This narrative review recommends an innovative, farmer-friendly controlled-pollination approach for smallholder farmers to produce their own coconut (Cocos nucifera) seednuts on farm. Over millennia, these smallholder farmers have created a wide range of coconut diversity and associated traditional knowledge. However, for seednuts produced under natural, open pollination, the male parent identity is not known. Often, less than 10

Coconut significantly contributes to nutrition and livelihoods of more than 8 million Asia–Pacific households and is specifically linked to the livelihoods of more than 1.5 million people in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Coconut diversity of the region is conserved, on behalf of COGENT (International Coconut Genetic Resources Network) in PNG’s international coconut gene bank (ICG), which is threatened by a new lethal phytoplasma disease, Bogia coconut syndrome (BCS). Symptoms are related to lethal yellowing type syndrome (LYTS). A phytoplasma was identified in coconuts affected by BCS of coconuts but also with the palm Areca catechu and bananas. As a necessary precursor to effective disease management, this study aimed to better understand the nature of this phytoplasma using molecular analyses of the 16S rRNA-encoding gene, ribosomal protein gene, and secA gene, to characterize its genotype and compare it with any similar known phytoplasmas associated with other LYTS from the Caribbean and Africa. In the target area near to the ICG, tissue samples were taken from coconut, areca palms, and banana plants. DNA was extracted and analyzed, and phylogenetic trees and networks then drawn up to make comparisons with the known phytoplasma genotypes associated with LYTS from Cuba, the Dominican Republic (D.R), Ghana, Mexico, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Our study showed that the same phytoplasma was consistently associated with both BCS and areca samples and the banana wilt. The same unique sequence can be considered a new, genetically distinct phytoplasma and is a new member of the LYTS group, the first one in the Asian-Pacific region.

This study endeavour assesses agromorphological likeness between initial introductions and regenerated accessions at the International Coconut Genebank for Africa and the Indian Ocean (ICG-AIO) based in Côte d'Ivoire.Ten couples of parental (G0) and regenerated (G1) accessions of Tall coconut palms were analyzed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Multiple Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) from 26 agromorphological characters.The main results showed a relative decrease in the expression of the phenotypical traits concerning the component of the fruit, height and vigor of the stem and yield of bunches and fruits after one regeneration cycle.But, a high proportion (69%) of studied characters from leaf, inflorescence and nut components showed likeness between G0 and G1 accessions.After one regeneration cycle, the controlled pollination method guarantees significant conservation of the expression of the majority of agromorphological traits.Consequently, regenerated accessions of Tall coconut palms can be used to pursue research and development programs in Côte d'Ivoire.

Les descripteurs qualitatifs ont été toujours négligés dans les études de caractérisation du cocotier surtout chez les écotypes de type Grand. Cet article se propose de mettre en évidence la contribution de six caractères morphologiques de type qualitatif dans la description et la typologie de 18 populations de cocotier Grand plantées dans la collection internationale de Côte d’Ivoire. Pour y arriver les stipes, les inflorescences, les fleurs femelles et les fruits ont été observés. Compte tenu à la fois de leurs fortes valeurs d’indice de diversité de Shannon normalisé (H’ variant entre 0,93 et 0,99) et faibles valeurs d’indice de diversité de Simpson (D variant entre 0,24 et 0,28), les caractères formes du fruit et de la noix débourrée ont été les plus discriminants. Les résultats de la classification des populations de cocotier Grand de la collection de Côte d’Ivoire utilisant les caractères qualitatifs sont en désaccord avec la structuration admise et fournie antérieurement à partir des marqueurs morphologiques quantitatifs et moléculaires microsatellites (SSRs). Bien que longtemps marginalisé dans l’étude de la diversité génétique des écotypes Grand de cocotier, l’apport des caractères qualitatifs dans l’identification de ces accessions de la collection de Côte d’Ivoire est discuté. Aussi, l’intérêt du recours aux descripteurs qualitatifs comme alternative aux marqueurs moléculaires pour le suivi de la pureté des accessions de cocotier au champ pendant les cycles de régénération est souligné.© 2020 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved. English abstract Qualitative morphological descriptors have always been neglected in coconut population’s characterization, especially in Tall coconut varieties. This paper proposes the contribution of six qualitative traits in the description and typology of 18 Tall coconut populations planted at the international field genebank of Côte d'Ivoire. Relatively to high values of standardized index of Shannon Weaver diversity H' (0.93 to 0.99) and low values of Simpson diversity index D (0.24 to 0.28), the two qualitative traits that are fruit and husked nut shapes were more discriminating. The results about clustering of the Tall coconut populations in Côte d'Ivoire genebank using all studied qualitative characters were in disagreement with the clustering assumed and provided before from quantitative traits and SSRs molecular markers. Although a long time marginalized in the genetic diversity studies, the contribution of the qualitative traits in the identification of Tall coconut populations in international field genebank of Côte d’Ivoire has been discussed. Also, the interest of recourse of the qualitative descriptors as alternative to the molecular markers for purity follow-up of the coconut accession during the cycles of field genebank regeneration is clearly underlined.

