Use of plumules cryopreservation to save coconut germplasm in areas infected by lethal yellowing

Abstract

Plumules excised from zygotic embryos through the largest representative diversity of four of the five different areas of coconut cash and food crops were used in a cryopreservation process using encapsulation-dehydration technique. Five accessions of coconut trees were used [Panama Tall (PNT/GPA), Brazilian Green Tall (BGD/NVB), Cameroon Red Dwarf (CRD/NRC), Vanuatu Tall (VTT/VNT/GVT), and Tagnanan Tall (TAGT/GTN)] in addition to the accession model [Malayan Yellow Dwarf (MYD)] from which an optimal protocol was obtained. A great variability of response was observed depending on accessions with survival and growth recovery rates varying from 6 to 66% and 0 to 24% after 2 and 7 months of culture, respectively.

Keywords: Coconut, accessions, germplasm, plumules, cryopreservation, encapsulation-dehydration

African Journal of Biotechnology, Vol 13(16), 1702-1706