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Actually, the Theobroma genome is not small, but most cacao germplasm
has not contributed to cacao improvement because its relationship to
cultivated selections was poorly understood. Now, researchers, using
cacao from all over the world, have found enough genetic diversity to
realign Theobroma’s family tree. They've broken it up into 10 major
genetic groups, instead of the commonly accepted three groups. That
means breeders are now able to increase the diversity of cacao tree
stocks by crossbreeding among the 10 groups, not just the three. <br>
<br>
Here are some related articles<br>
<br>
A PLoS article here:
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0003311">http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0003311</a><br>
although I was surprised to see it's two years old.<br>
<br>
And a layperson's USDA article here:
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2008/081203.htm">http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2008/081203.htm</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Jennifer Chesworth wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:AANLkTim=DT-b4waK2jtWW-f7JSzpjVTnUCQQnxGnpTw8@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">Jean, in the case of cacao you are mistaken. Several
years ago, chocolate manufacturers experienced a crisis when they
discovered the stock of almost ALL global plantations (and small
holdings) of cacao were descended from the seed of a single cacao plant
brought to Martinique by the French in 1660. All plantations were
similarly resilient or not to any number of diseases, and a single
plague could edevistate the entire industry. "Maintaining resilience"
of cacao requires tissue culture, something most small holders cannot
achieve on their own.<br>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Nov 12, 2010 at 11:27 AM, Jean
Giblette <span dir="ltr"><<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:hfg@capital.net">hfg@capital.net</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote"
style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div style="">
<div>Thanks, Robin.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
Quoted from the Independent article:
<div><br>
</div>
<div>"<span
style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px;">Despite
price rises on the trading floor, precious little reaches the
smallholders who make up 95 per cent of growers, according to Mr. Lass,
a former Cadburys trader and ethical sourcing advisor who has
co-authored a book on the cocoa industry.</span>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; line-height: 11px;"><font
style="font-family: Verdana; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"
color="#333333" face="Verdana" size="3">"These smallholders earn just
80 cents a day," he says. "So there is no incentive to replant trees
when they die off, and to wait up to five years for a new crop, and no
younger generation around to do the replanting."</font></p>
<div>
<div>Note the main thrust of these articles, which is to celebrate
the genome sequencing in hopes that a genetic engineering "solution"
will be found, when all we have to do is incentivize the farmers to
replant on a regular basis and to maintain/enhance the resilience of
the small holdings.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>These articles portray the microcosm of what's wrong with
medicinal plant production worldwide: the growers are neither
adequately compensated nor rewarded for good stewardship. At the same
time, industrial ag (including its ultimate manifestation, genetic
engineering) displaces the growers. These dynamics are based on social
constructs, and social constructs can be revised.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Meanwhile, Mother Nature is waiting to reward us with
chocolate and all the abundance of the fertile earth. All we have to
do is follow her lead and cooperate with her. Why is this so hard for
us to understand?</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Jean</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>On Nov 12, 2010, at 10:50 AM, MoonBranch Botanicals wrote:</div>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div style="margin: 0px;">Chocolate Black Hole; Chocolate
consumption is increasing faster than production, meaning the future
will probably be less chocolaty....</div>
<div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-11/future-chocolate-will-be-rare-delicacy-analysts-say"
target="_blank">http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-11/future-chocolate-will-be-rare-delicacy-analysts-say</a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/chocolate-worth-its-weight-in-gold-2127874.html"
target="_blank">http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/chocolate-worth-its-weight-in-gold-2127874.html</a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-09/sweet-breakthrough-scientists-led-candy-company-sequence-chocolate-genome"
target="_blank">http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-09/sweet-breakthrough-scientists-led-candy-company-sequence-chocolate-genome</a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">Robin Alton Suggs</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">MoonBranch Botanicals</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">5294 Yellow Creek Road</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">Robbinsville, North Carolina 28771<span> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">USA</div>
<div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">Telephone: 828.479.2788</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">Email: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:moonbranch@earthlink.net" target="_blank">moonbranch@earthlink.net</a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.moonbranch.com" target="_blank">www.moonbranch.com</a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;"><span> </span>&</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.localharvest.org/store/M16074" target="_blank">www.localharvest.org/store/M16074</a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">Member:</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture
Project; Farm Partner</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">Green Products Alliance<span> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">North Carolina Consortium on Natural
Medicines<span> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">North Carolina Goodness
Grows/NCDA&CS<span> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">Southwestern North Carolina RC&D
Council</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">United Plant Savers</div>
<div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">“If people let government decide what
foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be
in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny.”</div>
<div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">- Thomas Jefferson</div>
<div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">_______________________________________________</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">PCA's Medicinal Plant Working Group
mailing list</div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">Disclaimer</div>
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individual who posts the message. The information contained in posts is
not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical
advice relative to your specific medical condition or question. All
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</blockquote>
</div>
<br>
<font color="#888888">
<div> <span style="font-size: 12px;"><span
style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div>Jean Giblette, Owner</div>
<div>HIGH FALLS GARDENS</div>
<div>Box 125 Philmont NY 12565</div>
<div>518-672-7365, <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:hfg@capital.net" target="_blank">hfg@capital.net</a></div>
<div><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.highfallsgardens.net" target="_blank">www.highfallsgardens.net</a></div>
<div><br>
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</span></span><br>
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Disclaimer<br>
Any advice given on this list regarding diagnosis or treatments etc.
reflects ONLY the opinion of the individual who posts the message. The
information contained in posts is not intended nor implied to be a
substitute for professional medical advice relative to your specific
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information that is discussed on this list should be carefully reviewed
by the individual reader and their qualified healthcare professional.
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</blockquote>
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<br>
<pre wrap="">
<hr size="4" width="90%">
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Disclaimer
Any advice given on this list regarding diagnosis or treatments etc. reflects ONLY the opinion of the individual who posts the message. The information contained in posts is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice relative to your specific medical condition or question. All medical and other healthcare information that is discussed on this list should be carefully reviewed by the individual reader and their qualified healthcare professional. Posts do not reflect any official opinions or positions of the Plant Conservation Alliance. </pre>
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