Journal articles on the topic 'Banana from Guinea'

Banana is one of the most consumed fruits in the world. Musa cavendish and Musa paradisiaca cultivars differential nutrition-health properties and more specifically their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential are poorly known. The objective of the present study was to compare the hydroalcoholic dry extracts nutrition-health properties of these two types of Guinea bananas. Total polyphenols contents were evaluated by Folin Ciocalteu method, antioxidant capacity by DPPH, ORAC and Mito-tracker assays. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated in vitro on inflammatory macrophages. NO scavenging, NO and cytokines production (TNF-α and IL-6) were assessed. At 1 mg/mL, the extracts showed moderate total polyphenol content. Antioxidant activity potential was depended on the type of extracts. Banana pulps anti-inflammatory effects were demonstrated by the inhibition of NO cell production and NO scavenging suggesting that pulps have moderate anti-inflammatory effect as a function of doses (100, 50 and 25 µg/mL). However, none of the extracts inhibited the production of cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6). The present study indicates that Guinea bananas may be considered as an interesting food source of antioxidants associated to a moderate anti-inflammatory potential on specific inflammation markers. Keywords: Banana pulp; Banana peel; Antioxidant activity; Anti-inflammatory activity; Polyphenols.

This review of the evidence for early agriculture in New Guinea supported by new data from Kuk Swamp demonstrates that cultivation had begun there by at least 6950–6440 cal BP and probably much earlier. Contrary to previous ideas, the first farming in New Guinea was not owed to SouthEast Asia, but emerged independently in the Highlands. Indeed plants such as the banana were probably first domesticated in New Guinea and later diffused into the Asian continent.

Dwarf off-types recovered from a tissue cultured line of banana cultivar New Guinea Cavendish (Mum sp., AAA Group, Cavendish subgroup) were used to quantify some of the changes associated with dwarfism, the most common off-type associated with tissue-cultured Cavendish bananas, and to determine the relative stability of the trait. The off-types were significantly (P<0.01) shorter than true-to-type plants and retained their dwarf stature over 5 generations. The dwarfs were characterised by small fruit with closer packing of the hands on the bunch. Choking, when the bunch fails to emerge fully from the plant, was a characteristic of the dwarfs but not observed in true-to-type plants. Dwarfism appears to be a relatively stable genetic trait and not a transient (epigenetic) change produced in vitro. By contrast, a thin-leafed off-type reverted to normal morphological characteristics 3-4 months after field establishment.

In banana, the maternal transmission of chloroplast DNA and paternal transmission of the mitochondrial DNA provides an exceptional opportunity for studying the maternal and paternal lineage of clones. In the present study, RFLP combined with hybridization of heterologous mitochondrial and chloroplastic probes have been used to characterize 71 wild accessions and 131 diploid and 103 triploid cultivated clones. In additon to Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana, other species from the four Musa sections were studied to investigate their contribution to the origin of cultivated bananas. These molecular analyses enable the classification of the Musa complex to be discussed. Results ascertain relationships among and between the wild accessions and the mono- and interspecific diploid and triploid bananas, particularly for the acuminata genome. Parthenocarpic varieties are shown to be linked to M. acuminata banksii and M. acuminata errans, thus suggesting that the first center of domestication was in the Philippines – New Guinea area.Key words: Musa, RFLP, cpDNA, mtDNA, lineage.

Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV; genus Babuvirus, family Nanoviridae) is a serious pathogen of banana (AAA genome) and plantain (AAB genome) (Musa sp.). It is transmitted by the banana aphid (Pentalonia nigronervosa) in a persistent manner (1). In recent years, BBTV has emerged as a major constraint to banana and plantain production in several countries of Africa and had been previously confirmed in viz., Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Malawi, and Rwanda (1) and more recently in Mozambique and Zambia (2) and Angola (3). To assess the potential threat of BBTV in West-Central Africa, we conducted surveys in August and September 2008 in 36 major banana- and plantain-producing regions of Littoral, South, Southwest, and Western Provinces of Cameroon. DNA was extracted from 520 plants and tested by PCR with primers specific for a conserved domain of BBTV DNA-R segment (4). A 240-bp DNA fragment specific to the virus was amplified in 31 samples from 18 plantain and 13 banana plants from Southwest, Western, and Southern Cameroon. Among virus-positive samples, symptoms (upright leaf growth, small leaves with pale chlorotic margins that choked the throat of the plant creating the bunchy appearance at the top) typical of bunchy top disease were observed only in banana (cv. Cavendish Williams) from Muea in the Southwest Province. PCR products obtained from the symptomatic and asymptomatic banana (Cavendish Williams) from Muea and Abang, respectively, were cloned into pCR2.1 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) and two independent clones from each isolate were sequenced in both directions. Pairwise comparison of these sequences showed 100% sequence homology. A comparison of these sequences (Accession No. F580970) with corresponding sequences in GenBank showed 99% nt sequence identity with a BBTV isolate from Angola (Accession No. EU851977) and 96 to 98% identity with BBTV isolates belonging to the South Pacific group (Australia, Africa, South Asia, and South Pacific). However, the BBTV isolate from Cameroon showed 85 to 90% sequence identity with isolates belonging to the Asian group (China, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, and Vietnam). To further confirm the virus identity, complete nucleotide sequence of the DNA-SCP segment that encodes for the virus coat protein was determined using PCR amplification of viral DNA (1), cloning of products into pCR2.1 vector, and sequencing. The derived sequence (1,075 nt; Accession No. GQ249344) in BLAST search at NCBI database revealed 98% nt sequence identity with coat protein gene of BBTV isolate from Burundi (Accession No. AF148943). These results, together with phylogenetic analysis, indicate that BBTV isolates from Cameroon have greater affinity to the South Pacific group. To our knowledge, this is the first report of BBTV in West-Central Africa. The occurrence of BBTV in the Western and Southern provinces of Cameroon, neighboring north of Gabon, suggests a possible spread of the virus from Gabon. This report also underscores the need to monitor other countries of West Africa for BBTV and enforce quarantine measures to prevent further spread through infected suckers from endemic areas of West and Central Africa. References: (1) I. Amin et al. Virus Genes 36:191, 2008. (2) W. T. Gondwe et al. InfoMusa 16:38, 2007. (3) P. L. Kumar et al. Plant Pathol. 58:402, 2009. (4) S. Mansoor et al. Mol. Biotechnol. 30:167, 2005.

Did the banana, yam and taro arrive in Australia at the hands of Europeans or come across the Torres Strait 2000 years before? Reviewing the evidence from herbaria histories and anthropology, the authors propose a ‘hierarchy of hypotheses’ and consider a still earlier option, that these food plants were potentially grown in Australia at least 8000 years ago, while it was still joined to New Guinea. This hypothesis, first proposed by Jones and Meehan in 1989, locates early horticultural experiments among peoples too often seen as inveterate hunter-gatherers.

Patterns of diversity among thirty diploid clones of banana (Musa acuminata Colla.), collected in Papua New Guinea and the surrounding islands between 1987 and 1989, were examined genetically using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and random primers, to detect random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPDs). PCR products were visualized on ethidium bromide stained agarose gels. Twenty of 60 random primers examined detected RAPDS in CTAB-extracted genomic DNA. Banding patterns ranged from very simple (1 or 2 bands/gel) to very complex (more than 20 bands/gel). All 30 Musa clones were distinguishable from each other based on their unique RAPD banding pattern. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed several clusters of closely related clones within the materials examined. However, these clusterings were not correlated with either the geographic origin or the morphological characteristics of the clones. A role of the use of RAPDs in germplasm characterization is discussed.

Field performance is described for tissue cultured plants and conventional propagules of planting material of banana cultivar 'New Guinea Cavendish' (Musa sp., AAA group, Cavendish subgroup). Tissuecultured plants were produced by either regeneration of plants from callus culture or by micropropagation of plants following the release of dormant buds at the leaf axils of explants. The conventional material consisted of suckers and 'bits' (lateral buds and associated corm material). Tissue-cultured plants established more quickly, were taller, and had a shorter time to bunch emergence and harvest of plant crop than conventional planting material. They had significantly (P<0.05) higher yields in terms of bunch weight, which was a function of greater numbers of fingers and hands. These advantages did not extend to the ratoon crop. Sucker production on tissue-cultured plants was significantly (P<0.01) higher up to 8 months after planting, equal to conventional material from 8 months to harvest, and then significantly lower. Twenty-two per cent of the plants derived from callus were off-types compared with 3% in the line produced by axillary bud proliferation. No off-types were observed in conventional planting material.

While a large proportion of the population in Papua New Guinea (PNG) maintain a subsistence lifestyle, exposure to modernisation and industrialisation since European contact has influenced a transition towards Western diets. This review aimed to scope and summarise the published research on dietary intake among Pacific Islander adults in PNG. Four electronic databases and grey literature were searched. Two reviewers completed the screening and data extraction. Fourteen studies were included from the Highlands (n = 7), Southern (n = 5), Momase (n = 1) and both the Highlands/Southern region (n = 1). No studies were from the Islands region. The majority of the studies were published prior to the year 2000 (n = 9). Geographical region and degree of urbanisation had an impact on dietary intake. Urban areas reported higher intakes of energy, protein and fat compared to rural areas. In the Southern region, a variety of foods, including sago, taro, kaukau, cooked banana, coconut and cassava contributed to energy intake, while kaukau was the main energy and protein source in the Highlands. The main foods contributing to protein in the Southern region were fresh fish, land animals and purchased animals. This review highlights an evidence gap regarding dietary intake research. Within the context of international initiatives, there is an urgent call for research aimed at understanding the social and cultural contextualisation of dietary behaviours in PNG.

