A NEWSLETTER OF THE INTERNATIONAL COCONUT GENETIC RESOURCES NETWORK N e w s l e t t e r MARCH 1999 CONTENTS COGENT 1 Note from the Secretariat 2 COGENT Steering Committee 3 Sub-network reports Southeast and East Asia 4 South Asia 4 South Pacific 4 Africa and the Indian Ocean 5 Latin America & the Caribbean 5 National programme reports Indonesia 6 Sri Lanka 7 Papua New Guinea 8 Brazil 8 Côte d’Ivoire 9 Feature article 10 Partner institutions BUROTROP 11 APCC 12 COGENT Databases 12 Ongoing projects ADB, IFAD, DFID & CFC 13 Publications 14 Bulletin Board 15 International Coconut Genetic Resources Network (COGENT) Coconut diversity . Picture courtesy of Roland Bourdeix, CIRAD. Coconut, as a smallholders’ crop, has tre- mendous potential for resource-poor co- conut farmers. However, it is beset by de- clining farm productivity and farmers’ incomes. The Consultative Group on In- ternational Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and its Technical Advisory Com- mittee (TAC) recognized that research was one of the ways to effectively alleviate these constraints but also noted that it requires long-term research programmes, with as- sured organization and funding support, which many national programmes can- not reliably provide without international assistance. In its review of CGIAR priorities and stra- tegies in 1986, the TAC/CGIAR decided to include coconut in its international re- search portfolio. At the suggestion of the TAC/CGIAR, at an international work- shop on coconut genetic resources in Cipanas, Indonesia in October 1991, re- presentatives of 15 coconut-producing countries recommended the establish- ment of an international coconut genetic resources network. With the endorsement of the CGIAR and its donors, the Interna- tional Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) established the International Co- conut Genetic Resources Network (CO- GENT) in 1992 to promote an interna- tional collaborative programme on coco- nut genetic resources conservation and use. IPGRI assumes the role of an execu- ting agency for COGENT under its plant genetic resources programme . IPGRI also provides technical backstopping and administrative support, together with funding from its core funds. COGENT’s objectives include establish- ing and maintaining an international da- tabase on existing and future collections, encouraging the protection and use of existing germplasm collections, identify- ing and securing additional threatened diversity by developing and adopting suitable technologies and conservation strategies, promoting greater collaboration among research groups in producer coun- tries and advanced technology sources in the exchange of germplasm and the de- velopment of new techniques, and con- ducting appropriate training, information dissemination and securing necessary funding for network activities. At present, COGENT has 35 member countries which form the five sub-net- works: Southeast and East Asia (China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Viet- nam, Thailand and Myanmar); South Asia (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka); South Pacific (Cook Island, Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu); Africa and Indian Ocean (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Seychelles and Tanzania); and Latin America and the Caribbean (Brazil, Costa Rica, Cuba, Haiti, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico and Trinidad-Tobago). COGENT has also established linkages with partner institutions working on co- conut. Among these are the Bureau for the Development of Research on Tropical Perennial Oil Crops (BUROTROP), Cen- tre de Coopération Internationale en Re- cherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD), the Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC), Se- cretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Long Ashton Research Station (LARS), Institute for Research through Deve- lopment (IRD - previously known as ORSTOM) and the Inter-American Insti- tute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). COGENT’s programme priorities and activities are decided by the Steering Committee which is cur- rently comprised of two regional co- ordinators from each regional net- work, with the coordinator and APCC as non-voting members. COGENT’s projects and activities receive fund- ing from various donors such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB), In- ternational Fund for Agricultural De- velopment (IFAD), Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) and the Depart- ment for International Development (DFID), U.K; the French Government, FAO, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), ACIAR and CTA/BUROTROP. ISSUE 1 C O G E N T Note from the Secretariat COGENT Coordinator The 7th COGENT Steering Committee meeting in Madang, Papua New Guinea, last year, decided that COGENT publish its own newsletter which will serve as a mechanism to inform net- work members, partner institutions, donors and beneficiaries about the network’s activities. At present, IPGRI/COGENT coordinates 62 country research projects and conducts 8 - 10 activities per year in the five sub-networks. Information on these projects and activities would be useful in promoting more interest in and generate more support for the coconut. The COGENT Newsletter is a bi-annual publication that will disseminate news from the five regional sub-networks, national programmes, partner institutions and the COGENT Secretariat. It is also envisioned to serve as an effective mechanism for creating public aware- ness and support for an important crop. Lastly, we hope that the COGENT Newsletter would serve well as a medium in forging a closer cooperation among member countries, partner institutions, donors and others who share our concern for the resource-poor coconut farmers. COGENT 2 From left: Pons Batugal, COGENT Coordinator; Yeow Giap Seng, Programme Assistant; Shaharudin Saamin, Scientific Assistant; Zulyana Mohd Nor, Secretary; and Shalizahanim Shukor, Communication Assistant. COGENT Steering Committee 1. Endorsed the proposal for the Asian and Pacific Coco- nut Community (APCC) to submit the project proposal for the three International Coconut Genebanks (ICGs) in Asia- Pacific to an appropriate donor. 