PhD thesis defense of Timeri Atuahiva, Thursday 19th february 2015, french Polynesia

On thursday the 19th of february 2015, Timeri Atuahiva defended her PhD thesis at the University of french Polynesia on the subject "The emergence of Vanilla ×tahitensis Raiatea fusariose : inventory and epidemiological determinism" in front of a jury composed of; 

- Dr Michel Grisoni (Rapporteur), Phytopathologist CIRAD UMR 53 PVBMT “peuplements végétaux et bioagresseurs en milieu tropical”, Cirad-Réunion island University.

- Dr Edward C Y Liew (Rapporteur), Manager Plant Pathology Science and Conservation, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.

- Pr Christine Dillmann (Examinateur), Professor at the Paris Sud University, UMR Génétique Végétale INRA/CNRS/Univ Paris Sud /AgroParisTech.

- Dr Phila Bianchini (Examinateur), Professor at the french Polynesia University.

- Dr Tea Frogier (Examinateur), Minister of labor and social dialogue, employment, vocational training, research and women status, French Polynesia.

- Pr Michel DRON (Directeur de thèse), Professor, plant biology and pathology Paris Sud University  & Director of the Institut de Biologie des Plantes.

- Dr Ivan Sache (Co-Directeur de thèse), Professor, AgroParisTech. 

(thesis summary)
(announcement)

On friday the 20th of february, a seminar on vanilla research and crop diseases was organized at the french Polynesia university with oral presentations from the members of the PhD jury

Netbiome Joint Call Mid-Term conference

In october 2014, VaBiome project leader (P Besse) attended 3 meetings in Guadeloupe:

- Monday 21st oct. 2014 : mid-term meeting of the Netbiome Joint Call funded projects

(including a presentation of the progresses achieved in the VaBiome project and general discussions)

- Tuesday 22 oct 2014 : second session of the NetBiome-CSA Challenge Specific Workshops

http://www.netbiomecsa.netbiome.eu/np4/101.html

- Wedn-Fri 23-25 oct. 2014 : International Conference on Biodiversity and Climate Change ICBCC 2014

http://www.netbiomecsa.netbiome.eu/np4/49.html

Mid-term meeting in Guadeloupe

The VaBiome mi-term meeting was held in Guadeloupe from the 22-26th may 2014, hosted by the Guadeloupe National Park.

This meeting allowed to exchange about the results so far obtained in the different work-packages and to plan the rest of the work to be achieved. A visit of the vanilla plantation Vanibel was organised, as well as forest prospecting for the collecting of root tips of Vanilla mexicana for the cytogenetic work (a collaboration with  D. Roques, Cirad Guadeloupe ; M-F. et N. Barré, AGO ; lead by Vabiome partner PNG, D. Silvestre)

VaBiome at the IOCC5 meeting

Reunion island hosted the 5th International Orchid Conservation Conference from the 2d to the 6th of December 2013 with over 120 delegates from more than 20 different countries. A special "Vanilla conservation" session was proposed on thursday 5th dec afternoon, and was very efficient to communicate with the orchid-specialists international community on the work conducted on vanilla, particularly within the VaBiome project :

14:20 - 15:00 › VABIOME, Pascale Besse, UMR PVBMT

15:00 - 15:20 › Diversity of endophytic fungi in Vanilla planifolia across different regions of production - Sher-ullah KHOYRATTY, UMR PVBMT

15:20 - 15:40 › Assessment of genetic and pathogenic diversity of Fusarium isolates from the Indian Ocean area for the screening of resistance to root and stem rot in vanilla germplasm. - Sayuj Koyyappurath, Peuplements végétaux et bioagresseurs en milieu tropical

16:00 - 16:20 › What provide the low-copy nuclear genes to the phylogeny of the Vanilla genus. - rodolphe gigant, Université de La Réunion

16:20 - 16:40 › A VpPAL-1 gene is positively correlated to maturation and vanillin accumulation during Vanilla planifolia pod maturation - ISABELLE FOCK-BASTIDE, Université de La Réunion - UMR Peuplements Végétaux et Bioagresseurs en Milieu Tropical

17:00 - 17:20 › Ex situ conservation of vanilla germplasm – Results from ten years' experience at Biological Resources Center VATEL in La Réunion - Michel Grisoni, Cirad

Three posters presenting results obtained in the Vabiome project were also displayed at the conference.

- Besse Pascale, Hoarau Julie, Mattoir Jasmine, Gassman Maud, Gigant Rodolphe, Grisoni Michel, Bialecki Anne. Diversity and evolution of floral scent in the genus Vanilla 

- Besse Pascale, Atuahiva Timeri, Bourge Michaël, Brown Spencer, Da Silva Denis, Dijoux Jean Bernard, Dron Michel, Fock-Bastide Isabelle, Gigant Rodolphe, Gigord Luc, Grisoni Michel, Jade Katia, Kodja Hippolyte, Koyyappurath Sayuj, Lepers-Andrzejewski Sandra, Magnin Hervé, M'sa Tachirifa, Pailler Thierry, Palama Tony, Pelissier Chloé, Robin Odile, Siljak -Yakovlev Sonja, Silvestre Daniel, Viscardi Guillaume. Characterisation, Protection, Sustainable use and Valorisation of Vanilla Biodiversity in Tropical EU (VaBiome project)

-M'sa Tachirifa, Gigant Rodolphe, Guiot Valérie, Viscardi Guillaume, Gigord Luc, Grisoni Michel, Besse Pascale. Conservation strategies of V. humblotii (Orchidaceae), the endemic vanilla of the Comoros Archipelago: review and prospects

On Wedn 4th december, a delegation of 20 participants from the IOCC5 congress visited the vanilla collection of BRC Vatel in St Pierre. This was particularly important to develop contacts towards the extension of our Vabiome community to other researchers interested in vanilla conservation (India, Seychelles, Madagascar, USA, Puerto Rico...)

VaBiome Kick off meeting in Reunion island

6-9 march 2012: kick-off meeting in Reunion island (hosted on the Pole de Protection des Plantes in Saint Pierre) , with partners from French Guiana, Guadeloupe, French Polynesia, Paris, Reunion and Mayotte, to adjust research plan milestones and deliverables and launch activities linked to the first year of the VaBiome research project.

QUALITROPIC label

VaBiome is recognised and supported by the pôle de compétitivité Qualitropic from Reunion Island and was represented at the 6th Qualitropic meeting (25th november 2011) "creativity and innovation of ultraperipherical territories"
(Watch: Emission TV "terres d'ici" - Antenne réunion- 13/12/2011)