Coconut Genetic Diversity, Conservation and Utilization

Abstract

Coconut palm is an important economic plant species in fragile coastal and island ecosystems of the tropics. The palm is a multipurpose perennial crop whose diversity at spatial and trait levels has been exploited to improve yield, resistance to diseases and develop value-added products. Genetic erosion is rampant in coconut due to biotic, abiotic and anthropogenic threats and expansion in area under high yielding selections and hybrids. Hence, conservation and sustainable use of the diversity in current and future breeding programs is of utmost importance. In this chapter, we have focussed on the baseline information of known diversity at various geographical locations and at various traits. Morphological and molecular approaches, employed to assess the extent of genetic diversity, have been high- lighted. An overview of state of conservation efforts and utilization of the existing diversity, in developing varieties/hybrids with one or more desirable traits, has also been presented in this review.