2. Endorsed the request to hold training courses in 1999 on technical writing and statistical data analysis for coun- try coordinators of both ADB and IFAD-funded projects. 3. Endorsed the proposal to revise and reprint the English version of the STANTECH Manual and translate, and pub- lish it in French, Spanish and Portuguese. 4. Endorsed the proposal to develop a database on coco- nut research activities among COGENT member countries and partner institutions, and on multi-purpose uses of the coconut and farmers’ varieties. 5. Agreed to publish a bi-annual COGENT Newsletter and to establish a website. 6. Agreed to finalize the Steering Committee’s draft Strate- The 7th COGENT Steering Committee meeting made the following decisions: COGENT S e c r e t a r i a t gic Plan for 1999-2004. 7. Elected the members of the Steering Committee for 1999- 2000. 8. Agreed to hold the 8th Steering Committee annual meet- ing in September 1999 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, back- to-back with the annual meetings of the ADB and IFAD- funded projects. 9. Agreed to request BUROTROP to submit the COGENT regional project proposal for the African and Indian Ocean region (which includes the ICG - AIO proposal) to the Euro- pean Union. 10. Agreed to request the Steering Committee members and the COGENT Coordinator to refine the proposal and ex- plore the possibility of submission of the COGENT regional project proposal for the Latin America and the Caribbean region to the Regional Fund of Agricultural Technology (FONTAGRO). Mr. Osborn is Agriculture Adviser of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and also Head of SPC’s Crop Improvement Service. He has 25 years of experience in the management of agriculture programmes in Africa, Latin America and the Pacific. His area of interest is in getting appropriate technologies and research results in the hands of farmers through participatory methodologies, especially through improved planting materials and soil fertility. Mr. Osborn feels that COGENT is moving in the right direction with the establishment of coconut germplasm centres and collection, development of appropriate hybrids, analysis of coconut farming sys- tems and examining other strategies that will increase the income of coconut farmers. He also encourages COGENT members to work hard to maintain the confidence of donors that have been Dr. N’Cho joined the Marc Delorme Genetic and Breeding Division of the Instituts Des Forets (IDEFOR) as a coconut breeder in 1986. In September 1998, he was appointed Director, Centre National de Recherche Agronomique (CNRA) of the Marc Delorme Research Station. Dr. N’Cho played an active role in developing the coconut regional project proposal for Africa and the Indian Ocean. He wrote various papers on coconut genetics and breeding. Dr. N’Cho expresses his intention to reinforce the cooperation among the institutions involved in coconut research in his capacity as a representative of the African and Indian Ocean region. COGENT Steering Committee 1999 - 2000 Tom Osborn Chairman Pierre Yavo N’Cho Vice-Chairman Southeast and East Asia Dr. Pasril Wahid, Director General, Agency for Forestry and Estate Crops Research and Development (FERDA), Gedung Manggala Wanabakti, Blok 1 Fl. 11, Jl. Jenderal Gatot Subroto, Senayan, Jakarta, 10270. Tel: 62-21- 5730390/5737945 Fax: 62-21-5720189 Mobile: 62-811- 814385 Email: kabadan.litbang@dephut.cbn.net.id Mr. Carlos B. Carpio, Deputy Administrator, Agricultural Research & Development Branch, Philippine Coconut Au- thority, Don Mariano Marcos Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines. Tel: 632- 920-0415 / 632 4261398 Fax: 632- 920-0415 Email: cbc-ardb@mozcom.com South Asia Dr. S.P Ghosh, Deputy Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), General Krishi Bhawan, Dr Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi 110001, India. Tel: 91-11-3382534 Fax: 91-11-3382534/3387293 Email: spg@icar.delhi.nic.in Dr. U P de S Waidyanatha, Chairman, Coconut Research Board, Bandirippuwa Estate, Lunuwila 61150, Sri Lanka. Tel: 94-31-55300/55497/01243795 Fax: 94-31-57391 Email: dircri@sri.lanka.net The South Pacific Mr. Samisoni Ulitu, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Minis- try of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forests, Private Mail Bag, Raiwaqa, Suva, Fiji. Tel: 679-384233 Fax: 679-385234 Mr. Tom Osborn, Agriculture Adviser, Agriculture Programme and Team Leader of the Crop Improvement Service, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Suva, Fiji. Tel: 679 370733 Fax: 679 370021 Email: tomO@spc.org.fj / LaisaT@spc.org.fj List of the Steering Committee members and their contact details. Bank, EMBRAPA/CPATC, Coconut Division, Coastal Plateau Agricultural Research Center, National Center for Coconut Research, Av. Beira-Mar, 3250,CEP 49025- 040 Aracaju – SE, Brazil. Tel: 55 79 2171300 Fax: 55 79 2319145 Email: tupi@cpatc.embrapa.br Ing. Jorge Rolando Cueto Rodriguez, Deputy Director, Ministerio de La Agricultura, Instituto de Investigaciones de Citricos y Frutales, Ave. 7ma. No. 3005 e/30 y 32, Miramar, Playa, Ciudad de laHabana, Cuba Tel: 537- 293585/225526/246794 Fax: 537-246794 / 537-335217 (National Citrus Corporation) Email: iicit@ceniai.inf.cu Africa and the Indian Ocean Dr. Alois Kullaya, Director, Mikocheni Agricultural Re- search Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Co-opera- tives, Research and Training Division, Eastern Zone, P.O Box 6226, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Tel: 255 51 700552/74605/6 