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Selecting and breeding coconut palms (Cocos nucifera L.) resistant to lethal yellowing disease. A review of recent work in Jamaica

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Summary

Selection and breeding is likely to provide the only answer to Lethal Yellowing disease of coconuts. The present review outlines the short term and long term programmes started in Jamaica and gives details of the exploitation of local varieties and the assembly of genotypes for further work.

In the short term programme the botanical and economic characteristics of Malayan Dwarf coconuts have been studied, seed quality has been improved and a gradual change over from the disease susceptible Jamaica Tall variety to the Malayan Dwarf is now taking place. Over a three year period proportionately fewer San Blas than Jamaica Tall palms have died in disease affected areas where both are growing together, and it is considered that the San Blas variety merits further detailed study.

The long term programme is mainly concerned with attempts to improve the Malayan Dwarf by hybridisation and to establish whether or not these and other hybrids are resistant to Lethal Yellowing. In addition, a wide range of genotypes from the major producing areas in the world has been introduced and established in field trials, in an attempt to find further sources of disease resistance.

Though useful results have already been obtained, in field tests relying on natural spread of the disease, progress would be more rapid if the disease could be transmitted at will.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Department, Coconut Industry Board, Kingston, Jamaica

    R. A. Whitehead

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  1. R. A. Whitehead
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Joint Coconut Research Scheme, Yandina, British Solomon Islands Protectorate

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Whitehead, R.A. Selecting and breeding coconut palms (Cocos nucifera L.) resistant to lethal yellowing disease. A review of recent work in Jamaica. Euphytica 17, 81–101 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00038969

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