The purpose of this study is to investigate the genealogy of species and cultivars of rice and bananas in Papua New Guinea (PNG), mainly using DNA profiling methods. PNG is a region rich in unique and diverse biological resources, but the flora and fauna which constitute its human-environment system have not been well studied by native researchers due to budget limitations. As a result, there is a large gap between global academia and PNG farmers in utilization and conservation of genetic resources. This study aims to contribute to the sustainable use of genetic resources by the PNG farmers by sharing the methods and results of phylogenetic analysis between PNG and Japanese researchers.
Field surveys, mainly sample collection, will be conducted jointly by the Japanese and PNG teams at various locations in PNG. We intend to compare the species/cultivars selected by local farmers in several regions genetically and to construct the historical relationships among those places. Then, this study will use phylogenetic analysis by a DNA profiling approach focusing on the genetic characteristics of rice and bananas. Analysis is conducted using methods and items provided by the Japanese team, and PNG researchers will be invited for technology transfer.