Fax: 2555175549/116504 Email: arim@africaonline.co.tz Dr. Pierre Yavo N’cho, Director de la Station de Researcher Marc Delorme, Centre National de Recherche Agronomique (CNRA), 07 B.P. 13 Abidjan, Côte d’ Ivoire. Tel: 225-248872/248067 Fax: 225-226985/248872 Asian and the Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) Dr. P. G. Punchihewa, Executive Director, 3rd Flr. Lina Building, H.R Rasuna Said, Kav.B-7 Kuningan, P.O Box 1343 Jakarta 12920, Indonesia Tel: 62-21-5221712 Fax: 62-21-5221714 Email: apcc@indo.net.id COGENT Secretariat Dr. Pons Batugal, COGENT Coordinator, IPGRI Regional Office for Asia, the Pacific and Oceania, P.O Box 236, UPM Post Office, Serdang 43400, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Ma- laysia. Tel : 603 942 3891 Fax : 603 948 7655 Email: p.batugal@cgiar.org COGENT 3 Latin America and the Caribbean Dr. E. Almeida Tupinamba, Head of Coconut Germplasm Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Myanmar and the Philippines are the current members of COGENT’s South- east and East Asia sub-network. Under the ADB-funded project, activi- ties conducted included the collecting, evaluation and conservation of coco- nut germplasm carried out together with the application of standard pro- tocols on coconut genomic DNA isola- tion, embryo culture and microsatellite (SSR) molecular markers. The IFAD-funded project supports re- search projects on the evaluation of co- conut varieties and hybrids for sap yield and sugar production in Indone- sia, intercropping coconut in Malaysia and in the Philippines, and the screen- ing of varieties for sugar production and improvement of quality of granu- lated sugar in Thailand. The DFID- funded projects on refinement of pro- tocols for embryo culture, monitored by Erlinda Rillo, the Embryo Culture Project Network Coordinator under the PCA, were reported to be progressing well. The ‘Workshop on Lethal Diseases of Coconut caused by Phytoplasmas and their Importance in Southeast Asia’ was held in Manado, Indonesia on 16 – 17 February 1998. The meeting dis- cussed the impact of these diseases on rural communities in Indonesia. The workshop also formulated strategies for rehabilitation of the affected areas. There was a general consensus that phytoplasma-caused diseases are the most important single threat to global coconut production. Farmer participa- tory research on coconut diversity train- ing workshop was also conducted in Davao, Philippines in March 1998. Carlos Carpio, Deputy Administrator, Agricultural Research & Development Branch, Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Philippines. Southeast and East Asia South Pacific Currently, eight member countries form the South Pacific sub-network, namely: Cook Island, Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Island, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu. The other island nations such as Marshall Island, Tuvalu, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia are being considered as potential members. The ADB Phase 2 project activities in the South Pacific sub-network involving all members focus on the collecting, evalua- tion, characterization and conservation of coconut genetic resources. In Tonga, the Niu ‘Utongau ecotype (with sweet green husk that is popular with children) of Onoiki Island in the Ha’apai group of islands was characterized and the seednuts collected. The IFAD-funded projects in Tonga, Fiji, Solomon, Vanuatu and Samoa focus on the farmer participatory research on multi- purpose uses, identification of farmers’ va- rieties, evaluation of coconut-based farm- ing systems and promotion of recom- mended technologies as part of the effort to enhance farmers’ income and coconut germplasm conservation. There are several issues affecting the progress of the projects. Among them are limited number of technical staff; lack of training activities; national, regional and international priorities that may vary; and constraints in regards to time, funding and communication. Follow-up training, at- tachment with other institutions and de- gree-level training are needed. Malcolm Seumanutafa Hazelman, Chairman (COGENT) 1997-1998, former Agriculture Manager, South Pacific Commission (SPC), Fiji. South Asia Sub-network Reports Current member countries of the South Asia sub-network are Bangladesh, In- dia, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. Kidu in Karnataka, India, was selected as the site for the International Coco- nut Genebank for South Asia (ICG-SA). A total of 14 self/inter-se accessions had been planted with another 13 ac- cessions ready for planting. The acces- sions include Indian cultivars and some exotic germplasm. In Bangladesh, collecting and evalua- tion of germplasm for tender nuts with IFAD funding was initiated early 1999. Meanwhile, under the regular research programme of the Bangladesh Agricul- tural Research Institute (BARI), the existing germplasm maintained at the Regional Horticultural Research Cen- tre (BARISAL) have been evaluated. A study on the performance of existing tender nut germplasm was also con- ducted. Another activity conducted in Sri Lanka was germplasm characteriza- tion of four accessions using DNA and morphological methods. Eleven ecotypes collected in ADB Phase 1 project have been planted. Under the collecting, multiplication and in situ conservation component, four populations of 40 palms each for non-seasonal Thembili (King) have been identified and 775 seednuts ob- tained through self-pollination were planted. S.P Ghosh, Deputy Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, India. COGENT 4 A p p r o x i m a t e l y seven-year old Makapuno coconut palms derived through embryo cul- ture at the Albay Re- search Centre, Philip- pine Coconut Autho- rity. Picture courtesy of Shaharudin Saamin. Latin America and the Caribbean Member countries are Brazil, Mexico, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guyana, Haiti, and