Évaluer la palatabilité de onze fourrages tropicaux chez les cobayes (Cavia porcellus). Des cobayes appartenant à deux stades physiologiques (jeunes et adultes) ont fait l’objet des tests sur la palatabilité. Onze espèces fourragères tirées des résultats d’enquête auprès des éleveurs locaux ont été utilisées : Panicum maximum C1(Herbe de Guinée var C1), Panicum maximum local (Herbe de Guinée local), Pennisetum purpureum (Herbe éléphant), Elaeis guineensis (Palmier à huile), Musa acuminata (Bananier), Manihot esculenta (Manioc), Carica papaya (Papayer), Centrosema pubescens (Haricot sauvage), Moringa olifera (Moringe), Talinum triangulare (Pourpier tropical) et Tridax procumbens (Herbe à lapins). L’indice de palatabilité (IP) de chaque fourrage a été déterminé selon la méthode décrite par Salem et al. (2000). Panicum maximum local a présenté l’indice de préférence le plus élevé aussi bien chez les jeunes que chez les adultes, les valeurs ont été respectivement de 0,22 et 0,38. Centrosoma pubescens, Tridax procumbens et Panicum maximum C1 ont aussi présenté des indices de préférence élevés pour les deux stades physiologiques des cobayes. Les valeurs obtenues pour Centrosoma pubescens ont été de 0,22 chez les jeunes contre 0,25 chez les adultes, pour Tridax procumbens 0,19 chez les jeunes contre 0,24 chez les adultes, pour Panicum maximum C1 0,10 chez les jeunes contre 0,15 chez les adultes. Les valeurs d’indice de préférence les plus faibles ont été obtenues pour les espèces fourragères Musa acuminata (IP=0,00 chez les jeunes contre 0,02 chez les adultes) et Elaeis guineensis (IP=0,01 chez les jeunes contre 0,01 chez les adultes). Les valeurs obtenues pour les indices de préférences ont été influencées significativement par l’âge de l’animal (p-value = 0.005651) et le type de fourrage (p-value < 2.2e-16). La présente étude a permis d’évaluer la palatabilité de onze espèces fourragères chez des cobayes de différents stades physiologiques et d’en retenir les plus appétées par ces animaux. La connaissance des espèces fourragères les plus appréciées par les cobayes et la composition chimique de ces dernières permettront d'optimiser les stratégies d'alimentation dans les élevages. Palatability of eleven tropical forages in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) of different physiological stages in Benin To evaluate the palatability of eleven tropical forages in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus). Guinea pigs from two physiological stages (young and adult) were tested for palatability. Eleven forage species from survey results from local breeders were used : Panicum maximum C1 (Guinea grass C1), Panicum maximum local (local Guinea grass), Pennisetum purpureum (Elephant grass), Elaeis guineensis (African oil palm), Musa acuminata (Banana), Manihot esculenta (Cassava), Carica papaya (Pawpaw), Centrosema pubescens (Butterfly pea), Moringa olifera (Moringa), Talinum triangulare (Potherb fameflower) et Tridax procumbens (Coat buttons). The palatability index (PI) of each forage was determined by following the procedure described by Salem et al. (2000). Local Panicum maximum had the highest preference index in both young and adults, with values of 0.22 and 0.38, respectively. Centrosoma pubescens, Tridax procumbens and Panicum maximum C1 also showed high preference indices for the two physiological stages of guinea pigs. The values obtained for Centrosoma pubescens were 0.22 in the young against 0.25 in the adults, for Tridax procumbens 0.19 in the young against 0.24 in the adults, for Panicum maximum C1, 0.10 in the young against 0.15 in adults. The lowest preference index values were obtained for the forage species Musa acuminata (IP = 0.00 in young versus 0.02 in adults) and Elaeis guineensis (IP = 0.01 in young versus 0.01 in adults). The values obtained for the preference indices were significantly influenced by the age of the animal (p-value = 0.005651) and the type of forage (p-value <2.2e-16). The present study evaluated the palatability of eleven forage species in guinea pigs of different physiological stages and retained the most palatable of these animals. The knowledge of the forage species most appreciated by the guinea pigs and the chemical composition of the latter will optimize the feeding strategies in the farms.

Ex situ seed conservation of banana crop wild relatives (Musa spp. L.), is constrained by critical knowledge gaps in their storage and germination behaviour. Additionally, challenges in collecting seeds from wild populations impact the quality of seed collections. It is, therefore, crucial to evaluate the viability of seeds from such collecting missions in order to improve the value of future seed collections. We evaluate the seed viability of 37 accessions of seven Musa species, collected from wild populations in Papua New Guinea, during two collecting missions. Seeds from one mission had already been stored in conventional storage (dried for four months at 15% relative humidity, 20 °C and stored for two months at 15% relative humdity, −20 °C), so a post-storage test was carried out. Seeds from the second mission were assessed freshly extracted and following desiccation. We used embryo rescue techniques to overcome the barrier of germinating in vivo Musa seeds. Seeds from the first mission had low viability (19 ± 27% mean and standard deviation) after storage for two months at 15% relative humidity and −20 °C. Musa balbisiana Colla seeds had significantly higher post-storage germination than other species (p < 0.01). Desiccation reduced germination of the seeds from the second collecting mission, from 84 ± 22% (at 16.7 ± 2.4% moisture content) to 36 ± 30% (at 2.4 ± 0.8% moisture content). There was considerable variation between and (to a lesser extent) within accessions, a proportion of individual seeds of all but one species (Musa ingens N.W.Simmonds) survived desiccation and sub-zero temperature storage. We identified that seeds from the basal end of the infructescence were less likely to be viable after storage (p < 0.001); and made morphological observations that identify seeds and infructescences with higher viability in relation to their developmental maturity. We highlight the need for research into seed eco-physiology of crop wild relatives in order to improve future collecting missions.

A New Guinea Orchid, Dendrobium antennatum Lindl urgently needs to conserve. The availability of in vitro germination technique for this orchids is significantly important to present the useful tool for conservation effort. This study aimed to find a simple media that consists of Growmore 10-55-10, a foliar fertilizer and complex organic i.e. coconut water, banana pulp, onion spring extract, and carrot juice. Five in vitro medium for seed germination and four in vitro sub-culture medium for planlet growth were formulated and used in this study. Our findings revealed that seed germination in vitro of Dendrobium antennatum well occured on the medium of Growmore 10-55-10 supplemented with 10% coconut water (GCw) and of Growmore 10-55-10 supplemented with 50 g/l extract spring onion. The seed germination process from sowing the seed to plantlet production ready to transfer to sub-culture medium for further growth took time 140 days. The embryo became pale green at the day 11 on the germination media. It could be used as a tool for detection of viability of the seeds. Both seed germination medium could be used also as sub-culture medium for enhancing the growth of the plantlets but not for multiplication of shoots.

AbstractTwenty-five banana varieties of section Eumusa (AA-group) and seven of the section Australimusa (Fe'i-group) from Papua New Guinea were evaluated for resistance to Radopholus similis, Pratylenchus coffeae and Meloidogyne spp. The host plant responses were compared with the susceptible reference cvs Grande Naine and Cavendish 901. In vitro propagated plants were transferred to the glasshouse in loamy sand and inoculated with approximately 1000 migratory endoparasitic nematodes at 4 weeks after planting. Reproduction of R. similis and P.coffeae in the roots was determined at 8 or 10 weeks, respectively, after inoculation. Reproduction of Meloidogyne spp. was determined 8 weeks after inoculation with 3300 to 5000 eggs. No resistance to R. similis was found in the diploid varieties. The Fe'i variety Rimina and possibly Menei were resistant to R. similis. All varieties tested were susceptible to P.coffeae and Meloidogyne spp. Tests de résistance de bananiers Eumusa et Australimusa (Musa spp.) envers les nématodes endoparasites migrateurs et galligènes - Vingt-cinq variétés de bananier de la section Eumusa (groupe AA) et sept de la section Australimusa (group Fe'i) provenant de Papouasie-Nouvelle Guinée ont été testées pour leur résistance envers Radopholus similis, Pratylenchus coffeae et Meloidogyne spp. Les résponses de ces variétés ont été comparées à celles des cultivars sensibles de référence Grande Naine et Cavendish 901. Des vitroplants ont été mis en place en serre sur un sol argilo-sableux et inoculés 4 semaines après plantation avec environ 1000 R. similis ou P.coffeae dont la reproduction a été déterminée 8 et 10 semaines, respectivement, après inoculation. La reproduction de Meloidogyne spp. l'a été 8 semaines après inoculation avec 3300 à 5000 oeufs. Aucune résistance à R. similis n'a été observée chez les variétés diploïdes. Les variétés du groupe Fe'i Rimina et Menei se sont montrées résistantes à R. similis, avec un certain doute dans le cas de la dernière. Toutes les variétés testées sont sensibles à P.coffeae et Meloidogyne spp.

Home gardens are defined as less complex agroforests which look like and function as natural forest ecosystems but are integrated into agricultural management systems located around houses. Investigations were carried out in 187 households. The aim of the study was to identify the different types of banana home gardens existing in the periurban zone of Ngaoundere town. The results showed that the majority of home gardens in the area were very young (less than 15 years old) and very small in size (less than 1 ha). Eleven types of home gardens were found in the periurban area of Ngaoundere town. The different home garden types showed important variations in all their structural characteristics. Two local species of banana are cultivated in the systems,Musa sinensisandMusa paradisiaca. The total banana production is 3.57 tons per year. The total quantity of banana consumed in the periurban zone was 3.54 tons (93.5%) whereas 1.01 tons were sold in local or urban markets. The main banana producers belonged to home gardens 2, 4, 7, and 9. The quantity of banana offered to relatives was more than what the farmers received from others. Farmers, rely on agroforests because the flow of their products helps them consolidate friendship and conserve biodiversity at the same time.

A new species of Tapinella Enderlein, 1908 was described from French Guiana - T. montjoliensis n. sp. It was collected near Montjoly Town and Wayki Village. The species was found in a plantation and a village from dry banana (Musa sp.) leaves, and among river bank scrubs from dry leaves of various bushes.

Sweet fig (M. acuminata cv. Sotoumon) is an economically important dessert banana in Benin, with high nutritional, medicinal, and cultural values. Nevertheless, its productivity and yield are threatened by biotic and abiotic stresses. Relevant knowledge of the genetic diversity of this economically important crop is essential for germplasm conservation and the development of breeding programs. However, very little is known about the genetic makeup of this cultivar in Benin. To advance the understanding of genetic diversity in sweet fig banana germplasm, a Genotype-By-Sequencing (GBS) was performed on a panel of 273 accessions collected in different phytogeographical zones of Benin. GBS generated 8,457 quality SNPs, of which 1992 were used for analysis after filtering. The results revealed a low diversity in the studied germplasm (He = 0.0162). Genetic differentiation was overall very low in the collection as suggested by the negative differentiation index (Fstg = -0.003). The Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) indicated that the variation between accessions within populations accounted for 83.8% of the total variation observed (P < 0.001). The analysis of population structure and neighbor-joining tree partitioned the germplasm into three clusters out of which a predominant major one contained 98.1% of all accessions. These findings demonstrate that current sweet fig banana genotypes shared a common genetic background, which made them vulnerable to biotic and abiotic stress. Therefore, broadening the genetic base of the crop while maintaining its quality attributes and improving yield performance is of paramount importance. Moreover, the large genetic group constitutes an asset for future genomic selection studies in the crop and can guide the profiling of its conservation strategies.

