chilies help ease the pain -...

www.avrdc.org P.O. Box 42, Shanhua, Tainan 74199, Taiwan Phone: (+886) 6 583-7801 Fax: (+886) 6 583-0009

7 May 2010

Madagascar progress on seed

systems: Benjamin Rakotoarisoa,

AVRDC Liaison Officer in

Madagascar, explains to reporters

how a thriving agricultural sector is

based on the ability of farmers to

access good quality seed.

Page 9

Is there anything else vegetables

can do? Add this to the list: Guide

researchers in developing new

treatments to block human pain at

its source, unlike opioid narcotics

that travel to the brain and affect

the central nervous system.

ScienceDaily reports in its 27 April

2010 edition that a substance

similar to capsaicin, the compound

that gives chili peppers their heat,

is generated at the site of pain in

the human body. Scientists at the

University of Texas Health Science

Center at San Antonio USA have

discovered how to block these

capsaicin-like molecules and create

a new class of non-addictive

painkillers.

"Capsaicin is an ingredient in hot

chili peppers and causes pain by

activating a receptor called

transient potential vanilloid 1

(TRPV1),” said Kenneth

Hargreaves, the senior investigator.

“We started out seeking the answer

to the question ‘Why is TRPV1

consistently activated in the body

upon injury or painful heat?’ What

we found was a family of capsaicin-

like molecules that are naturally

released during injury.”

A proven success --

again: A book

highlighting the work of

AVRDC and other

research and

development

institutions receives

award.

Page 2

Chilies help ease the pain

Vegetables: The best source

of micronutrients to combat

the “hidden hunger” of

malnutrition...a major

source of cash income and

a way out of poverty for

smallholder farmers

worldwide...a means to

provide jobs and promote

small businesses in rural

communities...

At the molecular level, humans and chili peppers share a similar trait, which may lead to a new class of non-addictive painkillers.

2

TRPV1 resides on the membranes

of pain- and heat-sensing neurons.

When you eat a hot chili pepper,

you immediately feel a burning

sensation because the capsaicin, the

primary ingredient in the chili

pepper, has activated the TRPV1

protein in the pain neurons. In high

concentrations, capsaicin can cause

a burning effect on other sensitive

areas of the skin.

Sensory neurons were cultured

from two sets of laboratory mice,

including one set of animals in

which a gene was deleted or

"knocked out." Neurons from the

wild type (non-altered) mice were

sensitive to capsaicin. The neurons

of the knockout mice,

in which the TRPV1

gene was deleted,

were not sensitive to

capsaicin and were

used as the control.

The researchers

found that the non-

altered mice

neurons, in response

to 43° C heat in a

water bath, began to

create their own

natural capsaicins, which were later

identified as fatty acids called

oxidized linoleic acid metabolites

(OLAMs).

Linoleic acid is one of the most

abundant fatty acids in the human

body. Under conditions such as

inflammation or low blood

pressure, linoleic acid is rapidly

oxidized to form biologically active

metabolites. Hargreaves said the

data demonstrate that OLAMs

constitute a new family of naturally

occurring capsaicin-like agents, and

may explain the role of these

substances in many pain

conditions. This hypothesis

suggests that agents blocking either

the production or action of these

substances could lead to new

therapies and pharmacological

interventions for inflammatory

diseases, arthritis, and pain

associated with cancer.

ScienceDaily: http://www.sciencedaily.com/

releases/2010/04/100426181706.htm

Journal of Clinical Investigation: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/41678 (open access)

A proven success -- again

Millions Fed: Proven Successes in Agricultural Development has been

selected to receive the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association’s

prestigious Quality of Communication Award. The book, published by the

International Food Policy Research Institute, features “Counting on

Beans”—a chapter about AVRDC’s effort to improve mungbean and diversify

crop rotations and diets in Asia—written by Sundar

Shanmugasundaram, former AVRDC Deputy Director General –

Research, DG Dyno Keatinge, and current DDG-R Jackie Hughes. The

award will be presented at the 2010 AAEA Annual Meeting in Denver,

Colorado USA from 25-27 July 2010.

http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/publications/millionsfedbooklet.pdf

Millions Fed presents 20 success stories illustrating how policies, programs, and investments in pro-poor agricultural development have helped to substantially reduce hunger across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity

(ACB) and its partners are

launching ASEAN Champions of

Biodiversity – a recognition

program for outstanding

achievements in biodiversity

conservation and advocacy in the

Association of Southeast Asian

Nations (ASEAN) region (Brunei

Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia,

Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,

Philippines, Singapore, Thailand,

and Vietnam).

The program aims to generate

greater leadership, public, and

media awareness of the problems

facing the region’s rich but highly

threatened biodiversity by

recognizing outstanding

achievements of the private/

corporate sector, media, and youth

in biodiversity conservation and

advocacy; promoting corporate

social responsibility (CSR); and

enhancing linkages among

institutions.