Trinidad-Tobago. Brazil, Mexico and Jamaica are pro- ducing the local hybrids according to schedule, for the CFC-funded multi- location trial project. In September, the embryo culture work to verify the four established protocols conducted by CPATC/EMBRAPA in Brazil was ini- At present, eight countries, namely: Kenya, Mozambique, Seychelles, Tanzania, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria form the Coco- nut Genetic Resources Sub-Network for Africa and Indian Ocean (CGRN- AI). The sub-network was established to promote collecting, conservation, characterization, evaluation, use and exchange of coconut genetic re- sources in the region. It also aims to accelerate the development and use of improved coconut varieties and hybrids which would eventually promote the replanting and sustain- able coconut production in the re- gion. Several initiatives are being imple- mented in the region. Côte d’Ivoire, Benin and Tanzania are collaborat- ing with Brazil, Mexico and Jamaica in the implementation of a multi-lo- cation coconut variety trial project which is funded by the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC). This five-year project aims to assist na- tional research institutions in eva- luating and identifying improved coconut varieties/hybrids most suit- able for their respective countries. A project entitled “Improvement of in vitro techniques for collecting and exchange of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) germplasm” is currently being implemented in Tanzania. Funded by DFID, the project aims to test 4 embryo culture protocols and to op- timize the acclimatization proce- dures for weaning coconut in vitro plantlets. Two African member countries, Côte d’Ivoire and Tanzania are participa- ting in a survey to assess the perfor- mance of high yielding coconut va- rieties being grown by farmers and larger holdings. This project is funded by IFAD, APCC and BUROTROP. Trainees from 5 COGENT member countries (Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Seychelles and Tanzania) attended the 2nd International Workshop and Africa and the Indian Ocean tiated in accordance with the pro- posal submitted to COGENT. Brazil presented the proposal to host the In- ternational Coconut Genebank for LAC at the 7th COGENT Steering Committee meeting in Papua New Guinea. In Mexico, activities conducted in- cluded the 1st National Coconut Con- ference held in January 1998, together with the STANTECH Training Course. Mexico also obtained pollen from Côte d’Ivoire. Jamaica played host to coconut researchers from Hondu- ras and the Bahamas where a fami- liarization activity on coconut hybri- dization techniques was conducted. The spread of the lethal yellowing di- sease continues. In the Caribbean, the disease is reported to be active in Hispaniola, Turks, Caicos Is., and the Bahamas. And on the mainland, it is rampant in Mexico, Belize and Hon- duras. In Mexico, the disease had ap- peared for the first time in the Pacific Coast coconut-growing region. In Haiti and Jamaica, there are certain areas where the incidence of the le- thal yellowing disease was much higher than previously observed among populations of Malayan Dwarfs and their hybrids. Breeding for resistance continues in Jamaica and Mexico. Hybrid seed gardens are operating in Belize and are being es- tablished in Honduras. Basil Been, Director of Research, Coconut Industry Board, Jamaica. Sub-network Reports COGENT 5 L a b o r a t o r y Course on “The Application of Biotechnology to Plant Breed- ing and Crop Protection in Co- conut” orga- nized by Max Planck Institute of Germany and the Tanzanian Mikocheni Agri- cultural Re- search Institute in August, 1998 in Dar es Salaam. The event was or- ganized under the INCO-DC Programme funded by the European Union. In another effort to boost the coconut industry in the region, a project pro- posal entitled “Promoting coconut genetic resources for sustainable co- conut conservation and utilization in Africa and Indian Ocean coun- tries” was drafted and presented to COGENT Steering Committee for en- dorsement. Its establishment would involve research collaboration of R&D institutions from Comoro, Kenya, Mozambique, Seychelles, Tanzania, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria. Alois Kullaya, Director, Mikocheni Agricultural Research Institute (MARI), Ministry of Agriculture and Co-opera- tives Research and Training Division, Tanzania. Basil Been (in the middle), former Chair of COGENT Steering Committee, visiting Tanzanian research project. Indonesia Coconut is a strategic commodity in Indonesia in terms of its economic role and its value as a socio-cultural crop. Nevertheless, the industry faces two main problems: low farm productiv- ity and unstable market price leading to low income generated from coconut farms. Aside from the unstable world market price of coconut oil, the low returns from the coconut is also due to the fact that it is mostly cultivated as a mo- noculture crop with copra as the pre- dominant commodity. Other potential by-products such as coconut husk, shell, water, and wood are, in general, left behind as waste in the farm. To some extent, such materials are con- verted into products of economic value in some coconut producing regions such as Lampung, Riau, and North Sulawesi provinces where processing industries are available. Intercropping is an alternative practice and in cer- tain areas, it is practised with low tech- nology inputs. The Government of Indonesia (GOI), since the early 1970’s, has made se- veral efforts to develop the coconut in- dustry. In general, the objectives are to improve the small farmers’ welfare, and to increase the supply of copra in the domestic market. Four main pro- grammes are being carried in order to achieve the objectives, namely, extensification, intensification, rejuve- nation and rehabilitation. Extensification is