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44 FACULTY OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE Professor in Genetics Director Cocoa Research Centre Tel 868 662 2002 ext. 82114 Fax 868 662 8788 E-mail pathmanathan.umaharansta.uwi.edu PROF. PATHMANATHAN UMAHARAN Professor Umaharans research efforts focus on genetically improving yield product quality and resistance to tropical diseases with the ultimate goal of improving the profitability of tropical crops grown in the Caribbean. Genetic strategies provide for a sustainable approach to improving agricultural productivity. Leveraging the Caribbeans Genetic Resources As the Director of the Cocoa Research Centre of The University of the West Indies recognised as the oldest such research centre in the world and curator of the International Cocoa Genebank Trinidad the largest and most diverse collection in the public domain he is spearheading research on the efficient conservation and utilisation of cocoa genetic resources. In a project funded by the ResearchDevelopment and Impact RDI Fund entitled Leveraging the International Cocoa Gene Bank to Improve Competitiveness of the Cocoa Sector in the Caribbean using Modern Genomicsthe Centre is seeking to develop molecu- lar tools to improve a range of horticulturally important traits. To achieve this he has forged collaborations with lead institutions in Europe and the USA. Using the tools developed a number of projects to characterise genetic diversity are underway in Jamaica Haiti and Trinidad. Under his stewardship the Centre is also leading a project on mitigation of cadmium in cocoa sponsored by the European indus- try organisations ECACAOBISCOFCC as well as one on self- incompatibility in cocoa USDA-ARS. He has also been able to secure an EUACP Science and Technology grant to the tune of 2.6 million Euros to establish an International Fine Cocoa Innovation Centre that will showcase innovations along the entire value chain from production and processing technologies to manufacturing value addition and marketing. This will form the centrepiece to provide outreach services to the world through educationtraining apprenticeship programmes and a range of support services including incubator services. The Centre has also established an innovative partnership-in-conservation programme which is poised to become a showpiece to the world. Professor Umaharan has also established a Caribbean collection of hot pepper varieties which includes some of the most pungent varieties of hot peppers in the world. He has in a recent study along with his graduate student elucidated the phylogenetic relationship of this population to those in Central and South America. Further work to study the genetics of yield and yield components as well as to exploit heterosis among the genetic groups is underway. Based on his experience he is developing an International MSc on Plant Genetic Resources Management and Utilisation. He also serves as a member of the CacaoNet Bioversity International and a member of the Caribbean Plant Genetic Resources Network. He is also the Chair of the Adhoc Committee on Plant Varieties of the Ministry of Legal Affairs. Resistance to Tropical diseases Tropical pests and diseases severely affect crop productivity in the Caribbean with losses in productivity ranging between 20 and 80 per cent. Much of the work of Prof. Umaharan and his graduate students has focused around developing resistance to diseases affecting tropical crops with the ultimate goal of improving profitability and includes a characterising the causal organisms and understanding the epidemiology b developing screening methods to the diseases c identifying sources of resistance Cocoa pod with measurement instrument