Three awards will be given:

Business/Corporations –

Most Outstanding

Biodiversity Conservation

and/or Advocacy Project by a

Private Business/Corporation

Youth – Most Outstanding

Biodiversity Conservation

and/or Advocacy Project by a

Youth Organization

Media – Most Outstanding

Biodiversity Reportage by a

Media Organization

The program is co-sponsored

by the ASEAN Foundation

through the Japan-ASEAN

Solidarity Fund and the

European Union.

More information:

http://www.aseanbiodiversity.org

Champions of Biodiversity in Southeast Asia

3 CORNUCOPIA

Condolences

The management and staff of

AVRDC and our Asian Regional

Center in particular are deeply

saddened and shocked by the

tragic death of Tawrat Jamil, a

participant of the 27th Regional

Training Course in 2008. Tawrat

and two companions were shot

on 22 April 2010 by rebels while they were on the

way to attend a wedding ceremony in Chaparhar,

Eastern Afghanistan.

Tawrat Jamil earned his B.Sc. degree in Agronomy

from Nangarhar University, Nangarhar, Afghanistan,

in 2006 and worked as Vegetable Production and

Marketing Coordinator for USAID DAI/IDEA-NEW

Annual Horticulture Program, Afghanistan.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Tawrat’s family,

friends, and colleagues.

Tawrat Jamil assisted farmers in vegetable production and marketing. (top) A customer purchases high-quality cauliflower seeds at the Laghraan Farm Store. (center) Wholesalers supported with improved packaging. (bottom) A plug-seedling enterprise in Nangarhar.

Photos: USAID

Promoting

horticulture in

Afghanistan

4 CORNUCOPIA

Bei-ju Lin (林倍如),

research intern from

Evergrow Seed Co., Ltd.,

Shanhua, Taiwan arrived at

AVRDC headquarters on 26

April 2010 for one month of

training. Bei-ju will study

methods for plant virus

detection and identification

using ELISA and PCR

(begomoviruses), seed disinfection (tobamoviruses), and

screening for virus resistance in Virology under the

supervision of Lawrence Kenyon, and screening for

resistance to bacterial wilt and bacterial spot (pathogen

maintenance, inoculation technique, disease rating) in

Bacteriology under the supervision of Jaw-Fen Wang.

Contact Bei-ju at ext. 452, e-mail: [email protected]

Welcome

Duc Hung Tang, research

intern from Southern Seed

Joint Stock Company,

Vietnam arrived at AVRDC

headquarters on 2 May 2010

for two months of training.

Hung Duc will work on

breeding tomato resistant to

TYLCVD and bacterial wilt

and evaluation of tomato for

important fruit qualities and horticultural traits under

the supervision of Peter Hanson in Tomato Breeding.

Contact Duc Hung at ext. 375, e-mail:

[email protected]

Sujin Lee Mi Kyung Han

Mi Kyung Han and Sujin Lee, research interns from

Korea’s Han Kyung University and Seoul National

University, respectively, arrived at AVRDC on 3 May

2010 for six months of training. Both are sponsored by

the Rural Development Administration (RDA), Korea

under the RDA 2010 Oversea Agricultural Intern

Program.

Mi Kyung will work on development of environmental

friendly substances to control bacterial wilt and late

blight of tomato under the supervision of Jaw-fen Wang

in Bacteriology, while Sujin will work on establishing

screening protocols for cucurbit downy mildew and

powdery mildew resistance under the supervision of

Jung-Sup Lee in Mycology.

Contact Mi Kyung at ext. 452,

e-mail: [email protected] and

Sujin at ext. 343,

e-mail: [email protected]

Lydia Wu Global Technology Dissemination

[email protected] i

5 NEWS FROM THE REGIONS

Big splash at Asian Regional Center

Kasetsart University’s

Tropical Vegetable Research

Center (TVRC) and AVRDC’s

Asian Regional Center soaked

up the atmosphere during the

Songkran Festival on 2 April 2010

in Kamphaeng Saen.

Songkran, Thailand’s traditional

New Year's celebration (from 13 to

15 April this year), comes at the end

of the dry season during the hottest

time of the year in Thailand. People

douse each other with water to

celebrate—and cool off.

The practice of throwing water

originated as a way to pay respect

to others. People collected water

that had been poured over statues

of Buddha for cleansing, and then

using this "blessed" water to give

good fortune to elders and family

members by gently pouring it on

their shoulders.

The activity at Kamphaeng Saen

started with Buddhist monks

chanting for the happiness of all,

followed by lunch for the monks

served by the senior staff of KU and

AVRDC, including Tanu

Pinyopummintr, Assistant to the

President for Education and

International Affairs, Kasetsart

University. KU and ARC staff

sprinkled water on the hands and

shoulders of Sirukul Wasee and

Krung Sitadthani (Director and

Plant Breeder of TVRC,

respectively) and Robert Holmer

(Regional Director, AVRDC Asian

Regional Center).

After the official ceremony, more

water was sprinkled and poured on

and over everyone to emphasize

good wishes for the new year. “I’ll

bring a second set of clothes for

Songkran 2011!” said one very wet

Robert Holmer.

Top: The well-soaked ARC team.

Bottom left: Offering gifts to monks.

Center left: Preparing food for monks.