mainly focused on opening new areas for coconut plant- ing using local selected Tall and the hybrid, PB 121. The Government of Indonesia, with financial assistance from the World Bank initiated several ‘Smallholder Coconut Development Projects’ (SCDP) in the late 1970’s to increase coconut production and farmers’ income by utilizing early bearing and high-yielding hybrids. The intensification, rejuvenation and rehabilitation programmes were con- ducted using GOI’s own budget. The intensification programme provided farmers with modern inputs such as By Amrizal Idroes and David Allorerung* inorganic fertilizers to increase their coconut production. In line with this programme, a low-interest credit scheme was provided to farmers. The rejuvenation and rehabilitation programmes focused on activities to rejuvenate and rehabilitate coconut palm areas by introducing or repla- cing palms with selected local tall va- rieties or hybrids as planting material. The Research Institute for Coconut and Palmae (RICP) implements the re- search programme for coconut in In- donesia. It is a national research insti- tute under the Agency for Forestry and Estate Crops Research and Develop- ment (AFECRD). RICP is structured to accomplish its mandate through five main coconut research programmes, namely, the im- provement of potential coconut genetic resources, development of product di- versification and strengthening farmer institutions, marketing and commod- ity analysis, pest and disease control, and improvement of land utilization efficiency under coconut. The objective of coconut genetic im- provement is to diversify selected co- conut types to meet users’ require- ments. . The main target of product diversification research programme is to develop appropriate small-scale co- conut processing for rural sites to be supported by strong farmer organiza- tions which will run the processing units. The crop protection research programme is focused on studying the effectiveness of bio-insecticide to con- trol Sexava nubilla, and to study the etiology and epidemiology of budrot and nutfall diseases caused by phythopthora, and coconut wilt disease caused by phytoplasma. The intensi- fication research programme is geared towards developing the technology package for efficient land utilization under coconut through modifying the existing farm technologies such as planting systems, and efficient inter- cropping. In the last five years, several technolo- gies have been developed as a result of the research. These include techno- logy on coconut rejuvenation system, intercropping under coconut, and ef- ficient fertilizer application. Within the next five years, RICP will launch four new hybrids and release an appro- priate technology on integrated coco- nut processing for the rural areas. *Director and Economist/Head of Re- search Planning, respectively, Research Institute for Coconut and Palmae, Indone- sia. National Programme Reports COGENT 6 Selfed Mapanget Tall population, one of the parents for breeding, at the Research Institute for Coconut and Palmae (RICP), Manado, Indonesia. Picture courtesy of Shaharudin Saamin. National Programme Reports Coconut is the most widely grown plantation crop in Sri Lanka, occu- pying about 442 400 ha of land out of a total area of about 6.5 million ha. Coconut provides approximately 25% of the calorific requirement of the average Sri Lankan diet and the annual per capita consumption stands at 120 nuts. Around 80% of an estimated total production of 2600 million nuts/year is consumed domestically while exports of copra and oil is about 20% of the product. The available coconut germplasm in Sri Lanka is categorized into three distinct varieties as typica, nana and aurantiaca. The typica or the tall type is the most widely exploited va- riety and makes up 98% of the coco- nut planting. Systematic collecting and conserva- tion of coconut germplasm was ini- tiated in Sri Lanka only after 1984. It has two objectives, namely, conser- ving the existing biodiversity carried out through random and biased sampling of specific populations, and collecting and conservation of germplasm showing drought tole- rance, through biased sampling. Drought tolerance became a priority in coconut breeding in the mid 1980’s. It was observed that within the drought-prone areas, certain populations and even individual palms maintained their productivity despite the severe water deficit. Such naturally adapted palms and/or populations were identified and re- presentative samples were collected as part of the germplasm conserva- tion activity. To date, 23 such ecotypes have been identified and conserved. Collecting activities were focused on locating and purifying exotic mate- rial that has built up through intro- duction and has become naturalized under different agro-ecological con- ditions in Sri Lanka. By Ursla Fernando, J M D T Everard, Lalith Perera, C K Bandaranayake and Chandrika Perera. * Sri Lanka In addition to the above activities, systematic collecting was conducted to conserve representative germplasm. Two hundred nuts were collected from each accession/popu- lation of 100 palms and 100 seednuts were sown for conservation while the remaining was used for fruit com- ponent studies. A total of 57 tall accessions and six dwarf accessions have been con- served in four ex-situ genebanks du- ring the period of 1989-1998. Most of the conserved germplasm consist of at least 75 palms/accessions. Mean- while, several populations with high yield potential have been identified and conserved in-situ. At present, 15 of these populations serve as seed sources for the national replanting programme, supplementing the seednuts sourced from improved cultivars. A systematic germplasm evaluation trial was initiated in 1994 using seven selected germplasm acces- sions, namely, Clovis, Maliboda, Moorock , Debarayaya , Margaret , Ambakelle special, and Ambakelle tall which