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Archives (2000)
Micropropagation:
propagating coconut
through tissue culture
by Mary Charlotte O. Fresco
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July-September
2000
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The era of trade liberalization opens an opportunity
for the Philippine coconut industry to become a dominant player
in the world market, as the country ranks as the third largest
producer of coconut products such as coconut oil and desiccated
coconut. However, low production output and the high incidence
of pests and diseases impede on the industry's ability to
assume this role.
In a bid to arrest these problems, or at least
lessen its impact, a study on the "Micropropagation
of Coconut from Epicotyl Tissues" was conducted in
the Philippine Coconut Authority- Albay Research Center.
Micropropagation through tissue culture remains
as the only means to asexually propagate coconut, according
to Ms. Erlinda P. Rillo, lead researcher of the study. This
technology involves multiplying selected individuals with
desirable characteristics such as high-yielding capacity,
high tolerance to important pest and diseases and adaptability
to adverse growing conditions.
Micropropagation is a series of inoculating
processes wherein tissues excised from the epicotyl of coconut
are subjected to a medium containing growth-inducing hormones.
These hormones, technically known as auxin, trigger the multiplication
of cells which subsequently initiates the development of embryoids.
These embryos are then placed in a regeneration media containing
some hormones to further develop and germinate the embryos.
Germinated embryos are maintained in a medium and incubated
in a lighted growth room until these embryos develop into
plantlets. Rooted plantlets are then transferred to the screenhouse.
Proponents of the study confirmed that micropropagation
from epicotyl tissues is relatively more efficient than micropropagation
from inflorescence tissues because the former is more responsive
to in-vitro.
One disadvantage of this technology, as observed
by the researchers, is that individuals produced from the
culture are genetically heterogeneous. However, cloned individuals
from identified elite parents are likely to show many - but
not all - of the desired characteristics of the parents.
The use of this technology to mass-produce makapuno
coconut, a high-value coconut in the Philippines, was nonetheless
recommended by the researchers. 
(For more information contact Ms. Erlinda
P. Rillo et. al., Philippine Coconut Authority, Albay Research
Center, Guinobatan, Albay or call at tel. no. 052-4846615).
More Articles:
Vol. 2 No. 3
July-September 2000
»» 1st week of oct is "nat'l agriculture,
fisheries R&D week"
»» Mulching
arrests uneven fruit ripening in durian, study reveals
»» Philippine mangoes break into world market
»» National integrated RDE agenda and program
for fruits
»» Sweet tamarind propagation and management
»» Micropropagation: propagating coconut
through tissue culture
»» Study identifies dynamics of jackfruit
infestation
»» Accelerating coconut replanting program
through biotech
»» Ensuring fruit quality and longevity through
HWD
»» Transgenic fish 21st century solution
to decreased fish farming productivity
»» Early detection of viral infection in
shrimps possible through use of new protocol
»» New technique to boost shrimp industry
[More
2000 Articles]
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