Black Sigatoka, caused by Mycosphaerella fijiensis, is the most important disease of banana worldwide (1). It affects cultivars of the Cavendish subgroup that are used for export and important, locally consumed cooking and dessert bananas and plantains, reducing yields by 50% or more. Black Sigatoka first appeared in the Western Hemisphere in 1972 in Honduras, and has spread to all other countries in Central America (1980), Mexico (1980), and the following islands in the Caribbean: Cuba (1992), Hispanola (Dominican Republic) (1996), and Jamaica (1994). In South America, the disease has spread to Colombia (1981), Ecuador (1986), Venezuela (1992), and Peru (1994) (1). In June 1996, symptoms of the disease were observed in the San Carlos area in the western Chapare region of Bolivia. During surveys conducted in March and June 1997, several Cavendish clones, Dulce Cajita (Pisang mas), Guineo (Silk), Morado (Red), and Platano (French and Horn plantain) were affected. In each of eight major banana-producing areas in the region, disease incidence and severity were recorded at several representative sites on Cavendish cultivars, which were the most widely spread and susceptible clones in the region. Disease incidence was 100% in all areas from San Carlos to Ingavi B, 30 km to the east, and disease severity, rated as the youngest leaf spotted (YLS), ranged from means of 4.5 to 8 in the same areas. The disease was less common or rare in the Valle Sajta area, 60 km east of San Carlos, the reserve of the Yuqui indigenous group at the confluence of the Rio Chimore and Rio Useuta, 15 km northeast of San Carlos, and the southernmost settlements of the Yuracare indigenous group on the Rio Chapare, 20 km north of Ingavi B (incidences = 0 to 50%). Symptoms began as brown streaks on the abaxial leaf surface, 1 to 3 mm in length, and became visible on the adaxial surface and enlarged to wet, dark brown streaks, 1 to 2 × 10 to 20 mm, with chlorotic haloes. Ultimately, large portions of the leaf became blackened and watersoaked. The presence of the disease in the San Carlos, Ingavi B, and Senda B areas and the Yuqui reserve was confirmed after microscopic examination of the anamorph, Paracercospora fijiensis, on affected leaf tissue: scars were present on the base of conidia, and only simple conidiophores were found (2). This is the first report of black Sigatoka in Bolivia, and represents the southernmost extent of the disease on the South American continent. High rainfall in western portions of the Chapare (4 to 7 meters per year) makes it unlikely that the disease could be controlled effectively or economically in the region with fungicides. We believe this is the closest approach of the disease to Brazil (ca. 700 km), the last major banana-producing country in which black Sigatoka has not been reported. Moreover, the outbreaks in the northern Chapare are thought to be the first across the colonist frontier to indigenous Amazonian populations that rely on plantains and bananas as staple foods. References: (1) X. Mourichon and R. A. Fullerton. Fruits 45:213, 1990; (2) N. Pons. Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 89:120, 1987.

A method was developed for early detection of dwarf off-types from micropropagated bananas (Musa sp., AAA Group, Cavendish subgroup). Selection of dwarfs was from glasshouse-grown plants, and although differences between dwarf and normal plants could be detected as early as 3 weeks from deflasking, discrimination was most effective at week 7, when the normal plants had reached a height of 18-20 cm. In order to develop selection criteria, known dwarf off-types and normal plants were micropropagated and established in a glasshouse. Measurements included plant height, petiole - - length, lamina length and width, and distance between leaves. Petiole length, lamina length, and the petiole to lamina length ratio provided the most promising selection criteria, with the dwarfs having significantly (P<0.01) smaller petioles and leaves than the normal plants. Selection was most effective when the plants were growing vigorously and uniformly. When growth became limiting, selection was more difficult. This was particularly apparent in plants that required repotting into larger containers and in micropropagated bananas grown in nurseries under suboptimal conditions. Plants were grown in the field and observed at bunch emergence, to verify trueness to type and to eliminate the possibility that off-types may have arisen in the normal and dwarf populations. A survey of these selection criteria with other Cavendish cultivars of various statures was also completed and the results suggest that dwarf and extra-dwarf off-types could be readily separated from the taller Cavendish cultivars Williams, New Guinea Cavendish, and Grande Naine.

Although bacterial wilt remains a major plant disease throughout South America and the Caribbean, the diversity of prevalent Ralstonia solanacearum populations is largely unknown. The genetic and phenotypic diversity of R. solanacearum strains in French Guiana was assessed using diagnostic polymerase chain reactions and sequence-based (egl and mutS) genotyping on a 239-strain collection sampled on the families Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae, revealing an unexpectedly high diversity. Strains were distributed within phylotypes I (46.9%), IIA (26.8%), and IIB (26.3%), with one new endoglucanase sequence type (egl ST) found within each group. Phylotype IIB strains consisted mostly (97%) of strains with the emerging ecotype (IIB/sequevar 4NPB). Host range of IIB/4NPB strains from French Guiana matched the original emerging reference strain from Martinique. They were virulent on cucumber; virulent and highly aggressive on tomato, including the resistant reference Hawaii 7996; and only controlled by eggplant SM6 and Surya accessions. The emerging ecotype IIB/4NPB is fully established in French Guiana in both cultivated fields and uncultivated forest, rendering the hypothesis of introduction via ornamental or banana cuttings unlikely. Thus, this ecotype may have originated from the Amazonian region and spread throughout the Caribbean region.

History in Africa carried an article in 1992 entitled “The European Introduction of Crops into West Africa in Precolonial Times.” I wrote this to correct an impression left by several historians that only maize and cassava were worth mentioning. My reading of precolonial African history had made it very clear that a great many new crops were brought to the continent during the slave-trade period. My initial geographical focus was what used to be called Lower Guinea, roughly the coast from Cape Palmas to Mt. Cameroon, but inevitably my research took in all of western Africa from Senegal to Angola and up to the southern fringe of the Sahara. My findings were admittedly interim, a sort of database for future refinement. And yet I was able to identify 86 introduced crops.It was ingenuous of me to expect that one paper would suffice to over-turn what had become conventional wisdom. In 1995 John Iliffe, in 1997 Elizabeth Isichei, in 1998 John Reader repeated the maize-cassava mantra. In 2002 Christopher Ehret expanded the duo of exotic crops to include tobacco, peanuts, New World beans, Asian rice and sugar cane. David W. Phillipson reiterated in 2005 what he had said 20 years earlier, citing only maize, cassava and bananas. And in 2006 James L.A. Webb Jr. named just four: maize, cassava, peanuts and potatoes.This pattern of minimization may reflect what seems to be a general disinclination of historians to dig deeply into botany. An important recent book titled Writing African History devotes only 17 of 510 pages to the subject.

New records of Gryllacrididae from South East Asia to New Guinea are reported, new taxa are described and type specimens from European collections redescribed. The wing venation of the tegmina and its variation within the family is discussed. A new key to the 50 genera and subgenera of Gryllacrididae occurring in the area from South East Asia to New Guinea is provided. Six genera and two subgenera are introduced as new: Angustogryllacris gen. nov., Minigryllacris gen. nov., Monseremus gen. nov., Siamgryllacris gen. nov., Paraneanias gen. nov., Plexigryllacris gen. nov., Pseudasarca subgen. nov. of Asarcogryllacris Karny, 1937, Xiphilarnaca subgen. nov. of Metriogryllacris Karny, 1937. Two genera Gigantogryllacris Karny, 1937 and Pardogryllacris Karny, 1937 are reduced to subgeneric status under Gryllacris Audinet-Serville, 1831 and one monotypic genus Cyanogryllacris Karny, 1937 is synonymised with Capnogryllacris Karny, 1937. 70 species and nine subspecies are described as new: Eugryllacris gandaki sp. nov., Eugryllacris guomashan sp. nov., Eugryllacris crassicauda sp. nov., Eugryllacris crassicauda cambodiana ssp. nov., Eugryllacris serricauda sp. nov., Eugryllacris trabicauda sp. nov., Eugryllacris vermicauda sp. nov., Eugryllacris sulcata sp. nov., Eugryllacris inversa sp. nov., Gryllacris incornuta sp. nov., Gryllacris sok sp. nov., Gryllacris (Pardogryllacris) ovulicauda sp. nov., Gryllacris (Gigantogryllacris) bilineata sp. nov., Gryllacris (Gigantogryllacris) ligulata sp. nov., Lyperogryllacris forcipata sp. nov., Lyperogryllacris ocellata sp. nov., Lyperogryllacris khuntan sp. nov., Ocellarnaca disjuncta sp. nov., Ocellarnaca fusca sp. nov., Otidiogryllacris lawang sp. nov., Otidiogryllacris bamusbama sp. nov., Prosopogryllacris gamta sp. nov., Prosopogryllacris nigra sp. nov., Prosopogryllacris silacea sp. nov., Xanthogryllacris lineata sp. nov., Xanthogryllacris punctata sp. nov., Xanthogryllacris ralum sp. nov., Xanthogryllacris subrecta sp. nov., Aancistroger inarmatus sp. nov., Angustogryllacris bibulbata sp. nov., Aphanogryllacris sinustylata sp. nov., Aphanogryllacris nigritibiae sp. nov., Asarcogryllacris (Asarcogryllacris) brevis sp. nov., Asarcogryllacris (Asarcogryllacris) parapat sp. nov., Asarcogryllacris (Asarcogryllacris) robusta sp. nov., Asarcogryllacris (Pseudolarnaca) cornualis sp. nov., Asarcogryllacris (Pseudasarca) arborea sp. nov., Australogryllacris guttata sp. nov., Capnogryllacris (C.) erythrocephala fuscifrons ssp. nov., Capnogryllacris (C.) varifrons sp. nov., Capnogryllacris (C.) nigromaculata sp. nov., Capnogryllacris (C.) sakaerat toxica ssp. nov., Celebogryllacris brevitegmina sp. nov., Diaphanogryllacris annamita tenera ssp. nov., Diaphanogryllacris opulenta sp. nov., Diaphanogryllacris recta sp. nov., Diaphanogryllacris sinuata sp. nov., Eremus tigris sp. nov., Furcilarnaca chiangdao sp. nov., Furcilarnaca salit sp. nov., Furcilarnaca trilobata sp. nov., Haplogryllacris bilobulata sp. nov., Homogryllacris armigera sp. nov., Homogryllacris stabilis sp. nov., Larnaca (Larnaca) nigricornis sp. nov., Larnaca (Larnaca) tenuis sp. nov., Larnaca (Larnaca) samkos sp. nov., Larnaca (Larnaca) squamiptera sp. nov., Larnaca (Larnaca) subaptera sp. nov., Melaneremus sikkimensis sp. nov., Minigryllacris perpusilla sp. nov., Monseremus appendiculatus sp. nov., Neanias virens sp. nov., Neolarnaca vera nigrinotum ssp. nov., Phryganogryllacris extensa sp. nov., Phryganogryllacris gialaiensis fovealis ssp. nov., Phryganogryllacris nonangulata sp. nov., Siamgryllacris rufa sp. nov., Ultragryllacris pulchra nan ssp. nov., Ultragryllacris triangula sp. nov., Woznessenskia ampliata sp. nov., Woznessenskia bavi sp. nov., Zalarnaca (Glolarnaca) elegantula sp. nov., Zalarnaca (Glolarnaca) globiceps minor ssp. nov., Zalarnaca (Zalarnaca) maninjau sp. nov., Papuogryllacris diluta baiteta ssp. nov., Papuogryllacris rugifrons sp. nov., Papuogryllacris ligata bundi ssp. nov., Paraneanias striatus sp. nov., Plexigryllacris megastyla sp. nov. The following nomenclatural changes had to be done: Gryllacris bancana Karny, 1930a stat. nov. is raised to full species from subspecies of Gryllacris obscura Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1888; Xanthogryllacris inquinata (Karny, 1928c) comb. & stat. nov. is raised to full species from subspecies under Pardogryllacris dyak (Griffini, 1909); Eremus oberthuri Griffini, 1913a stat. nov. is raised to full species from subspecies under Eremus rugosifrons Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1888; Prosopogryllacris nigrovenosa (Karny, 1928b) stat. nov. is raised to full species from subspecies under Prosopogryllacris horvathi (Griffini, 1909); Xanthogryllacris punctipennis aurantiaca (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1888) stat. reest. and Xanthogryllacris punctipennis dempwolffi (Griffini, 1909b) stat. reest. are treated as valid subspecies under Xanthogryllacris punctipennis (Walker, 1869) instead of being synonyms of the latter; Gryllacris thailandi Gorochov, 2007 and Gryllacris thailandi facemarmiger Gorochov et al., 2015 are downgraded to subspecies of Gryllacris vittata Walker, 1869. Gryllacris kledangensis Karny, 1923 and Gryllacris lombokiana Karny, 1926a become new synonyms of Gryllacris peracca Karny, 1923; Brachyntheisogryllacris abbreviata evolutior (Griffini, 1909a) becomes a new synonym of Brachyntheisogryllacris abbreviata (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1888), and Haplogryllacris hieroglyphicoides (Chopard, 1924) a new synonym of Haplogryllacris simplex (Walker, 1871). The following new combinations are proposed: Capnogryllacris (C.) basaliatrata (Griffini, 1909c) comb. nov. from Cyanogryllacris Karny, 1937; Haplogryllacris aliena Walker, 1869 comb. nov. and Haplogryllacris durgensis (Gupta & Chandra, 2017) comb. nov. from Gryllacris Audinet-Serville, 1831; Homogryllacris artinii (Griffini, 1913b) comb. nov., Homogryllacris buyssoniana (Griffini, 1912c) comb. nov., Homogryllacris kurseonga (Griffini, 1913b) stat. & comb. nov. and Homogryllacris ? maindroni (Griffini, 1913a) comb. nov. from Brachyntheisogryllacris Karny, 1937; Larnaca (Larnaca) eugenii (Griffini, 1914b) comb. nov. from Metriogryllacris Karny, 1937; Larnaca (Larnaca) larnacoides (Karny, 1937) comb. nov. and Larnaca (Larnaca) jacobsoni (Griffini, 1913c) comb. nov. from Melaneremus Karny, 1937.

