Please find below the Literature Review on Germplasm and also the outputs from the Workshop Group Activities. What we need to do now is to try to get answers to the questions that we have and any additional information that we have on this theme may also be added under the respective heading. 

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What do we know? 

•  Twenty varieties identified as core varieties (literature)
•  Can be conserved by tissue culture(literature)
•  Seem to have two varieties or phenotype locally (round & oblong)(observation)
•  Breadnut can be used as root-stock for grafting (local validated practice)
•  Breadnut has an edible seed (high protein)(literature)

Where are we now? 

•  Propagating only two seedless varieties locally
•  In vivo production of plants using root only (Literature Revue agricole)

Where should we be? 

•  Characterisation of our varieties (morphological & molecular)
•  Any development project for which we need new germplasm
•  Introduction of new varieties if there is a need
•  In-vitro propagation

What is missing to get there?

•  Breadfruit to shift from an under-utilized crop to a commercial crop
•  Collaboration with international and local institution dealing with Breadfruit

Stakeholders involved in issues related to germplasm

What questions are we asking ourselves? 

Question: Which varieties exist in Mauritius?

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Question: Is there a possibility of extension of production season particularly with increasing urbanization

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Question: Has there been genetic erosion or drift in our local varieties?

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Question: Should we increase our genetic pool?

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Question: Can we look for germplasm of dwarf varieties to facilitate harvest?

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Question: Is there a need to promote conservation of existing germplasm?

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Question: Do Reunion, Comores and Seychelles, for example, have the same varieties?

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Question: Are we having any pest/disease problems?

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Question: Are bats a problem with breadfruit?

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Question: Breadnut - is there a demand for it? What do we know about it?

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Question: Why breadnut as a root stock?

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Question: Is breadfruit a suitable alternative to breadfruit in Mauritius? Why bother about breadnut?

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Question: How to differentiate between young plants of breadnuts and breadfruit?

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Question: Which institutions will be involved in this? Or has capacity? Private labs or propagators? 

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