Results of these experiments were reported to taro farmers. Farmers growing taro under upland conditions were concerned about the sensitivity of taro to drought stress; however, they also worried about the difficulty and added costs of applying mulches. Future experiments need to determine the most cost-effective treatments to reduce drought stress of taro grown under upland conditions. Farmers that produce taro under wetland culture were concerned about potential copper toxicity, and all had ceased to use copper sulfate for apple snail control. These farmers were interested to be shown symptoms of copper toxicity in taro, and they worried about the possible involvement of copper toxicity in observed long-term taro yield losses.

AVOIDANCE OF ALUMINUM INJURY IN LEGUMES: ROLE OF ROOT BORDER CELLS
Miyasaka, S. C.

Most researchers have ignored the potential role of border cells in detection and avoidance of aluminum toxicity. An increased understanding of aluminum toxicity and aluminum tolerance mechanisms in plants is necessary to develop crop plants that are better able to grow productively in acid soils.

USE OF VESICULAR-ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI TO IMPROVE EARLY FOREST TREE ESTABLISHMENT
Miyasaka, S. C.

Volcanic ash soils found along the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii are known to "fix" phosphorus in forms unavailable to most plant species. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are known to form symbiotic associations with many plant species, increasing the ability of roots to explore a soil volume for immobile nutrients such as phosphorus. Inoculation of tree seedlings with an effective AMF could help to reduce the necessity for high levels of phosphorus fertilization during early tree establishment.

PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND UTILIZATION
Nagao, M. A., Chia, C. L.

'Egami' is a new longan (Dimocarpus longan) cultivar was made available to growers of tropical fruits in Hawaii. The selection is an open-pollinated seedling of unknown origin and formerly has been referred to as 'Kona No. 1', 'Mauka' and 'Kainaliu'. 'Egami' consistently bears large clusters of fruits and produces crops more regularly than 'Kohala' longan. Egami' is a very productive cultivar that consistently bears large clusters of high quality fruits and produces crops more regularly than 'Kohala' longan. When compared with nine other cultivars in the collection at the Kona Research Station, 'Egami' was preferred based on taste and ranked second for flavor and third for pulp crispness.

EFFECT OF TREE THINNING ON SUSTAINED MACADAMIA YIELDS
Nagao, M. A., Bittenbender, H. C., Ho-A, E.

Several potential macadamia selections have been identified and may provide growers with cultivars for orchards with higher tree densities and greater resistance to insect pests. Among the distinguishing characteristics of selections 879 and 932 are their very upright stature, which allows for closer tree spacing and higher planting densities and may reduce or delay the need for tree thinning. Selection 900 had lower percent kernel and a thicker shell, which may provide protection against stinkbug and tropical nut borer damage.

EFFECT OF MACADAMIA PREMATURE FRUIT ABSCISSION AND MINERAL NUTRITION ON SHRIVEL KERNEL DEVELOPMENT
Nagao, M. A., Ho-A, E. B.

A comparison of kernel quality between 4 macadamia cultivars planted in the Keaau District of the Island of Hawaii showed that the 294 variety tended to have consistently higher kernel quality compared to 344, 508 and 660. Both 660 and 508 had the lowest kernel quality (kernels with specific gravity less than 1.00) over the harvest season. Insect damage (Koa seedworm) was highest in 660 but was not the major cause for the reduction in kernel quality.

POSTHARVEST PHYSIOLOGY OF FRESH HAWAIIAN COMMODITIES
Paull, R. E.

The following recommendation have been made for Red Ginger postharvest commercial practices: 1. Inflorescences should be harvest at mature stage (at least 2/3 open stage). 2. After harvest, inflorescences should be washed in tap water containing detergent to remove insect contamination and field heat. 3. Despite seasonal variation in the effecting of hot water treatment (preconditioning at 40 C for 15 min, and then hot water treatment at 50 C for 10 min (winter) to 12 min (summer)) to extend vase life, the treatment should be applied as it suppressed geotropic response during transportation. 4. Inflorescences should be sprayed with 200 ppm of BA before shipping. 5. Inflorescences can be packed wet (moistened newspaper) or dry (dry newspaper), but the plastic liner (20 um thickness) in the cardboard box should not be omitted. 6. After packing, horizontally storage and shipping should not lead to any geotropic curvature for at least 7 days following the heat treatment. 7. The application of chemicals to control ethylene synthesis and action is not effective.

SOURCE - SINK RELATIONSHIP DURING PAPAYA FRUIT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
Paull, R. E., Christopher, D. A.

A trans-membrane sucrose gradient between the phloem and apoplast of adjacent cells can be maintained or increased by apoplastic invertase by cleaving unloaded sucrose into glucose and fructose. A high apoplastic invertase activity in sinks may increase sucrose transport to these organs and thus increase sink strength. The increase in invertase activity, protein level, and mRNA level during the late stage of fruit development suggested that cell wall invertase was a major contributor to sugar partitioning during papaya fruit maturation and ripening. Western analysis and invertase activity assays confirmed that cell wall invertase was the major form during these late stages of papaya fruit development. This conclusion agrees with the model proposed by others for phloem unloading. Our observations were supported by previous experiments in which modification of cell wall or vacuolar invertases using antisense in potato, tomato, and carrot dramatically affected plant development and sugar partitioning in sink tissue. Furthermore, the different expression patterns of invertase and SS in the sink tissues suggested that, with regard to sugar partitioning, SS was a predominant enzyme in young fruit and petioles, while invertase was more important in the young leaves, flowers and mature fruit. The result implied that the sugar unloading pathway in papaya fruit changed from symplastic in young fruit to apoplastic in mature fruit.