A new genus in the spider family Ctenidae Keyserling, 1877 is described from Asia: Bowie gen. nov. belongs to the subfamily Cteninae and all members formerly described were placed so far in the genus Ctenus Walckenaer, 1805. After morphological as well as preliminary molecular characters were checked, it was clear that a new genus had to be erected to accommodate this predominantly Asian lineage of ground-dwelling spiders. As is the case in most Ctenidae generally, it was not easy to find apomorphic characters diagnosing this new taxon. Therefore, a combination of morphological characters is used to define all congeners. An important and newly introduced character in this respect is –among others– the fused patellar crack of the male palp. Forty-nine valid species are transferred to the new genus (first country/province records of particular species underlined): Bowie martensi (Jäger, 2012) comb. nov. (Nepal), B. bomdilaensis (Tikader & Malhotra, 1981) comb. nov. (India), B. indicus (Gravely, 1931) comb. nov. (India), B. cladarus (Jäger, 2012) comb. nov. (Myanmar), B. pingu (Jäger & Minn, 2015) comb. nov. (Myanmar), B. natmataung (Jäger & Minn, 2015) comb. nov. (Myanmar), B. sikkimensis (Gravely, 1931) comb. nov. (India), B. ramosus (Thorell, 1887) comb. nov. (Myanmar), B. goaensis (Bastawade & Borkar, 2008) comb. nov. (India), B. himalayensis (Gravely, 1931) comb. nov. (India), B. meghalayaensis (Tikader, 1976) comb. nov. (India), B. narashinhai (Patel & Reddy, 1988) comb. nov. (India), B. ceylonensis (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897) comb. nov. (Sri Lanka), B. andamanensis (Gravely, 1931) comb. nov. (Andaman Islands), B. kapuri (Tikader, 1973) comb. nov. (Andaman Islands), B. cochinensis (Gravely, 1931) comb. nov. (India), B. thorelli (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897) comb. nov. (Sri Lanka), B. lishuqiang (Jäger, 2012) comb. nov. (China: Sichuan), B. banna (Yao & Li in Chu et al. 2022) comb. nov. (China: Yunnan), B. theodorianum (Jäger, 2012) comb. nov. (Thailand, Laos, Vietnam), B. robustus (Thorell, 1897) comb. nov. (Myanmar, Thailand, Laos), B. yaeyamensis (Yoshida, 1998) comb. nov. (Taiwan), B. yulin (Yao & Li in Chu et al. 2022) comb. nov. (China: Yunnan), B. simplex (Thorell, 1897) comb. nov. (Myanmar, Thailand, Laos), B. bayeri (Jäger 2012) comb. nov. (Laos), B. holthoffi (Jäger, 2012) comb. nov. (Laos), B. saci (Ono, 2010) comb. nov. (Vietnam), B. floweri (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897) comb. nov. (Malaysia Peninsula), B. argentipes (Hasselt, 1893) comb. nov. (Malaysia Peninsula, Singapore, Indonesia: Sumatra), B. palembangensis (Strand, 1906) comb. nov. (Indonesia: Sumatra), B. angigitanus (Roewer, 1938) comb. nov. (Papua New Guinea), B. pulvinatus (Thorell, 1890) comb. nov. (Malaysia: Sarawak), B. hosei (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897) comb. nov. (Malaysia: Sarawak, Brunei), B. monaghani (Jäger, 2013) comb. nov. (Laos), B. javanus (Pocock, 1897) comb. nov. (Indonesia: Sumatra, Java, Bali), B. fungifer (Thorell, 1890) comb. nov. (Malaysia Peninsula), B. valvularis (Hasselt, 1882) comb. nov. (Indonesia: Sumatra), B. bicostatus (Thorell, 1890) comb. nov. (Malaysia: Sarawak), B. bantaengi (Merian, 1911) comb. nov. (Indonesia: Sulawesi), B. bowonglangi (Merian, 1911) comb. nov. (Indonesia: Sulawesi), B. celebensis (Pocock, 1897) comb. nov. (Indonesia: Sulawesi), B. sagittatus (Giltay, 1935) comb. nov. (Indonesia: Sulawesi), B. kochi (Simon, 1897b) comb. nov. (Indonesia: West Papua), B. sarawakensis (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897) comb. nov. (Malaysia: Sarawak), B. philippinensis (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897) comb. nov. (Philippines), B. aruanus (Strand, 1911) comb. nov. (Indonesia: Maluku), B. angularis (Roewer, 1938) comb. nov. (Indonesia: Maluku), B. rufisternis (Pocock, 1898) comb. nov. (Papua New Guinea: New Britain), and B. corniger (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1898) comb. nov. (South Africa). For thirty-two species, illustrations of their respective copulatory organs, as well as habitus photos, are provided. Fifty-five new species are described, these are listed, together with the already described species, according to their geographic occurrence and to their affiliation to species groups as far as the latter could be recognised (type species indicated by an asterisk): Bowie hunkydory spec. nov. (Nepal), B. ziggystardust spec. nov. (Nepal), B. ladystardust spec. nov. (Nepal), B. aladdinsane spec. nov. (India), B. majortom spec. nov. (Nepal), B. jeangenie spec. nov. (India), B. heroes spec. nov. (India), B. fascination spec. nov. (Vietnam), B. low spec. nov. (Thailand), B. dodo spec. nov. (Vietnam), B. stationtostation spec. nov. (Myanmar), B. candidate spec. nov. (Vietnam), B. diamonddogs spec. nov. (Vietnam), B. yassassin spec. nov. (Taiwan), B. bemywife spec. nov. (Thailand), B. subterraneans spec. nov. (Thailand), B. afterall spec. nov. (Thailand), B. warszawa spec. nov. (Thailand), B. artdecade spec. nov. (Cambodia), B. bigbrother spec. nov. (Vietnam), *B. rebelrebel spec. nov. (Vietnam), B. youngamericans spec. nov. (Vietnam), B. right spec. nov. (Vietnam), B. stay spec. nov. (Vietnam), B. fame spec. nov. (Vietnam), B. win spec. nov. (Vietnam), B. joethelion spec. nov. (Malaysia Peninsula), B. mossgarden spec. nov. (Malaysia Peninsula), B. neukoeln spec. nov. (Malaysia Peninsula), B. scarymonsters spec. nov. (Indonesia: Sumatra), B. teenagewildlife spec. nov. (Indonesia: Sumatra), B. letsdance spec. nov. (Indonesia: Java), B. crystaljapan spec. nov. (Indonesia: Sumatra), B. tonight spec. nov. (Malaysia: Sarawak), B. catpeople spec. nov. (Malaysia: Sabah), B. ricochet spec. nov. (Indonesia: Kalimantan), B. fashion spec. nov. (Malaysia Peninsula), B. withinyou spec. nov. (Malaysia: Sarawak), B. abdulmajid spec. nov. (Singapore), B. blackout spec. nov. (Malaysia Peninsula), B. modernlove spec. nov. (Malaysia: Sabah), B. chinagirl spec. nov. (Malaysia: Sabah), B. withoutyou spec. nov. (Malaysia: Sabah), B. magicdance spec. nov. (Indonesia: Sulawesi), B. bluejean spec. nov. (Malaysia: Sabah), B. criminalworld spec. nov. (Malaysia: Sabah), B. shakeit spec. nov. (Malaysia: Sabah), B. ashestoashes spec. nov. (Indonesia: Kalimantan), B. underground spec. nov. (Indonesia: Kalimantan), B. lodger spec. nov. (Philippines), B. redsails spec. nov. (Philippines), B. thenextday spec. nov. (Indonesia: Papua), B. lazarus spec. nov. (Papua New Guinea), B. thiesi spec. nov. (Papua New Guinea) and B. blackstar spec. nov. (Papua New Guinea). Formerly unknown sexes are described for the first time for the following species: Bowie martensi comb. nov. (female), B. indicus comb. nov. (only male RTA tip), B. narashinhai comb. nov. (male), B. argentipes comb. nov. (female) and B. celebensis comb. nov. (male). Fourteen species groups are proposed on the basis of morphological characters: cladarus-species group (17 species), robustus-species group (14 species), bemywife-species group (2 species), rebelrebel-species group (10 species), youngamericans-species group (3 species), floweri-species group (3 species), scarymonsters-species group (2 species), teenagewildlife-species group (2 species), argentipes-species group (10 species), javanus-species group (5 species), chinagirl-species group (11 species), shakeit-species group (5 species), lodger-species group (3 species) and blackstar-species group (7 species). Thus, 93 species are grouped, leaving 11 species without a current assignment to any of these groups. Ctenus kandyensis Kim & Ye, 2014 syn. nov. is recognised as a junior synonym of Bowie thorelli comb. nov., and C. calcarifer F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1902 syn. nov. as junior synonym of B. sarawakensis comb. nov. Five species previously placed in Ctenus are considered nomina dubia, four of them are transferred to Bowie gen. nov., one to Nilus: Bowie barbatus (Thorell, 1895) comb. nov., B. tumidulus (Simon, 1887b) comb. nov., B. flavidus (Hogg, 1922) comb. nov., B. pollii (Hasselt, 1893) comb. nov. and Nilus marginatus (Walckenaer, 1847) comb. nov. Beside the latter species, three species are transferred from Ctenus, all of them to Anahita: A. periculosa (Bristowe, 1931) comb. nov., A. dangsa (Reddy & Patel, 1994) comb. nov. and A. tuniensis (Patel & Reddy, 1988) comb. nov. All in all, Bowie gen. nov. is the second largest genus within the family Ctenidae, with 108 species in total including nomina dubia. It occurs from Nepal in the Himalayas and South India across large parts of South and South East Asia to Papua New Guinea. One undescribed species is known from northern Australia (Queensland). Representatives are known to live in the leaf litter of forests, with most species having small distribution ranges, usually occurring within a 100 km radius. With this revision, the family Ctenidae contains now 586 species and 48 genera, and the number of species assigned to the genus Ctenus, so far used as nomenclatural “waste bin”, is reduced to 164.

