One of the biggest problems of moving new and improved taro varieties to countries that need them is the threat of introducing taro virus diseases. There are three very important taro viruses and most Pacific islands do not have them. It is now possible to quickly, efficiently and at low cost determine if taro has any of these varieties before they are moved to virus free countries. This threat is a thing of the past with the new molecular diagnostics laboratory facility funded by the European Union and jointly developed by SPC-Plant Protection Service and USP Institute of Applied Science. The new facility makes this technology readily accessible at USP’s  Laucala Campus, Fiji and affordable to Pacific island countries. 

A workshop held in the first week of September trained a limited number of Pacific Islanders to use  the new facility. Participants learned theory and had practical  training on diagnostic tests for taro viruses. This diagnostic technique uses the tools of molecular biology, which has revolutionised plant disease research over the last 10-15 years around the world and represents a major step forward for plant pathology in the Pacific region.

The participants were national agricultural research staff from Fiji, PNG, French Polynesia and research staff from USP and SPC. They are now trained to index taro plants for presence of virus diseases. 

Dr Rob Harding and Dr Peter Revill, both from the Centre for Molecular Biotechnology, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, conducted the one-week workshop.  They have developed the diagnostics for all taro viruses as part of an ACIAR funded project in support of the AusAID funded TaroGen project. The new lab facility and the diagnostics services available are being established at an opportune time when new varieties of taro from the TaroGen Project become available and require virus indexing before release to the farmers. Participant Mr. Leon Mu, Plant Pathologist for French Polynesia’s Service du Dévelopement Rural (SDR) said of the molecular biology facilities ‘Such a facility is certainly a big asset for SPC member countries. It gives them a chance not to be left behind in terms of technology and know-how. On a practical side, it will surely be of great use in the indexing of SPC ' s germplasm collection and ensure a safe distribution of plant material. Plus, each country should expect to have their crops surveyed and indexed for viruses and get the results in a short time.’

SPCs Regional Germplasm Centre stores germplasm of most of the major  taro varieties and other Pacific staple crops in safe custody.

SPC-PPS Plant Virologist, Dr. Richard Davis, has been involved in setting up the lab at USP and was the workshop coordinator.