Center right: Pouring water on Buddha statue. Center bottom: Robert Holmer receives good wishes from a member of the field staff. Right: A very wet Robert turns the hose on Sirikul Wasee.


Time for reflection at Regional Center for South Asia

Since 2008, AVRDC and NARS

partners have found success in

drawing the attention and interest

of farmers in adopting vegetable

production technologies in Punjab

and Jharkhand, India. The Sir

Ratan Tata Trust-funded project,

“Improving vegetable

production and consumption

for sustainable rural

livelihoods in Jharkhand and

Punjab, India” has brought

farmers together during visits to

on-station and on-farm

demonstrations.

Annual review and planning

meetings play an important role in

successful project implementation.

At Punjab Agricultural

University (PAU), Ludhiana, 65

participants, including PAU and

SRTT staff, met on 26-27 April to

evaluate progress and map out

future activities for Punjab, where

nethouse technology is gaining in

popularity. At Birsa Agricultural

University (BAU), Ranchi in

Jharkhand, 25 participants

including BAU and SRTT staff,

convened on 29-30 April. M.L.

Chadha, Director, AVRDC

Regional Center for South Asia,

Jaw–fen Wang, AVRDC

Participants of annual review and planning meeting held at PAU, Ludhiana, Punjab.


M.L. Chadha Director, Regional Center for South Asia [email protected]

Pathologist and Global Theme

Leader – Production, and RCSA

and project staff based at both sites

participated in the meetings.

Partners highlighted the milestones

achieved against the set targets,

discussed problems encountered,

and planned next steps to achieve

and exceed targets set for year 3. In

Jharkhand, three new NGOs have

joined the project to help scale up

activities and reach more farmers.

Participants of annual review and planning meeting held at BAU, Ranchi, Jharkhand.

i


New initiative for food security and nutrition in Africa

Australia recently launched a

Global Food Security Initiative

to support agricultural research for

development to improve food

security and human nutrition in

Africa. To that end, grants were

awarded to BecA (Biosciences

Eastern and Central Africa) and

CORAF/WECARD (West and

Central Africa Council for

Agricultural Research &

Development) to support

biosciences research and

development and related capacity

building activities in their

respective regions. A consultative

workshop to design the research

program was organized by BecA on

26-27 April 2010 at the

International Livestock Research

Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi. The

workshop brought together 23

scientists and experts from nine

African and Australian institutions

to identify key priorities and issues

within the research theme of food

security and human nutrition.

Christophe Kouamé, AVRDC

Liaison Officer in Cameroon, gave a

presentation on the importance of

indigenous vegetables for human

nutrition in Africa. Participating

institutions were: AusAid, Australia

Commonwealth Scientific and

Industrial Research Organisation

(CSIRO), NARES Kenya,

International Potato Center (CIP),

Association for Strengthening

Agricultural Research in Eastern

and Central Africa (ASARECA),

ILRI, BecA, CORAF/WECARD, and

AVRDC – The World Vegetable

Center.

Christophe Kouamé, AVRDC Liaison Officer in Cameroon [email protected]

Participants of the consultative workshop, “Partnership on Food Security and Human Nutrition in

Africa.”

Where the undernourished live

This map shows countries resized

relative to their undernourished

population. Addressing the needs of

small-scale farmers can help bring

better nutrition to their families and

communities.

Source: Worldmapper, 2009

i


Seeds of progress in Madagascar

Reporters interview Eddy Randrianatsimbazafy, the chairman of AMPROSEM. Developing a strong seed sector in Madagascar will lay the foundation for a thriving agricultural sector in the island nation of 20 million people.

AVRDC’s Liaison Office in

Madagascar, in collaboration with

the Malagasy Association of Seed

Production (AMPROSEM), hosted a

workshop on implementing a

national seed strategy on 21 April

2010. Fifty-eight participants met to

assess the current situation in

Madagascar’s vegetable seed system,

set priorities for seed production,

marketing and distribution, and

identify areas for action for

remainder of 2010. They

represented 15 public institutions,

20 private-sector businesses

(including producers and resellers),

14 associations and NGOs, and 9

farmer groups. AMPROSEM Chair

Eddy Randrianatsimbazafy

welcomed the group and the

workshop was officially opened by

Mina Tsiriarijao Randrianarisoa,

representing the Ministry of

Agriculture.

AVRDC vBSS Liaison Officer

Benjamin Rakotoarisoa gave a

presentation, as did the

AMPROSEM Chair, the Head of

Seed Regulatory Service (SOC), a

representative of the Food and

Agriculture Organization (FAO),

members of the private sector

including Vegetable Seed

(SEMANA), Ambodifasina Seed

(SEEDFAS), Agriculture and

Equipment (MATAGRI), Dominique

Seed (DOM), and a representative

from a farmer’s organization.

Presentations focused on the actual

situation of seed production by

sector; the seed market, which is still

dominated by the informal system;

and the current seed regulatory

environment. An achievable action

plan was drafted and participants

agreed to take up their

responsibilities and report regularly

to assess progress.

Benjamin Rakotoarisoa, vBSS Project NBU Liaison Officer for Madagascar [email protected]

i

chilies help ease the pain -...

Documents