Ceratocystis paradoxa (Dade) C. Moreau is a polyphagous wound parasite causing black rot post-harvest disease in pineapple. This fungus is responsible for high losses of fruit destined for the fresh market and is a common problem in many countries (2). C. paradoxa is officially listed as a quarantine pathogen for French Guiana. In November 2013, the Plant Protection Service of French Guiana observed damage in crops of Ananas comosus var. perolera located in Corossony (4°19′10.8″ N, 52°10′17.1″ W) and Wayabo (5°01′02.3″ N, 52°36′18.7″ W) (eastern and middle part of the country). The three plants collected at each location showed a soft base rot of the stem and of young leaves, and developed a foul smell. Plant tissues were collected from the edge of the lesions, chopped in small pieces, and plated on malt extract agar supplemented with 100 ppm chloramphenicol. The plates were incubated at 25°C with a 12-h photoperiod. After 5 days, a fungal colony, first white and downy, then becoming black and velvety after 10 days, was transferred on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and incubated in the same conditions. After 7 days, the colonies produced phialides releasing cylindrical or doliform conidia that were unicellular, colorless to pale brown, in long chains (3.09 to 20.17 × 3.1 to 5.57 μm, n = 20) and oval, pyriform, brown chlamydospores (8.02 to 21.32 × 4.20 to 9.76 μm, n = 20), occurring in long chains or singly with a vertical slit, usually not very visible. Furthermore, the colonies emitted a fruity odor. On the basis of these morphological characteristics, the fungus was identified as the anamorph of C. paradoxa (Thielaviopsis paradoxa (De Seynes) Höhn.) (1). The species designation was confirmed by sequencing the ITS region of the rDNA followed by comparison with reference sequences available in GenBank. Fungal material was collected from PDA culture by scraping the mycelium with a sterile needle and transferring into 2-ml microtubes. Fungal total DNA was then extracted and the ITS region was amplified by PCR using the ITS1-ITS4 primer pair. Nucleotide sequence was determined and deposited in GenBank (KJ667047). BLAST analysis showed 100% identity with C. paradoxa. The pathogenicity of the fungus was confirmed by inoculating two pineapples with mycelium from the C. paradoxa isolate grown on PDA. The peel of fruits and the base of the crowns were wounded with a sterile scalpel blade, each at five locations. Mycelial plugs (avg. 4 mm diameter) were placed on the wounds. Inoculation sites were wrapped with Parafilm to prevent dehydration and to hold the mycelial plugs in position. Negative controls received five sterile PDA plugs. The samples were incubated at 25°C in a moist chamber with a 12-h photoperiod. Eight days after inoculation, negative controls remained symptomless, whereas characteristic soft, watery, and black rot lesions developed on the base of all the crowns that were inoculated with C. paradoxa. The pathogen was successfully re-isolated from symptomatic tissues, fulfilling Koch's postulate. To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. paradoxa on A. comosus in French Guiana, and quarantine measures have been enforced to prevent the spread of this pathogen that might also cause severe losses on other susceptible plant species that are important for the local market (e.g., banana, coconut, sugar cane). Pineapple has become a major crop in French Guiana, and is now subjected to a more intensive monitoring, which may explains why this disease was discovered recently. References: (1) T. R. Nag Raj and W. B. Kendrick. A Monograph of Chalara and Allied Genera. Wilfrid Laurier University Press, Waterloo, Ontario, 1975. (2) R. C. Ploetz et al., eds. Compendium of Tropical Fruit Diseases. American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1994.

The genera Nilus O. Pickard-Cambridge 1876, Sphedanus Thorell 1877 and Dendrolycosa Doleschall 1859 are revised. Nilus is recognised as junior synonym of Thalassius Simon 1885; accordingly all species previously placed in Thalassius including nomina dubia are transferred to Nilus. Nilus curtus O. Pickard-Cambridge 1876 is recognised as senior synonym of Thalassius spinosissimus Karsch 1879. Nilus decoratus (Patel & Reddy) comb. nov. from India is transferred from Pisaura Simon 1885. Nilus amazonicus Simon 1898 from Brazil is transferred to the genus Architis Simon 1898: Architis amazonica (Simon 1898) comb. nov. Nilus oblongus Pavesi 1897 from Ethiopia and N. marginatus (Simon 1888) from the Andaman Islands are considered nomina dubia. Sphedanus Thorell 1877 is removed from the synonymy with Nilus and recognised as a senior synonym of Eurychoera Thorell 1897. The type species, S. undatus Thorell 1877, is redecribed and its copulatory organs are illustrated for the first time. Two species previously placed in the genus Eurychoera are transferred: Sphedanus banna (Zhang, Zhu & Song 2004) comb. nov. and Sphedanus quadrimaculatus (Thorell 1897) comb. nov. Campostichommides Strand 1911 and Dianpisaura Zhang, Zhu & Song 2004 are recognised as junior synonyms of Dendrolycosa. Nilus lanceolatus Simon 1898 and Pisaura lizhii Zhang 2000 are proposed as junior synonyms of Dendrolycosa robusta Thorell 1895. Four species are described as new: D. bairdi spec. nov. from Laos (male, female), D. duckitti spec. nov. from Laos (male, female), D. sierwaldae spec. nov. from New Guinea (female) and D. yuka spec. nov. from Australia (female). Eight species previously placed in the genera Nilus, Campostichommides Strand 1911, Pisaura Simon 1885 and Dianpisaura Zhang, Zhu & Song 2004, respectively are transferred to Dendrolycosa: D. ornata (Berland 1924) comb. nov. from New Caledonia, D. spadicaria (Simon 1897) comb. nov. from India (nomen dubium), D. bobbiliensis (Reddy & Patel 1993) comb. nov. from India, D. gitae (Tikader 1970) comb. nov. from India, D. inquirenda (Strand 1911) comb. nov. nomen dubium from Indonesia, D. parangbusta (Barrion & Litsinger 1995) comb. nov. from Philippines, D. putiana (Barrion & Litsinger 1995) comb. nov. from Philippines, D. songi (Zhang 2000) comb. nov. from Yunnan, China. Dendrolycosa stauntoni Pocock 1900 is considered a nomen dubium. One species originally described in Dendrolycosa is transferred to the genus Hygropoda: H. gracilis (Thorell 1891) comb. nov. Two species previously placed in the genus Tinus F. O. Pickard-Cambridge 1901 are transferred to Hygropoda: H. sikkimus (Tikader 1970) comb. nov., H. chandrakantii (Reddy & Patel 1993) comb. nov.

ABSTRACTGingival epithelium has an important role in the protection of the gingival tissue from mechanical, physical, and chemical trauma also microbial invasion. Re-epithelialization is an important phase of post extraction socket healing. Previous study showed that banana (Musa sapientum L) latex containing tanin, saponin, flavanoid, vitamin C, and minerals i.e: kalium, magnesium, calcium induced re-epithelialization in skin wounds. The objective of the present research was to study the effectivity of banana latex gel in the re-epithelialization of post extraction socket in guinea pigs (Cavia cobaya).Fifty four guinea pigs were divided into 3 groups, there were negative control group, positive control group and banana latex gel group. Each group consisted of 18 guinea pigs. Mandibular left central incisive were extracted and CMC-Na 1% (negative control), iod-glycerin (positive control) and banana latex gel were applied into the wound socket. Guinea pigs were then sacrified at 1,3,5,7,14,24 day post extraction and processed for histological examination. The specimens were stained with hematoxilin eosin. Epithelial thickness was measured with optilab (µm). The result of Anova showed significant differences in epithelial thickness among groups (p0,05). Least Significant of Difference test showed significant differences (p0,05) at 3,5,7,14,24 day post extraction between banana latex gel group compared to negative control group and also at 7 and 24 day post extraction between banana latex gel group compared to positive control group. In conclusion, banana latex gel may induce re-epithelialization of post extraction socket. The effect of banana latex gel is similar to iod-glycerin.Key words: re-epithelialization, banana latex gel, tooth socket

Hybridization and introgressions are important evolutionary forces in plants. They contribute to the domestication of many species, including understudied clonal crops. Here, we examine their role in the domestication of a clonal crop of outmost importance, banana (Musa ssp.). We used genome-wide SNPs generated for 154 diploid banana cultivars and 68 samples of the wild M. acuminata to estimate and geo-localize the contribution of the different subspecies of M. acuminata to cultivated banana. We further investigated the wild to domesticate transition in New Guinea, an important domestication center. We found high levels of admixture in many cultivars and confirmed the existence of unknown wild ancestors with unequal contributions to cultivated diploid. In New Guinea, cultivated accessions exhibited higher diversity than their direct wild ancestor, the latter recovering from a bottleneck. Introgressions, balancing selection and positive selection were identified as important mechanisms for banana domestication. Our results shed new lights on the radiation of M. acuminata subspecies and on how they shaped banana domestication. They point candidate regions of origin for two unknown ancestors and suggest another contributor in New Guinea. This work feed research on the evolution of clonal crops and has direct implications for conservation, collection, and breeding.