were already in ex-situ genebanks. They were identified to be diverse based on multivariate analyses of quantitative characters. Four distinct germplasm accessions, Moorock, Debarayaya, Kasagala and St. Annes which showed stable yield- ing ability despite environmental fluctuations, were crossed to a se- lected pool of proven high and stable yielders at Ambakelle. Embryo culture technique was deve- loped in coconut to be used as an in- vitro technique for collecting germplasm from distant locations and for use as an embryo rescue method for propagating the ‘Dikiri pol’, a ‘makapuno’ type indigenous tall coconut which would not ger- minate. Two methods have been de- veloped: the direct in-vitro explant- ing in the field for aseptic explant- ing and culturing, and the slow growth method where embryos are dissected and cultured in a special agar-based medium which sup- presses further growth and develop- ment of embryos without effecting their viability. To complement morphological cha- racterization of conserved germplasm, biochemical and mo- lecular characterization are also in progress. The isozyme characteriza- tion methodology has been esta- blished using immature leaf but the polymorphism expressed by diffe- rent enzyme systems has been li- mited except for esterase and peroxi- dase. Using a combination of mo- lecular markers, detection of the level of diversity of the conserved co- conut germplasm of Sri Lanka is now being conducted. Other activities initiated in Sri Lanka included the collecting and conservation of 26 accessions in two ex-situ genebanks, a study of the con- served germplasm using a combina- tion of molecular, physiological and in-vitro parameters (ADB project Phase I and II, respectively), a study on the improvement of the indi- genous King coconut germplasm to be used as a natural beverage, and development of technology for en- hancing the shelf life of King tender nuts for export. COGENT 7 “He who plants a coconut tree plants food and drink, vessels and clothing, a home for himself and a heritage for his children” - South Seas saying Spotted on the Internet www.soupsong.com *Research team (breeding and genetic improvement of coconut), Genetics and Plant Breeding Division, Coconut Research Institute, Sri Lanka. National Programme Reports The executing agency of Papua New Guinea’s national coconut research programme is the Cocoa and Coconut Research Institute (CCRI). The programme is made up of a number of components designed to address the major problems faced by the coconut industry. CCRI has implemented a countrywide survey in which local germplasm were identified, collected and established in a field genebank, located at the Stewart Research Station near Madang. Underlying this work was the principle that local germplasm may have tolerance to the insect pests affecting the coconut palm because of natural selection pressure. The current germplasm collections are made up of a number of trials located in Madang and East New Britain. The programme also includes the preservation of economically important germplasm from the South Pacific region, in the International Coconut Genebank for the South Pacific (ICG-SP). Screening for tolerance to insect pests was also initiated, in view of the severity of this problem especially in the New Guinea islands region of the country. Several populations among the Gazelle Tall variety were used for this purpose. The objective was to study the genetic potential of local Tall ecotypes for insect tolerance. Breeding coconut varieties with adequate tolerance to major insect pests, i.e. rhi- noceros beetles and black palm weevil, is undoubtedly the best long-term so- lution to the problem. Research is also being carried out to find effective control methods. Among these, the development of a pheromone trap for the black palm weevil, Rhynchophorus bilineatus. Traps are being developed and tested to lure Oryctes beetles and black palm weevils using commercially available pheromones, and Scapanes beetles (females) using a live male insect in sugar cane cube. The coconut agronomy programme includes a factorial fertilizer trial on hy- brids and nutrition survey work, both Papua New Guinea By Tore Ovasuru* at Stewart Research Station. The ferti- lizer trial aims to establish the best ap- plication rates. An ongoing trial com- pares different methods of replanting Tall coconuts with hybrids such as fell- ing and replanting , poisoning and leaving the dead palms standing, and planting the hybrids under the Talls, which are killed later. In 1997, CCRI established a research programme to apply a farming system approach to investigating promising intercrop combinations with coconut. *Section Head, Coconut Breeding, PNG Cocoa & Coconut Research Institute, Papua New Guinea. By Evandro Almeida Tupinambá1, Wil- son Menezes Aragão2 and Ederlon Ribeiro de Oliveira3 Brazil COGENT 8 Evaluation of cocoa clones as intercrop under coconut in Stewart Research Centre, Madang, Papua New Guinea. Picture courtesy of Shaharudin Saamin. The national coconut research programme in Brazil is conducted by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) through its Coastal Tablelands Agricultural Re- search Center – CPATC – located in Aracaju, Sergipe, Northeast Brazil. Research is carried out in the areas of biotechnology, entomology, plant pa- thology, microbiology, plant breeding, agronomy, biometrics, agricultural economics and sociology. Embrapa also maintains the Coconut Germplasm Active Bank at CPATC. In this germplasm bank, the molecular characterization of all the accessions is being conducted by the Universida de Estadual do Norte Fluminense – UENF, Rio de Janeiro, a partner in a technical cooperation programme. Brazil has submitted a proposal for the establishment of an International Coconut Genebank for Latin America and the Caribbean during the 7th COGENT Annual Meeting. Brazil is also one of the participants