Pour confirmer la ségrégation de l’un des deux loci codant pour la couleur du germe chez les cocotiers nains, le Back cross 1 : NJM x (NJM x GOA+) a été réalisé dans le cadre d’un projet de cartographie du génome du cocotier. Un donneur NJM x GOA+ (Nain jaune de Malaisie x Grand Ouest Africain+) et une receveuse NJM (Nain jaune de Malaisie) ont été impliqués dans le BC1. Les statistiques descriptives, le test U de Mann-Withney et le test du Khi-deux de conformité ont été appliqués. Pour un total de 1034 noix semences germées, les résultats ont montré que sur 5 ségrégations testées, seule la 1:1 vérifie la conformité des données observées à celles théoriques au seuil de risque de 5 %. Ceci suggère que le couple d’allèles Vert/Jaune codant pour l’expression phénotypique y afférente ségrége selon les lois de la génétique classique. Ces résultats s’apparentent à ceux de Bourdeix. Fort malheureusement, son analyse génétique était sous-tendue par de nombreuses hypothèses. De plus, les semences de noix étaient issues de pollinisations libres de pieds d’hybrides F1. Dans les deux cas, ce sont les germes issus des noix F2 germées qui ont été analysées. La ségrégation 1 : 1 issu du BC1 : NJM x (NJM x GOA+) suggère un contrôle monofactoriel du marqueur vert/jaune. Ce marqueur pourrait être introgressé dans les génotypes d’intérêt avant d’être utilisé, par la suite, pour la sélection précoce en germoir. To confirm the segregation of one of the two loci coding for the color of the germ in dwarf coconut palms, back cross 1: MYD x (MYD x WAT+) was carried out as part of a coconut genome mapping project. An MYD x WAT+ (Malayan Yellow Dwarf x West African Tall+) donor and an MYD (Malayan Yellow Dwarf) recipient were involved in BC1. Descriptive statistics, the Mann-Withney U test and the Chi-two conformance test were applied. For a total of 1034 seed nuts germinated, the results showed that out of 5 segregations tested, only the 1: 1 verifies the compliance of the observed data with the theoretical ones at the risk threshold of 5%. This suggests that the pair of Green / Yellow alleles encoding the related phenotypic expression segregates according to the laws of classical genetics. Those results are similar to those of Bourdeix. Unfortunately, his genetic analysis was underpinned by many hypotheses. In addition, the nut seeds were obtained from free pollination of F1 hybrid feet. In both cases, only germs from the germinated F2 nuts were analyzed. The 1:1 segregation from BC1: MYD x (MYD x WAT+) suggests a monofactorial control of the green / yellow marker. This marker could be moved into the interest of the genotypes before being used, thereafter, for early selection in the germinator.

This study investigates the fertility typology for seven Tall coconut accessions using artificial pollination characters. Ten traits describing fertility were considered for characterizing three groups of coconut individuals per accession. Ten males parental, twenty to forty female parental, and ten progenies were randomly explored per coconut accession. Except for the rate of seeds germination, the outcomes revealed the usefulness of the characters assessed for the discrimination of the accessions studied. The typology of the fertility of the accessions studied is independent of the origins and highlighted two main groups. The first group gathers Laccadive Common Tall (LCT) and West African Tall (WAT and WAT6) accessions including the most fertile male parents and the females showing great production of seed nuts. From this group, the progenies set out a lack of vigour. The second group is constituted of Panama Tall (PNT01 and PNT02), Solomon Island Tall (SIT) and Gazelle Peninsula Tall (GPT) accessions with characters opposite to the previous ones. The investigations of the Tall coconut accessions fertility are fundamental to address the low size of genitors and progenies for respective field genebank regeneration and representative field replanting.

Genetic relationships among 18 regenerated tall coconut accessions from International Coconut Genebank for Africa and Indian Ocean (ICG-AIO) located at Côte d'Ivoire were studied.Analyses were achieved from 17 quantitative characters of the reliable minimal list of agro-morphological descriptors for coconut proposed by Coconut Genetic Resources Network (COGENT) in 2007.From achieved Multivariate Analyses (MVA) two geographical clusters including Afro-Indian and Far East were observed in the first generation of regenerated tall coconut accessions.In addition regenerated tall coconut accessions whose parents come from South Pacific geographical area were the more varied.This typology is similar to the one of the initial introductions previously established.Thus, creation of improved hybrids from heterosis effect searching a long time exploited in tall coconut accessions can always be pursued with regenerated accessions in Côte d'Ivoire coconut program.

This strategy came from extensive worldwide consultations, with support from Bioversity International, CIRAD, CRFP-FTA and ACIAR/DFAT, and outlines the means to conserve / use as much representative diversity as possible. More than 100 million people living in fragile coastal areas depend on coconut for their livelihoods. Globally, the demand for coconut products is expanding and offers new opportunities for increasing incomes for millions of small-scale coconut producers... At a time when the demand for coconut and coconut products is growing worldwide, it is important to conserve and utilize the rich biological diversity of the crop. This evolving Strategy will provide the benchmark for effectively implementing the comprehensive conservation and research agenda proposed by the international coconut research community, as a route to the enhanced wellbeing of millions of coconut smallholders across the globe.

The Coconut Industry Development for the Pacific Project (CIDP) is a joint initiative of the Pacific Community, the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States. The aim of CIDP is to bolster the coconut sector in the region through improving the competitiveness of small producers and strengthening production and regional integration of related markets. In the framework of this project, CIRAD (French Agricultural Research for Development) was in charge of helping design improved seed production systems and conducting a risk analysis for coconut value chain in the Pacific region. During a meeting held in April 2018 in Fiji, thirty participants from sixteen countries and territories in the Pacific region participated to a brainstorming on incentives for boosting coconut production. In June 2018, CIRAD launched an online survey on the same topic by contacting more than a thousand of coconut stakeholders worldwide. This communication presents the first results of these two initiatives regarding incentives for boosting coconut production, in the Pacific region but also in comparison with countries from other regions.