Abstract Background Conservation of plant genetic resources, including the wild relatives of crops, plays an important and well recognised role in addressing some of the key challenges faced by humanity and the planet including ending hunger and biodiversity loss. However, the genetic diversity and representativeness of ex situ collections, especially that contained in seed collections, is often unknown. This limits meaningful assessments against conservation targets, impairs targeting of future collecting and limits their use. We assessed genetic representation of seed collections compared to source populations for three wild relatives of bananas and plantains. Focal species and sampling regions were M. acuminata subsp. banksii (Papua New Guinea), M. balbisiana (Viet Nam) and M. maclayi s.l. (Bougainville, Papua New Guinea). We sequenced 445 samples using suites of 16–20 existing and newly developed taxon-specific polymorphic microsatellite markers. Samples of each species were from five populations in a region; 15 leaf samples from different individuals and 16 seed samples from one infructescence (‘bunch’) were analysed for each population. Results Allelic richness of seeds compared to populations was 51, 81 and 93% (M. acuminata, M. balbisiana and M. maclayi respectively). Seed samples represented all common alleles in populations but omitted some rarer alleles. The number of collections required to achieve the 70% target of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation was species dependent, relating to mating systems. Musa acuminata populations had low heterozygosity and diversity, indicating self-fertilization; many bunches were needed (> 15) to represent regional alleles to 70%; over 90% of the alleles from a bunch are included in only two seeds. Musa maclayi was characteristically cross-fertilizing; only three bunches were needed to represent regional alleles; within a bunch, 16 seeds represent alleles. Musa balbisiana, considered cross-fertilized, had low genetic diversity; seeds of four bunches are needed to represent regional alleles; only two seeds represent alleles in a bunch. Conclusions We demonstrate empirical measurement of representation of genetic material in seeds collections in ex situ conservation towards conservation targets. Species mating systems profoundly affected genetic representation in seed collections and therefore should be a primary consideration to maximize genetic representation. Results are applicable to sampling strategies for other wild species.

Abstract A new distribution map is provided for Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar). Coleoptera: Curculionidae. Attacks banana, Manlia hemp, plantain, sugarcane, yam, also recorded from cocoa stems. Information is given on the geographical distribution in Africa, Angola, Annobon, Benin, Bioko, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands, Comores, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Madeira, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, Principe, Reunion, Rodrigues, Rwanda, St Helena, Sao Tome, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zaire, Asia, Andaman Islands, Bangladesh, Bonin Islands, Burma, Cambodia, China, Guizhou, Christmas Island, Hong Kong, India, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Manipur, Maharashtra, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Indonesia, Irian Jaya, Java, Kalimantan, Lombok, Moluccas, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak, West Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Ogasawara-shoto, Okinawa, Philippines, Sikkim, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Australasia and Pacific Islands, Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, Caroline Islands, Cook Islands, Easter Island, Fiji, Mariana Islands, Marquesas Islands, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, American Samoa, Western Samoa, Society Islands, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, Wallis Islands, North America, USA, Florida, Central America and Caribbean, Bermuda, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, El Salvador, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, St Lucia, St Vincent, Tobago, Trinidad, South America, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Acre, Bahia, Espirito Santo, Maranhao, Minas Gerais, Parana, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Surinam, Venezuela.

Abstract A description is provided for Nigrospora sphaerica. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: Abelmoschus, Acacia, Acropera, Album, Ananas, Anthurium, Amaranthus, Andropogon, Arachis, Aralia, Araucaria, Areca, Argemone, Artocarpus, Arundinaria, Asparagus, Axonopus, Bambusa, Banhinia, Bridelia, Brassica, Cajanus, Calamus, Calotropis, Camellia, Capsicum, Cardamomum, Carex, Carica, Coriandrum, Cenchrus, Centrosema, Chasmopodium, Chloris, Cicer, Cinnamomum, Citrullus, Citrus, Cocos, Coffea, Coix, Cola, Colea, Coriandrum, Crotalaria, Cucumis, Culcasia, Cupressus, Cymbopogon, Cyperus, Dianthus, Dichanthium, Dioscorea, Elaeis, Emblica, Erianthus, Eriobotrya, Eucalyptus, Euphorbia, Feronia, Ficus, Fragaria, Gladiolus, Glycine, Gomphrena, Gossypium, Hevea, Hibiscus, Hordeum, Hydrangea, Hymantrudae, Hyparrhenia, Ipomoea, Jatropha, Lactuca, Luffa, Lycopersicon, Macadamia, Mormodica, Morus, Lathyrus, Malus, Mangifera, Musa, Nicotiana, Neomarica, Nephelium, Nothofagus, Oncidium, Ophiuros, Oryza, Oxytenanthera, Panicum, Papaver, Pelargonium, Pennisetum, Pueraria, Phalaenopsis, Phaseolus, Phragmites, Physalis, Pinus, Piper, Pistia, Populus, Prunus, Pseudotsuga, Psidium, Psophocarpus, Pyrethrum, Raphanus, Ricinus, Robinia, Rosa, Rottboellia, Saccharum, Salvia, Shorea, Solanum, Sorghum, Sporobolus, Sphenoclea, Stevia, Stigmaphyllon, Strychnos, Tabebuia, Tabemaemontana, Theobroma, Trichosanthes, Trigonella, Triticum, Vicia, Vitex, Xanthosoma, Zea, Zizyphus; also from air, animals (including man and Ceroplastus), soil and plant debris, and stored foods. DISEASE: None as a primary pathogen of plants; frequently encountered as a secondary invader or as a saprophyte. Associated with 'squirter' and 'black end' disease of banana. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: AFRICA: Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain (Canary Islands), Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe. ASIA: Bangladesh, Brunei, Burma, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Nepal, Pakistan, Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah), Philippines, Sarawak, Sri Lanka, Syria. AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA: Australia, Fiji, Guadalcanal, New Zealand, Norfolk Islands, Papua New Guinea, Tonga. EUROPE: Italy, Turkey, UK. NORTH AMERICA: Canada, USA. CENTRAL AMERICA & WEST INDIES: Cuba, Honduras, Jamaica, Trinidad, Windward Islands. SOUTH AMERICA: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Venezuela. TRANSMISSION: By unknown means.

AbstractCollection and storage of crop wild relative (CWR) germplasm is crucial for preserving species genetic diversity and crop improvement. Nevertheless, much of the genetic variation of CWRs is absent in ex situ collections and detailed passport data are often lacking. Here, we focussed on Musa balbisiana, one of the two main progenitor species of many banana cultivars. We investigated the genetic structure of M. balbisiana across its distribution range using microsatellite markers. Accessions stored at the International Musa Germplasm Transit Centre (ITC) ex situ collection were compared with plant material collected from multiple countries and home gardens from Vietnam. Genetic structure analyses revealed that accessions could be divided into three main clusters. Vietnamese and Chinese populations were assigned to a first and second cluster respectively. A third cluster consisted of ITC and home garden accessions. Samples from Papua New Guinea were allocated to the cluster with Chinese populations but were assigned to a separate fourth cluster if the number of allowed clusters was set higher. Only one ITC accession grouped with native M. balbisiana populations and one group of ITC accessions was nearly genetically identical to home garden samples. This questioned their wild status, including accessions used as reference for wild M. balbisiana. Moreover, most ITC accessions and home garden samples were genetically distinct from wild populations. Our results highlight that additional germplasm should be collected from the native distribution range, especially from Northeast India, Myanmar, China, and the Philippines and stored for ex situ conservation at the ITC. The lack of passport data for many M. balbisiana accessions also complicates the interpretation of genetic information in relation to cultivation and historical dispersal routes.

Abstract. Navarra GA, Salvaña FRP, Sepelagio EG, Sanchez CB, Besana CM, Manceras LJS, Bra SG. 2019. Species of forages utilized by farmers producing halal goats in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Philippines. Asian J Ethnobiol 2: 1-7. Local production of small ruminants necessitates forage assessment considering the fact that animals are typically fed with locally available plant species. This study was carried out to determine the species of plants used as forage by raisers producing halal goats in BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), Philippines. Personal interview to the respondents producing halal goats was conducted and a questionnaire was used to determine species of forages. A total of eight municipalities were included in the survey, seven of which were from Maguindanao and one was from Lanao del Sur. Purposive sampling was used in the survey. A total of 47 respondents was interviewed based on the criteria: a.) a believer of Islam b) with 5 to 24 breeder does; and c.) willingness of the farm owner to participate in the survey. All respondents fall to these criteria were interviewed. Forage species including paragrass (Brachiaria mutica), carabao grass (Paspalum conjugatum), ipil-ipil (Leucaena leucocephala), and kakawate (Gliricidia sepium) were used by all respondents in all sampling sites. Other species included malunggay (Moringa oleifera), banana (Musa balbisiana), stylo (Stylosanthes humilis), centrosema (Centrosema pubescens), langka (Artocarpus heterophyllus), pinto peanut (Arachis pintoi), napier (Pennisetum purpureum), barnyard grass (Echinochloa sp.), Guinea grass (Panicum maximum), indigofera (Indigofera tinctoria), calliandra (Calliandra calothrysus), katurai (Sesbania grandiflora) and rensonii (Desmodium rensonii). Only eleven percent (11%) of the respondents utilized improved and domesticated species of forages. Improved and domesticated forage species are plants commonly cultivated forage for livestock production. Some species of plants present in open vegetated areas like Erigeron canadensis, Sphagneticola trilobata, Ageratum conyzoides and Urena lobata were also consumed by goats according to the respondents. There were also plant-related toxicosis observed by the respondents caused by C. pubescens and U. lobata. Most of the respondents in BARMM are not utilizing improved and domesticated species of forages and rely on locally available forages present in rangeland. Most of them have limited knowledge on the nutritional requirements of goats. There is a need to enhance the understanding of farmers on the importance of proper forage selection and combination.

AbstractEvidence for seed transmission of phytoplasmas has grown in several pathosystems including coconut (Cocos nucifera). Bogia coconut syndrome (BCS) is a disease associated with the lethal yellowing syndrome associated with the presence of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma noviguineense’ that affects coconut, betel nut (Areca catechu) and bananas (Musa spp.) in Papua New Guinea. Coconut and betel nut drupes were sampled from BCS-infected areas in Papua New Guinea, dissected, the extracted nucleic acid was used in polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) used to check for presence of phytoplasma DNA. In a second study, drupes of both plant species were collected from multiple field sites and grown in insect-proof cages. Leaf samples taken at 6 months were also tested with PCR and LAMP. The studies of dissected coconut drupes detected phytoplasma DNA in several tissues including the embryo. Drupes from betel nut tested negative. Among the seedlings, evidence of possible seed transmission was found in both plant species. The results demonstrate the presence of ‘Ca. P. noviguineense’ in coconut drupes and seedlings, and in seedlings of betel nut; factors that need to be considered in ongoing management and containment efforts.

