Biotechnological advancements in the improvement of Coconut and Arecanut

Abstract

Coconut and arecanut are principal plantation crops cultivated in the tropics for their multitude of economic uses. These two palms are particularly susceptible to a number of biotic and abiotic stressors that significantly limit their productivity potential. The demand for improved, high-yielding varieties of coconut and arecanut, along with the need for enhanced resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, has been rising. Further, it is anticipated that the palms must be adapted to climate-change-induced vagaries. Conventional breeding-based crop improvement programs for coconut and arecanut have largely been ineffective for various reasons, including perennial nature, long juvenile period and genetic heterozygosity of palms, among others. Advancements in the field of biotechnology have enabled palm researchers to adopt and apply novel techniques for the improvement of perennial crops. This article provides an overview of the progress made in using tissue culture and cryopreservation, application of molecular marker techniques, and next-generation sequencing to improve coconut and arecanut.