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Tissue culture and associated biotechnological interventions for the improvement of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.): a review

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Abstract

Main conclusion

The present review discusses not only advances in coconut tissue culture and associated biotechnological interventions but also future research directions toward the resilience of this important palm crop.

Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is commonly known as the ‘tree of life’. Every component of the palm can be used to produce items of value and many can be converted into industrial products. Coconut cultivation faces a number of acute problems that reduce its productivity and competitiveness. These problems include various biotic and abiotic challenges as well as an unstable market for its traditional oil-based products. Around 10 million small-holder farmers cultivate coconut palms worldwide on c. 12 million hectares of land, and many more people own a few coconut palms that contribute to their livelihoods. Inefficiency in the production of seedlings for replanting remains an issue; however, tissue culture and other biotechnological interventions are expected to provide pragmatic solutions. Over the past 60 years, much research has been directed towards developing and improving protocols for (i) embryo culture; (ii) clonal propagation via somatic embryogenesis; (iii) homozygote production via anther culture; (iv) germplasm conservation via cryopreservation; and (v) genetic transformation. Recently other advances have revealed possible new ways to improve these protocols. Although effective embryo culture and cryopreservation are now possible, the limited frequency of conversion of somatic embryos to ex vitro seedlings still prevents the large-scale clonal propagation of coconut. This review illustrates how our knowledge of tissue culture and associated biotechnological interventions in coconut has so far developed. Further improvement of protocols and their application to a wider range of germplasm will continue to open up new horizons for the collection, conservation, breeding and productivity of coconut.

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Abbreviations

BM72:

Karunaratne and Periyapperuma (1989) medium

ABA:

Abscisic acid

AC:

Activated charcoal

BAP:

6-Benzylaminopurine

GA3 :

Gibberellic acid

2iP:

2-Isopentyl adenine

2,4-D:

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

PGR(s):

Plant growth regulator(s)

TDZ:

Thidiazuron

SE:

Somatic embryogenesis

Y3:

Eeuwens (1976) basal medium

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) for a scholarship awarded to Quang Thien Nguyen. We thank Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) for financial support. We also acknowledge the independent reviews from Professor Jeffrey Adelberg (Clemson University, USA) and Dr. Yohannes M. S. Samosir (Bakrie Agriculture Research Institute, Indonesia).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia

    Quang Thien Nguyen, Mike Foale & Steve W. Adkins

  2. School of Biotechnology, International University, Vietnam National University-HCM, Quarter 6, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City, 70000, Vietnam

    Quang Thien Nguyen

  3. Tissue Culture Division, Coconut Research Institute, Lunuwila, 61150, Sri Lanka

    H. D. Dharshani Bandupriya

  4. Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, AB, Canada

    Arturo López-Villalobos

  5. Biology Education Department, The University of Muhammadiyah, Purwokerto, Kampus Dukuhwaluh, Purwokerto, 53182, Indonesia

    S. Sisunandar

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  1. Quang Thien Nguyen
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  4. S. Sisunandar
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Correspondence to Quang Thien Nguyen.

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Nguyen, Q.T., Bandupriya, H.D.D., López-Villalobos, A. et al. Tissue culture and associated biotechnological interventions for the improvement of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.): a review. Planta 242, 1059–1076 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-015-2362-9

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