Abstract A description is provided for Phoma sorghina. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: Gramineae and all kinds of plants. Also isolated from soil, air and various animal sources. DISEASE: A minor leaf spot of cereals and grasses. The visible symptoms vary considerably; on sorghum leaves spots are usually irregular or rounded, yellowish-brown or grey with definite reddish-purple margins or indefinite in outline, reaching 1 cm or more in width. Pycnidia develop within spots on leaves, glumes and seeds. Also the fungus has been implicated with pre- and post-emergence death of seedlings of Macroptilium and Sylosanthes species (54, 1779) crown rot of bananas (61, 3556), leaf spot of Agave americana and stem rot of Euphorbia tirucalli (63, 3383), brown stem canker of Leucosperum cordifolium (56, 253). GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: A ubiquitous fungus occurring in tropical and subtropical regions. Africa (Botswana, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe); Asia (Bangladesh, Brunei, Burma, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia (Irian Jaya), Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, USSR); Australasia and Oceania (Australia, Hawaii, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands); Europe (Germany, Portugal, Italy, UK); North America (Canada, USA); Central America and West Indies (Antigua, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Trinidad); South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia). TRANSMISSION: Probably by contaminated seed; the fungus has been found on or isolated from several seed samples (1, 289; 33, 599; 47, 2153; 54, 1779; 60, 367; 61, 4102). In Taiwan P. sorghina has been found to be transmitted from seed to seedlings (62, 4281). The fungus has also been claimed to persist on trash and weed hosts and remain viable up to 1 yr but lose its viability after 2 yr storage on dry infected leaves (Koch & Rumbold, 1921).