in the multi-location hybrid/variety trials and technology transfer project, to- gether with other five Latin Ameri- can/Caribbean and African countries. Evaluation of six common hybrids and four local hybrids will be conducted in each of those countries. Studies dealing with agroeconomic survey to characterize coconut pro- ducers in five states of Northeastern Brazil are currently being carried out. The objectives are to characterize the coconut productive system, potential trading markets for the coconut water and economic evaluation of the im- pacts of new recommended technolo- gies. Embrapa is currently selecting prog- enies of dwarf and tall coconuts in order to develop and evaluate hybrids in 17 states covering all geographic regions of Brazil. The breeding By Y.P. N’Cho and J.L Konan* Côte d’Ivoire National Programme Reports Coconut plays a major role in the economy of Côte d’Ivoire. Côte d’Ivoire ranks first in Africa for the ex- port of coconut oil , desiccated coco- nut, and other coconut products. In 1967, the Government of Côte d’Ivoire initiated a national programme conducted by the Govern- ment Estate Sodepalm. Between 1967 and 1980, Sodepalm established 30 000 ha of coconut plantations in five major areas of the country; Port-Bouët, Assinie, Fresco, Grand-Lahou and Gliké. The coconut programme devel- oped by Sodepalm contributed tre- mendously in reducing poverty in the rural areas of the coastal region of Côte d’Ivoire. Two major events have boosted the coconut sector in Côte d’Ivoire ; the 1994 devaluation of the cfa currency and the privatization of Palmindustrie, the estate that took over Sodepalm. The devaluation has ren- dered the Ivoirian coconut oil very competitive in the regional and world markets while the privatization of Palmindustrie allowed the emergence of other important companies in the coconut sector. Coconut industry in Côte d’Ivoire could receive a boost from the expand- ing regional market. Oil deficit in Ni- geria and Ghana, the presence of des- iccated coconut factories and copra mills in Ghana which depends par- tially on the production of Côte d’Ivoire, and the decimation of coco- nut grove in Ghana by the lethal yel- lowing disease are some of the con- tributing factors. Although the coconut development programme has been privatized, the government has given some recom- mendations in the long-term national agriculture master plan for a strong valorization and diversification of co- conut products. Replanting programmes are highly recommended in order to sustain an adequate sup- ply of raw materials for the factories. The Marc Delorme Research Station (formerly IDEFOR) of the new Na- tional Centre for Agronomic Research (CNRA), played a key role in the first 1967-80 national coconut programme, conducting activities such as soil sur- veys for establishing the plantations, and providing planting material and technical assistance for Sodepalm. This strong linkage between the De- velopment Estates and the station has allowed the scientists of the Marc Delorme Station to monitor the perfor- mance of the planting materials re- leased to the industrial plantations. The current research priorities for the CNRA are focused on four research areas, namely; coconut germplasm conservation and evaluation, breed- ing for disease tolerance and other en- vironmental stresses, breeding for spe- cific technological traits and breeding for yield. With these objectives, related activities were initiated. The Marc Delorme Research Station was in- volved in a network on the lethal yel- lowing disease. Specific traits, for the development of more suitable varie- ties for the various needs of the indus- try, are also being screened within ac- cessions and hybrids. The coconut industry in Côte d’Ivoire flourishes due to the strong relation- ship of the CNRA/Marc Delorme Re- search Station with the other develop- ment programmes and the processing industries of the coconut sector. The new economic situation of this sector has also enhanced private coconut de- velopment programmes. The Interna- tional Coconut Genebank for Africa and Indian Ocean, located at the Marc Delorme Research Station offers a good opportunity for creating hybrids and varieties that can be utilized for both national and regional develop- ment programmes. Furthermore, the incorporation of new specific traits in the breeding programmes will allow a better valorization of the coconut in Côte d’Ivoire in particular and in West Africa in general. *Director and Breeder, respectively, Sta- tion de Recherche Marc Delorme, Centre National De Recherche Agronomique (CNRA), Côte d’Ivoire. COGENT 9 programme aims to select coconut cul- tivars with precocity, high fruit pro- duction, better quality of solid and li- quid albumen, mite and leaf diseases resistance, drought tolerance and adaptation to different Brazilian eco- systems. Brazil also participates in the COGENT/coconut embryo culture project network, together with 12 coun- tries. The project objective is to vali- date protocols for “in vitro culture”. Research using molecular markers will be intensified. Studies dealing with the chemical con- trol of helminthosporiosis, “dry-bud rot” disease vector and etiology; and biological control of “lixas” with hyper parasite fungi are underway. Integrated control of major coconut pests, with emphasis on biological control, using pheromone, chemical and other alternative control mea- sures in partnership with the Federal University of Alagoas, Agrarian Sci- ence University of Para, Embrapa – Humid Tropics (CPATU), Embrapa – Semiarid Tropics (CPATSA) and Ba- hia State Company for Agricultural Development (EBDA), are also being carried out. Physiological studies are underway to evaluate the soil/plant water relation- ships and coconut ecophysiology. Lo- calized irrigation systems and water depth experiments in green dwarf co- conut are in progress. Research on agroforestry systems (co- conut + perennial fruit crops), with corn and jack beans in irrigated coco- nut and with annual food crops in rainfed dwarf coconut plantations, are being undertaken by Embrapa re- searchers. 