2008 Annual Report
1a.Objectives (from AD-416)
The intent of this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is to strengthen the cooperation between the Participants and focus the mutal interest in the broad areas of science and technology, including: animal science, plant science, soil science, agriculture, natural resources management, nutrition, aquaculture and other additional fields as may be mutally decided upon by the Participants.
1b.Approach (from AD-416)
This MOU is intended to serve as a framework for discussion and coordination in matters related to agriculture and naturalresource management, and to facilitate collaborative activities between the Participants in matters of science andtechnology. All collaborative activities are subject to the mutual agreement of the Participants and may be described in, and subject to, individual plans of work delineating arrangements between participants that are specific for each activity. In general, cooperation may be effected through exchange of materials and information; exchange of scientists, specialists, and trainees; development of projects of mutual interest between ARS scientists and ARC scientists; organization of symposia and workshops; and joint publication of studies and reports. The Participants may assign such members of theirstaff as may be required to meet its responsibilities, as well as aid in planning and jointly developing projects of mutual interest. Participants may jointly explore and coordinate research, exchanges, traiing, and development activities of mutual interest,which would be implemented by mutual understanding and in conformity with the regulations and policies of both Participants.
This report serves to document activities conducted under a Memorandum of Understanding between ARS and the Agricultural Research Council of the Republic of South Africa. This agreement was executed in December 2007 by ARS and in March 2008 by the ARC. ARS and ARC have had several years of fruitful cooperative research. In the 2007-2008 time frame, there were three active ARS-ARC formal projects: (1) The biological control of invasive weed in Argentina (0211-22000-006-03T) with funding provided by the ARC Plant Protection Research Institute to the ARS South American Biological Control Laboratory in Hurlingham, Argentina to conduct collaborative research to develop biological control agents for use against mesquite and waterhyacinth; (2) Effect of QTL allelic frequency on resistance to common bacterial blight in common bean (5354-21220-016-05S) to determine the effect of allelic frequency for two resistance QTL on reaction to common bacterial blight in common bean; and (3) research in South African to accelerate development of biological control agents for Cape Ivy (5325-22000-020-10S) to accelerate development of potential biological control agents for Cape ivy, Delairea odorata, and other weeds of South African origin. Cape ivy is a vine, native to South Africa that has become a serious pest in environmentally sensitive areas of California and Hawaii.