Introduction: From Trifle to Tiramisu Tiramisu is an Italian dessert cake, usually comprising sponge finger biscuits soaked in coffee and liquor, layered with a mixture of egg yolk, mascarpone and cream, and topped with sifted cocoa. Once a gourmet dish, tiramisu, which means “pick me up” in Italian (Volpi), is today very popular in Australia where it is available for purchase not only in restaurants and cafés, but also from fast food chains and supermarkets. Recipes abound in cookery books and magazines and online. It is certainly more widely available and written about in Australia than the once ubiquitous English trifle which, comprising variations on the theme of sherry soaked sponge cake, custard and cream, it closely resembles. It could be asserted that its strong coffee taste has enabled the tiramisu to triumph over the trifle in contemporary Australia, yet coffee is also a recurrent ingredient in cakes and icings in nineteenth and early twentieth century Australian cookbooks. Acknowledging that coffee consumption in Australia doubled during the years of the Second World War and maintained high rates of growth afterwards (Khamis; Adams), this article draws on examples of culinary writing during this period of increasing popularity to investigate the use of coffee in cookery as well as a beverage in these mid-twentieth century decades. In doing so, it engages with a lively scholarly discussion on what has driven this change—whether the American glamour and sophistication associated with coffee, post-war immigration from the Mediterranean and other parts of Europe, or the influence of the media and developments in technology (see, for discussion, Adams; Collins et al.; Khamis; Symons). Coffee in Australian Mid-century Epicurean Writing In Australian epicurean writing in the 1950s and 1960s, freshly brewed coffee is clearly identified as the beverage of choice for those with gourmet tastes. In 1952, The West Australian reported that Johnnie Walker, then president of the Sydney Gourmet Society had “sweated over an ordinary kitchen stove to give 12 Melbourne women a perfect meal” (“A Gourmet” 8). Walker prepared a menu comprising: savoury biscuits; pumpkin soup made with a beef, ham, and veal stock; duck braised with “26 ounces of dry red wine, a bottle and a half of curacao and orange juice;” Spanish fried rice; a “French lettuce salad with the Italian influence of garlic;” and, strawberries with strawberry brandy and whipped cream. He served sherry with the biscuits, red wine with the duck, champagne with the sweet, and coffee to finish. It is, however, the adjectives that matter here—that the sherry and wine were dry, not sweet, and the coffee was percolated and black, not instant and milky. Other examples of epicurean writing suggested that fresh coffee should also be unadulterated. In 1951, American food writer William Wallace Irwin who travelled to, and published in, Australia as “The Garrulous Gourmet,” wrote scathingly of the practice of adding chicory to coffee in France and elsewhere (104). This castigation of the French for their coffee was unusual, with most articles at this time praising Gallic gastronomy. Indicative of this is Nancy Cashmore’s travel article for Adelaide’s Advertiser in 1954. Titled “In Dordogne and Burgundy the Gourmet Will Find … A Gastronomic Paradise,” Cashmore details the purchasing, preparation, presentation, and, of course, consumption of excellent food and wine. Good coffee is an integral part of every meal and every day: “from these parts come exquisite pate de fois, truffles, delicious little cakes, conserved meats, wild mushrooms, walnuts and plums. … The day begins with new bread and coffee … nothing is imported, nothing is stale” (6). Memorable luncheons of “hors-d’oeuvre … a meat course, followed by a salad, cheese and possibly a sweet” (6) always ended with black coffee and sometimes a sugar lump soaked in liqueur. In Australian Wines and Food (AW&F), a quarterly epicurean magazine that was published from 1956 to 1960, coffee was regularly featured as a gourmet kitchen staple alongside wine and cheese. Articles on the history, growing, marketing, blending, roasting, purchase, and brewing of coffee during these years were accompanied with full-page advertisements for Bushell’s vacuum packed pure “roaster fresh” coffee, Robert Timms’s “Royal Special” blend for “coffee connoisseurs,” and the Masterfoods range of “superior” imported and locally produced foodstuffs, which included vacuum packed coffee alongside such items as paprika, bay leaves and canned asparagus. AW&F believed Australia’s growing coffee consumption the result of increased participation in quality dining experiences whether in restaurants, the “scores of colourful coffee shops opening their doors to a new generation” (“Coffee” 39) or at home. With regard to domestic coffee drinking, AW&F reported a revived interest in “the long neglected art of brewing good coffee in the home” (“Coffee” 39). Instructions given range from boiling in a pot to percolating and “expresso” (Bancroft 10; “Coffee” 37-9). Coffee was also mentioned in every issue as the only fitting ending to a fine meal, when port, other fortified wines or liqueurs usually accompanied a small demi-tasse of (strong) black coffee. Coffee was also identified as one of the locally produced speciality foods that were flown into the USA for a consulate dinner: “more than a ton of carefully selected foodstuffs was flown to New York by Qantas in three separate airlifts … beef fillet steaks, kangaroo tails, Sydney rock oysters, King prawns, crayfish tails, tropical fruits and passion fruit, New Guinea coffee, chocolates, muscatels and almonds” (“Australian” 16). It is noteworthy that tea is not profiled in the entire run of the magazine. A decade later, in the second half of the 1960s, the new Australian gourmet magazine Epicurean included a number of similar articles on coffee. In 1966 and 1969, celebrity chef and regular Epicurean columnist Graham Kerr also included an illustrated guide to making coffee in two of the books produced alongside his television series, The Graham Kerr Cookbook (125) and The Graham Kerr Cookbook by the Galloping Gourmet (266-67). These included advice to buy freshly roasted beans at least once a week and to invest in an electric coffee grinder. Kerr uses a glass percolator in each and makes an iced (milk) coffee based on double strength cooled brewed coffee. Entertaining with Margaret Fulton (1971) is the first Margaret Fulton cookery book to include detailed information on making coffee from ground beans at home. In this volume, which was clearly aimed at the gourmet-inclined end of the domestic market, Fulton, then cookery editor for popular magazine Woman’s Day, provides a morning coffee menu and proclaims that “Good hot coffee will never taste so good as it does at this time of the day” (90). With the stress on the “good,” Fulton, like Kerr, advises that beans be purchased and ground as they are needed or that only a small amounts of freshly ground coffee be obtained at one time. For Fulton, quality is clearly linked to price—“buy the best you can afford” (90)—but while advising that “Mocha coffee, which comes from Aden and Mocha, is generally considered the best” (90), she also concedes that consumers will “find by experience” (90) which blends they prefer. She includes detailed information on storage and preparation, noting that there are also “dozens of pieces of coffee making equipment to choose from” (90). Fulton includes instructions on how to make coffee for guests at a wedding breakfast or other large event, gently heating home sewn muslin bags filled with finely ground coffee in urns of barely boiling water (64). Alongside these instructions, Fulton also provides recipes for a sophisticated selection of coffee-flavoured desserts such as an iced coffee soufflé and coffee biscuits and meringues that would be perfect accompaniments to her brewed coffees. Cooking with Coffee A prominent and popular advocate of Continental and Asian cookery in Melbourne in the 1950s, Maria Kozslik Donovan wrote and illustrated five cookery books and had a successful international career as a food writer in the 1960s and 1970s. Maria Kozslik was Hungarian by birth and education and was also educated in the USA before marrying Patrick Donovan, an Australian, and migrating to Sydney with him in 1950. After a brief stay there and in Adelaide, they relocated to Melbourne in 1953 where she ran a cookery school and wrote for prominent daily newspaper The Age, penning hundreds of her weekly “Epicure’s Corner: Continental Recipes with Maria Kozslik” column from 1954 to 1961. Her groundbreaking Continental Cookery in Australia (1955) collects some 140 recipes, many of which would appear in her column—predominantly featuring French, Italian, Viennese, and Hungarian dishes, as well as some from the Middle East and the Balkans—each with an informative paragraph or two regarding European cooking and dining practices that set the recipes in context. Continental Cookery in Australia includes one recipe for Mocha Torte (162), which she translates as Coffee Cream Cake and identifies as “the favourite of the gay and party-loving Viennese … [in] the many cafés and sweet shops of Salzburg and Vienna” (162). In this recipe, a plain sponge is cut into four thin layers and filled and covered with a rich mocha cream custard made from egg yolks, sugar and a good measure of coffee, which, when cooled, is beaten into creamed butter. In her recipe for Mocha Cream, Donovan identifies the type of coffee to be used and its strength, specifying that “strong Mocha” be used, and pleading, “please, no essence!” She also suggests that the cake’s top can be decorated with shavings of the then quite exotic “coffee bean chocolate,” which she notes can be found at “most continental confectioners” (162), but which would have been difficult to obtain outside the main urban centres. Coffee also appears in her Café Frappe, where cooled strong black coffee is poured into iced-filled glasses, and dressed with a touch of sugar and whipped cream (165). For this recipe the only other direction that Donovan gives regarding coffee is to “prepare and cool” strong black coffee (165) but it is obvious—from her eschewing of other convenience foods throughout the volume—that she means freshly brewed ground coffee. In contrast, less adventurous cookery books paint a different picture of coffee use in the home at this time. Thus, the more concise Selected Continental Recipes for the Australian Home (1955) by the Australian-born Zelmear M. Deutsch—who, stating that upon marrying a Viennese husband, she became aware of “the fascinating ways of Continental Cuisine” (back cover)—includes three recipes that include coffee. Deutsch’s Mocha Creams (chocolate truffles with a hint of coffee) (76-77), almond meringues filled with coffee whipped cream (89-90), and Mocha Cream Filling comprising butter beaten with chocolate, vanilla, sugar, and coffee (95), all use “powdered” instant coffee, which is, moreover, used extremely sparingly. Her Almond Coffee Torte, for example, requires only half a teaspoon of powdered coffee to a quarter of a pint (300 mls) of cream, which is also sweetened with vanilla sugar (89-90). In contrast to the examples from Fulton and Donovan above (but in common with many cookbooks before and after) Deutsch uses the term “mocha” to describe a mix of coffee and chocolate, rather than to refer to a fine-quality coffee. The term itself is also used to describe a soft, rich brown color and, therefore, at times, the resulting hue of these dishes. The word itself is of late eighteenth century origin, and comes from the eponymous name of a Red Sea port from where coffee was shipped. While Selected Continental Recipes appears to be Deutsch’s first and only book, Anne Mason was a prolific food, wine and travel writer. Before migrating to England in 1958, she was well known in Australia as the presenter of a live weekly television program, Anne Mason’s Home-Tested Recipes, which aired from 1957. She also wrote a number of popular cookery books and had a long-standing weekly column in The Age. Her ‘Home-Tested Recipes’ feature published recipes contributed by readers, which she selected and tested. A number of these were collected in her Treasury of Australian Cookery, published in London in 1962, and included those influenced by “the country cooking of England […] Continental influence […] and oriental ideas” (11). Mason includes numerous recipes featuring coffee, but (as in Deutsch above) almost all are described as mocha-flavoured and listed as such in the detailed index. In Mason’s book, this mocha taste is, in fact, featured more frequently in sweet dishes than any of the other popular flavours (vanilla, honey, lemon, apple, banana, coconut, or passionfruit) except for chocolate. These mocha recipes include cakes: Chocolate-Mocha Refrigerator cake—plain sponge layered with a coffee-chocolate mousse (134), Mocha Gateau Ring—plain sponge and choux pastry puffs filled with cream or ice cream and thickly iced with mocha icing (136) and Mocha Nut Cake—a coffee and cocoa butter cake filled and iced with mocha icing and almonds (166). There are also recipes for Mocha Meringues—small coffee/cocoa-flavoured meringue rosettes joined together in pairs with whipped cream (168), a dessert Mocha Omelette featuring the addition of instant coffee and sugar to the eggs and which is filled with grated chocolate (181) and Mocha-Crunch Ice Cream—a coffee essence-scented ice cream with chocolate biscuit crumbs (144) that was also featured in an ice cream bombe layered with chocolate-rum and vanilla ice creams (152). Mason’s coffee recipes are also given prominence in the accompanying illustrations. Although the book contains only nine pages in full colour, the Mocha Gateau Ring is featured on both the cover and opposite the title page of the book and the Mocha Nut Cake is given an entire coloured page. The coffee component of Mason’s recipes is almost always sourced from either instant coffee (granules or powdered) or liquid coffee essence, however, while the cake for the Mocha Nut Cake uses instant coffee, its mocha icing and filling calls for “3 dessertspoons [of] hot black coffee” (167). The recipe does not, however, describe if this is made from instant, essence, or ground beans. The two other mocha icings both use instant coffee mixed with cocoa, icing sugar and hot water, while one also includes margarine for softness. The recipe for Mocha Cup (202) in the chapter for Children’s Party Fare (198-203), listed alongside clown-shaped biscuits and directions to decorate cakes with sweets, plastic spaceships and dolls, surprisingly comprises a sophisticated mix of grated dark chocolate melted in a pint of “hot black coffee” lightened with milk, sugar and vanilla essence, and topped with cream. There are no instructions for brewing or otherwise making fresh coffee in the volume. The Australian culinary masterwork of the 1960s, The Margaret Fulton Cookbook, which was published in 1968 and sold out its first (record) print run of 100,000 copies in record time, is still in print, with a revised 2004 edition bringing the number of copies sold to over 1.5 million (Brien). The first edition’s cake section of the book includes a Coffee Sponge sandwich using coffee essence in both the cake and its creamy filling and topping (166) and Iced Coffee Cakes that also use coffee essence in the cupcakes and instant coffee powder in the glacé icing (166). A Hazelnut Swiss Roll is filled with a coffee butter cream called Coffee Creme au Beurre, with instant coffee flavouring an egg custard which is beaten into creamed butter (167)—similar to Koszlik’s Mocha Cream but a little lighter, using milk instead of cream and fewer eggs. Fulton also includes an Austrian Chocolate Cake in her Continental Cakes section that uses “black coffee” in a mocha ganache that is used as a frosting (175), and her sweet hot coffee soufflé calls for “1/2 cup strong coffee” (36). Fulton also features a recipe for Irish Coffee—sweetened hot black coffee with (Irish) whiskey added, and cream floated on top (205). Nowhere is fresh or brewed coffee specified, and on the page dedicated to weights, measures, and oven temperatures, instant coffee powder appears on the list of commonly used ingredients alongside flour, sugar, icing sugar, golden syrup, and butter (242). American Influence While the influence of American habits such as supermarket shopping and fast food on Australian foodways is reported in many venues, recognition of its influence on Australian coffee culture is more muted (see, for exceptions, Khamis; Adams). Yet American modes of making and utilising coffee also influenced the Australian use of coffee, whether drunk as beverage or employed as a flavouring agent. In 1956, the Australian Women’s Weekly published a full colour Wade’s Cornflour advertorial of biscuit recipes under the banner, “Dione Lucas’s Manhattan Mochas: The New Coffee Cookie All America Loves, and Now It’s Here” (56). The use of the American “cookie” instead of the Australian “biscuit” is telling here, the popularity of all things American sure to ensure, the advert suggested, that the Mochas (coffee biscuits topped with chocolate icing) would be so popular as to be “More than a recipe—a craze” (56). This American influence can also been seen in cakes and other baked goods made specifically to serve with coffee, but not necessarily containing it. The recipe for Zulu Boys published in The Argus in 1945, a small chocolate and cinnamon cake with peanuts and cornflakes added, is a good example. Reported to “keep moist for some time,” these were “not too sweet, and are especially useful to serve with a glass of wine or a cup of black coffee” (Vesta Junior 9), the recipe a precursor to many in the 1950s and 1960s. Margaret Fulton includes a Spicy Coffee Cake in The Margaret Fulton Cookbook. This is similar to her Cinnamon Tea Cake in being an easy to mix cake topped with cinnamon sugar, but is more robust in flavour and texture with the addition of whole bran cereal, raisins and spices (163). Her “Morning Coffee” section in Entertaining with Margaret Fulton similarly includes a selection of quite strongly flavoured and substantially textured cakes and biscuits (90-92), while her recipes for Afternoon Tea are lighter and more delicate in taste and appearance (85-89). Concluding Remarks: Integration and Evolution, Not Revolution Trusted Tasmanian writer on all matters domestic, Marjorie Bligh, published six books on cookery, craft, home economics, and gardening, and produced four editions of her much-loved household manual under all three of her married names: Blackwell, Cooper and Bligh (Wood). The second edition of At Home with Marjorie Bligh: A Household Manual (published c.1965-71) provides more evidence of how, rather than jettisoning one form in favour of another, Australian housewives were adept at integrating both ground and other more instant forms of coffee into their culinary repertoires. She thus includes instructions on both how to efficiently clean a coffee percolator (percolating with a detergent and borax solution) (312) as well as how to make coffee essence at home by simmering one cup of ground coffee with three cups of water and one cup of sugar for one hour, straining and bottling (281). She also includes recipes for cakes, icings, and drinks that use both brewed and instant coffee as well as coffee essence. In Entertaining with Margaret Fulton, Fulton similarly allows consumer choice, urging that “If you like your coffee with a strong flavour, choose one to which a little chicory has been added” (90). Bligh’s volume similarly reveals how the path from trifle to tiramisu was meandering and one which added recipes to Australian foodways, rather than deleted them. Her recipe for Coffee Trifle has strong similarities to tiramisu, with sponge cake soaked in strong milk coffee and sherry layered with a rich custard made from butter, sugar, egg yolks, and black coffee, and then decorated with whipped cream, glace cherries, and walnuts (169). This recipe precedes published references to tiramisu as, although the origins of tiramisu are debated (Black), references to the dessert only began to appear in the 1980s, and there is no mention of the dish in such authoritative sources as Elizabeth David’s 1954 Italian Food, which features a number of traditional Italian coffee-based desserts including granita, ice cream and those made with cream cheese and rice. By the 1990s, however, respected Australian chef and food researcher, the late Mietta O’Donnell, wrote that if pizza was “the most travelled of Italian dishes, then tiramisu is the country’s most famous dessert” and, today, Australian home cooks are using the dish as a basis for a series of variations that even include replacing the coffee with fruit juices and other flavouring agents. Long-lived Australian coffee recipes are similarly being re-made in line with current taste and habits, with celebrated chef Neil Perry’s recent Simple Coffee and Cream Sponge Cake comprising a classic cream-filled vanilla sponge topped with an icing made with “strong espresso”. To “glam up” the cake, Perry suggests sprinkling the top with chocolate-covered roasted coffee beans—cycling back to Maria Koszlik’s “coffee bean chocolate” (162) and showing just how resilient good taste can be. Acknowledgements The research for this article was completed while I was the recipient of a Research Fellowship in the Special Collections at the William Angliss Institute (WAI) of TAFE in Melbourne, where I utilised their culinary collections. Thank you to the staff of the WAI Special Collections for their generous assistance, as well as to the Faculty of Arts, Business, Informatics and Education at Central Queensland University for supporting this research. Thank you to Jill Adams for her assistance with this article and for sharing her “Manhattan Mocha” file with me, and also to the peer reviewers for their generous and helpful feedback. All errors are, of course, my own.References “A Gourmet Makes a Perfect Meal.” The West Australian 4 Jul. 1952: 8.Adams, Jill. “Australia’s American Coffee Culture.” Australasian Journal of Popular Culture (2012): forthcoming. “Australian Wines Served at New York Dinner.” Australian Wines and Food 1.5 (1958): 16. Bancroft, P. 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