DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT

FOREST & NATURE LAB

CINCHONA MEETING
10 March 2021
INTRODUCTION: PROJECT
̶ Quinine from bark of Cinchona tree
̶ Biodiversity: PER-ECU
̶ Production: DRC
̶ Bring together and exchange knowledge
̶ From native & introduced range
̶ Strengthen academic and research capacity
̶ Sustainable intensification of production & conservation

2
INTRODUCTION: TEAM

3
INTERMEDIATE RESULTS (FROM PROPOSAL)
1. Improved knowledge on natural distribution PER-
ECU + inventory of local supply chain DRC
2. Phylogeography + genetic diversity
3. Growth + quinine production
4. Environment x genotype x management
5. Provenance trial

4
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE

Cinchona pubescens*
Cinchona spp.*
Nn*
Interview sites
X Cinchona calisaya
DATA COLLECTED

̶ C. pubescens in Peru:
̶ Tree characterisation (DBH, height, Crown, …)
̶ Leaves for genetics, SLA, nutrients
̶ Elevation and aspect/slope
̶ Macroclimate
̶ Soil samples and mycorrhiza
̶ Trees surrounding the sampled trees and % canopy cover

̶ For Cinchona plantations in DRC:

̶ Socio-economic data from farmers producing Cinchona trees
IR1: DISTRIBUTION
̶ PER-ECU:
̶ Literature
̶ Existing databases (type GBIF)
̶ 3-6 elevational transects (800-3000 m)
̶ DRC: Survey of smallholder farmers & Pharmakina
̶ Tree propagation, management, provenances,
supply chain, added-value creation…

7
IR2: PHYLOGEOGRAPHY & GENETICS
̶ Genetic analyses of leaf samples:
̶ Phylogeographic patterns native region
̶ Localization of source region of DRC trees
̶ PER-ECU: 20-30 populations x 3 species
̶ DRC: 20 plantations

8
IR3 & IR4: GROWTH, QUININE, ENVIRONMENT
̶ Growth
̶ DBH, height, crown shape, volume, …
̶ PER-ECU
̶ Quinine concentrations in bark
̶ PER-ECU-DRC
̶ Environmental conditions: light, microclimate, soil
characteristics, nutrients, … PER-ECU

9
PHD ANGEL - OUTLINE
1. SDM Cinchona: with a focus on reintroduction in native range and optimal location of
plantations in introduced range  final version nearly ready (tentative deadline for the
final version of the manuscript: end of March) – 1st scientific paper of the PhD
2. Alkaloid concentrations & environmental characteristics (climate, soil, tree
characteristics, …) Peru vs DRC: what leads to highest concentrations.  data ready
3. Supply chain & management, questionnaires DRC, link with bark & leaf samples, soil
samples, ….  data +/- ready
‒ 240 farms south & north Kivu
4. Genetics: what is diversity in sampled South American vs DRC trees, what is
Congolese provenance, what is link with alkaloid concentrations….  extra genetic
analyses of especially DRC samples?  data to be extended?

10
IR5: PROVENANCE TRIAL
̶ Collecting seeds and cuttings
̶ 2 sites: Huanuco & Ucayali PER & Cuenca ECU
̶ 3 species x 20 populations
̶ Treatments: shade trees (yes/no) + fertilization (yes/no)

11
Cinchona nursery at Munsong in British Sikkim (1820-1909)
IR5: PROVENANCE TRIAL
̶ Link with national plans in PeruCinchona trees initiative in Peru –
Ministry of Agriculture and dependencies (INIA, IIAP, UNALM, …):
update Julio
̶ In early August, Minagri's Agro Rural program launched a plan to
repopulate the cinchona tree in 22 provinces in 10 of the country's
departments. These are Bongará, Luya and Utcubamba
(Amazonas); Chota, Cutervo, Santa Cruz and San Miguel
(Cajamarca); La Convencion, Paucartambo and Urubamba
(Cusco).

12
PLANNING

13
INTERACTIONS WITH OTHERS
̶ Cinchona trees ongoing research – University of San
Marcos (Dr. J. Alban)
ADMINISTRATION
̶ Budget left: €64,000
̶ Official end Dec. 2021
̶ Extension due to COVID till Aug. 2022

15
ADMINISTRATION

Sensors, computers,
weather stations

Chemical & genetic analyses

Technical support

PhD student UNALM

16
ADMINISTRATION

17
ADMINISTRATION

18
Pieter De Frenne
Professor

FOREST & NATURE LAB fornalab

@PieterDeFrenne
E Pieter.DeFrenne@ugent.be @fornalab
T +32 9 264 90 30

www.fornalab.ugent.be