MANIPULATION OF HORTICULTURAL CROPS THROUGH ORGAN, TISSUE, AND CELL CULTURE
Sagawa, Y., Kunisaki, J. T.

The first non-proprietary protocol for propagation of ‘awa’ through tissue culture will be available for dissemination to growers in Hawaii, as well as, other interested parties especially in the Pacific countries.

IDENTIFICATION AND CONTROL OF DISEASES AND WEEDS SPECIFIC TO THE PROPAGATION OF TROPICAL SPECIES
Sekioka, T. T.

Field studies of chemical and biological control of tropical species are managed and conducted by ARS researchers. Field trials to correlate plant traits with total leaf, stem and root wet and dry weights are being conducted by ARS researchers. Results of field studies will be reported by ARS researchers, Plant Science Institute, Weed Science Laboratory, Beltsville, MD. Weed control methods developed in Hawaii are being used in Central and South America.

IMPROVED BIOLOGICAL NITROGEN FIXATION
Singleton, P.

The project is developing liquid inoculants for commercial use. Given the 6% yield response recorded in our field trials and assuming up to half the world's producers may be interested in adopting liquid inoculant formulations this technology could result in aggregate yield increases of 1.2 million mt/year worth $360 million U.S..

PLANT PROTECTION AND ADAPTATION OF TOMATO, EGGPLANT, AND PEPPER
Takeda, K. Y., Sekioka, T. T.

A new facet of eggplant breeding is underway which involves hybrids of the Nitta backcross selections with a bacterial wilt selection,97E60. Selection 97E60 is highly resistant to bw but does not have desirable traits as it has a multiple fruiting habit. As a result it produces many small fruit with extremely tough skin. An initial planting of the cross showed the hybrid to an improvement over the bw parent. It is very productive but fruit quality is much more desiable over 97E60. F2 seed and the F1 are being planted in bw infested soils to evaluate resistance. Developing eggplant and tomato varieties with disease resistance that are high yielding and high quality would be a benefit for the producer and the consumer.

SOIL MANAGEMENT CRSP
Uehara, G., Tsuji, G.

Improved access to information on soil management practices will provide options to intermediate agents such as extension agents and researchers to assist the ultimate end-user of technology, the resource-poor farmer in developing countries, to better address issues on food security.

MOLOKAI APPLIED RESEARCH & DEMONSTRATION FARM
Arakaki A, Teves G, Arce K

Project Objectives:

Increase farm productivity and profitability; develop and maintain an integrated approach for the management of insects, diseases, nutrients, and other related disciplines affecting crop production and/or increase multi-disciplinary efforts in resolving problems affecting the agricultural industries on Molokai and Lanai; increase efficiency in the delivery and dissemination of research-generated information furthering the mission of extension and the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.

Accomplishments:

1. Conducted observational trial to determine the adaptability of pepeiao, Auricularia cornea, to produce under the native tree canopy and primarily on the fallen branches Kukui  

2. In April 2000 63 Hawaiian taro varieties were planted for evaluation of their nutritional characteristics by Dr. Alvin. Huang. In April 2000, Molokai Taro Workshop and Field Day was held, at which more than 80 participants attended.  New Hawaiian taro varieties are being produced for the export and value added market. Varieties such as Piko Uaua and Eleele Naioea, not commonly produced today, are being marketed. More than 2100 taro huli were distributed to growers during the Field Day in April.

3. Installed Palauan taro variety trial in November 1999 to evaluate and demonstrate their tolerance to taro disease, Phytophthora Leaf Blight.

4. Installed a dessert guava trial in January 2000, evaluating 2 varieties (total of 25 plants), obtained from Dr. Francis Zee of USDA ARS for their productivity and adaptability to arid growing conditions of Moloka'i.

STATEWIDE TARO INITIATIVE: LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
OF TARO PRODUCER
Arakaki A, Sato D, Shimabuku R,
Fukuda S, Hamasaki R, Yamakawa R

Project Objectives:

(1) Organize statewide and regional taro grower's organizations.

(2) Address critical issues faced by the taro industry.

(3) Conduct statewide activity.

(4) Conduct educational workshop on each island.

Taro is one of the crops CTAHR identified as an impact crop. As a result the Statewide Taro Initiative program was developed. The original taro initiative program defined 2 projects that address the issues taro growers were most concerned about. The 2 projects were Leadership Development of Taro Producer and Taro Production Issues. Accomplishing these two projects concurrently is critical to achieve the initiative performance goal of to annually increase the total dollar value of new and value-added taro products introduced into domestic and foreign. However due to CTAHR constraints, the Statewide Taro Initiative focused only on implementing Leadership Development of Taro Producer. Some of the Taro Production Issues are being addressed in other CTAHR programs such as IPM, Water Quality and in individual faculty projects.

Project Output:

1. Participated and contributed to statewide growers meeting. CTAHR representative participated and contributed to 6 statewide growers meeting and 3 sub committee meetings.  Taro growers benefitted from the dynamics generated from an organization. Growers were able to develop statewide network for communicating needs and gaining support. The organization provided a vehicle for growers to express their need to community leaders.

2. Participated and contributed to educational workshops and industry promotions. Growers organized, conducted and participated in 6 taro workshops and industry promotion activities. Taro workshops and festivals were held on Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, Oahu (2) and Kauai.

3. Supported legislation for taro industry needs. Taro growers organized a campaign that supported legislation for taro research.

4. Conducted survey of growers on taro production and their needs. The survey interviews are completed. CTAHR, ADSC, provided support by developing data management template and inputted the survey information.

5. Conducted discussions with regulatory government agencies on water issues for growers. A growers committee has been organized.