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UH-CTAHR Hawaiian Kalo, Past and Future SA-1 -Feb. 2007 Harvest from a single mature plant ('ohana) of UH-CTAHR Kalo grower Clarence Kanoa stands in a planting of a new hybrid BC99-6 grown for 12 months in Hanalei on a commercial hybrid kalo (BC99-7) from the CTAHR breeding program; the wetland kalo farm. Average yield per'ohana of BC99-6 was shorter plants in the background are Maui Lehua, planted at 13 lb on one farm and 12.7 lb on a second farm, compared to the same time. 5.8 Ito and 9 Ito at the two farms, respectively, for the industry standard, Maui Lehua. Huli for replanting are at right. In the first breeding cycle, crosses are made between commercial cultivars and introduced ones. The result- ing hybrids are evaluated for desirable horticultural traits, and the best (elite) hybrids are selected for the next cycle. Two crossbreeding approaches are employed. One is to cross commercial kalo with TLB-resistant wild types from Thailand and Papua New Guinea. In this effort, additional breeding (modified backcrossing) is needed to produce elite hybrids. This requires at least four years. The second is to cross commercial kalo with TLB-resis- ' tant kalo from Palau0l, 52) and Micronesia. In this effort, elite types can be selected in the first year. Kupuna on Oahu taste-testing poi from new kalo hybrids. Many of the elite hybrids selected in the first cycle are more pest resistant and productive than the industry parable in taste and color. Two commercial poi millers standard cultivars, and commercial growers could grow have used the new kalo hybrids for commercial produc- some of these hybrids profitably. The CTAHR program tion of poi. Currently, there are ongoing grower distri- has been successful in selecting elite hybrids with com- butions of the three hybrids to growers interested in mercial potential through a close working relationship evaluating them for suitability at different farm loca- between CTAHR's research and extension personnel and tions on Kauai, Maui, Hawai'i, and Moloka'i. Further kalo farmers and processors. Accordingly, after four adoption of these hybrids by more growers will result in years of on-farm evaluations, Hanalei wetland kalo a substantial increase in kalo production. grower-cooperators have selected three elite hybrids (BC99-6,BC99-7, and BC99-9) for commercial produc- The proof is in the poi tion. The three hybrids have greater tolerance to taro In the second breeding cycle, two to three sources of TLB leaf blight and pocket rot and yield about 30 percent resistance are combined by making crosses between elite more than the industry standards, to which they are corn- hybrids. As in the first breeding cycle, the resulting by- 6