsicum
test of cultivation
Courgette
control of virus
1. Fitness with national needs
The objectives of these fruit and vegetables research programmes have been determined by the local political partners (the three provinces of New in order to meet the local requirements. The producers (through the associations) are consulted in an advisory capacity. Secondly, some programmes linked with national and international scientific interests have been set up and are for most of them coordinated by the CIRAD-Headquarters.
2. Fundings
For the fruit research programme, the overall activities are funded as followed
three provinces of New Caledonia 41 %
territory of New Caledonia 18 %
France governement 22 %
Cirad-Flhor 15 %
own ressources 4 %
For the vegetable research programme, the overall activities are funded as followed :
3. Human ressources
Fruit :
4 scientists researchers (two belonging to CIRAD-FLHOR and two associated rese
4 scientists researchers (two belonging to CIRAD-FLHOR and two associated
researchers belonging to CIRAD-Mandat NewCaledonia).
6 technicians
10 workers
Vegetables :
2 scientists researchers (one belonging to CIRAD-FLHOR and one associated
researcher belonging to CIRAD-Mandat New Caledonia)
2 technicians
3 workers
4. Equipements
The fruits and vegetable crops research equipments are
one main station for fruit experimentations in (28 ha of experimental
plots), one laboratory of pathology, one laboratory of entomology, one
laboratory of in vitro culture, cooling equipement for storage experimentations.
one main station for vegetable experimentations
associated stations on different climatic and soil plots
5. Partnership relations
Partnerships involved in this fruit crop research programme are :
Université Française du Pacifique UFP (New Caledonia)
topics : laboratory technologies and plant pathology
Institut Français de Recherche Scientifique pour le Développement
en Coopération ORSTOM (New Caledonia)
topic : plant pathology
Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique INRA (France)
topic : plant improvement of citrus plant improvement of vegetables
crops
Queensland Department of Primary Industries QDPI (Australia)
topic : plant pathology of bananas
Horticultural and Food Research Institute Hort+R pathology of bananas
Horticultural and Food Research Institute Hort+Research (New Zealand)
topic : fruit fly entomology programme
Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center AVRDC (Taïwan)
International Network for the Improvement of Bananas and Plantain (INIBAP)
topic : Musa Germplasm Information System
Up to now, CIRAD-FLHOR of New Caledonia has not been much involved in the network of the South Pacific Commission. Nevertherless, New Caledonia is a Pacific countries and encountered the same problems that are discussed below. Not being an ACP country, New Caledonia is not included in some of the International Research Programme as PRAP but most of the research done in horticultural area and the expertise of CIRAD-FLHOR could benefit to the other countries of the Pacific and inversely, some experiences of pacific countries (for example biological control of pest and weeds, fruit fly project, tissue culture project etc..) could serve New Caledonia. In this spirit, CIRAD-FLHOR has often been asked to receive trainees from overseas pacific countries but had to refuse having no facilities to accept (meeting rooms etc...)
Now CIRAlities to accept (meeting rooms etc...)
Now CIRAD-FLHOR is created links with SPC but also directly with the pacific countries in order to work together and to set up collaborations (for example : concerted action on Pacific Plantains).