Project Leader : Dr. Douglas Furtek
Cocoa pod borer (CPB), Conopomorpha cramerella, is the most damaging insect pest of cocoa in Malaysia. It can cause complete crop loss unless measures are taken to control it and is thus a major hindrance to the development of the cocoa planting industry. Average bean losses in Malaysia due to CPB have been estimated to be at least 15 percent of annual potential yields. No CPB-resistant trees have been identified, even though breeders have been working for years to develop one. A strategy that can safely and inexpensively control insect pests is to genetically engineer plants for resistance.
OBJECTIVE
To create trees resistant to the cocoa pod borer (CPB) moth by genetic engineering.
Biotech Glossary |
Bioinformatics |
Lab Protocol |
Notes |
Malaysia University |