1 Genetic resources specialist, 2 Coconut breeder, and 3 Research and Development Associate Chief - Embrapa/CPATC, Brazil. “One of these nuts is a meal for a man, both meat and drink.” -Marco Polo Spotted on the Internet www.soupsong.com Feature Article Coconut is often associated with the exotic, far-flung Pacific islands where the sweet juice of the young, tender co- conut quenches the thirst of the sun- burned tourists. Similar scenes had also been immortalized in classic wri- tings such as ‘Robinson Crusoe’ and the ‘Lord of the Flies’, where the read- ers are told of the characters’ depen- dence on the nuts as their source of nutrition. They can also be found in the streets of other coconut-growing countries like India and the Philip- pines, providing cooling refreshment to the locals. A nut is young and tender when it is six to nine months old from the fertili- zation of the female flower of the palm. The juice is sweet but not all of the young, tender coconut would have the same sugar content. The condition in which the coconuts are grown, the kind of minerals in the soil, the varie- ties and the age of the coconut would affect the taste and quality of the wa- ter in the nuts. The soft, nutritious ker- nel in the nuts complements the sweet liquid to make it a wholesome drink. It also brings good news to the health- conscious people as it contains carbo- hydrates, nutrients such as calcium and iron, and has low fat content. Young, tender coconut water is nor- mally consumed in its natural state, with one end of the nut sliced and the water drank immediately. It does how- ever, comes in other forms. ‘Egg coco- nut’, for example, is a type of product consisting of the whole kernel pulled out from the shell with the liquid still intact in it. A feedback from a commer- cial processor of ‘egg coconut’ in Ma- laysia, indicates that Malayan Yellow Dwarf is preferable because the husk and shell is soft and easy to manage. Its smaller size is also more appealing to the general consumer. In his paper, ‘Technologies on envi- ronment-friendly young, tender coco- nuts’, Dr Syed Kamaruddin Syed Wazir, a senior analyst with MIGHT (Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology), la- Young, tender coconut: research to improve its potential mented the fact that the planting of dwarf coconuts for the production of young, tender nuts has not been exten- sively established in many coconut growing countries although the indus- try has shown to be profitable in coun- tries like Malaysia and Thailand. He went on to say that the planting of se- lected varieties such as the Malayan Yellow Dwarf, Chowghat Orange Dwarf (India), King Coconuts (Sri Lanka) or Nam Hon (Thailand) in spe- cific localities, would not only be in harmony with the environment, but would also beautify the landscape and gives growers higher returns from the nuts. Four countries, namely: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India and Fiji, are cur- rently undertaking research on young, tender nuts under the IFAD-funded project. The projects focus on identify- ing suitable varieties for young, tender coconuts and developing viable tech- nologies and marketing systems in- volving women. Information and feed- back from coconut farmers are acquired through the farmer participatory sur- COGENT 10 Malayan Yellow Dwarf is the preferred young, tender coconut in Malaysia. Pic- ture courtesy of Au Wai Fong (Ulu Dusun Agricultural Research Station, Sabah, Malaysia). veys (FPR). In India, suitable varieties for young, tender coconuts were iden- tified while in Fiji, characteristics of 9 – 12 farmers’ varieties based on infor- mation gathered through five selected villages were documented. Several activities were conducted to enhance the profitability and market- ability of young, tender coconuts. In India, three stalls, operated by women, were organized to assess the economic benefits. The development of an appropriate technology for the profitable utilization of the mesocarp and endocarp of tender nut was ini- tiated in CPCRI. Sri Lanka is develop- ing non-seasonal variety with cha- racteristics suitable for tender nuts. Four populations were identified, the palms self-pollinated and 710 of the progenies sown in the nursery. Sri Lanka also studied the suitable age of harvest and the conditions needed to prolong shelflife of tender nuts. The suitable age was identified at seven months with cling film as the best wrapping material and 14 – 160 C as the best storage/shipping tempera- ture. The study identified low produc- tivity as one of the reasons for the farmers’ failure to meet the market de- In some parts of Malaysia, the water of young, tender coconut is also consumed in a different way. Tender nuts are burnt for an hour or so until three quarter of the husk turns black and drunk when it is lukewarm or cooled. They are ap- propriately called ‘burnt tender nuts’. It said to be good for curing asthma, food poisoning and re- ducing high blood pressure. mand. Research on young tender coconut is progressing well in COGENT mem- ber countries. It is hoped that this re- search project will not only lead to bet- ter-tasting nuts but more important, it will enhance the incomes of resource- poor farmers and benefit more women. Shalizahanim Shukor, Communication Assistant, COGENT Secretariat. The Bureau for the Development of Research on Tropical Perennial Oil Crops (BUROTROP), is a non profit- making association, registered in France in January 1995. Its mandate is to assist, strengthen and further develop research on tropical peren- nial oil crops. BUROTROP has 94 active members and 1250 associated members. The contributions by BUROTROP, with the help of CTA, made possi- ble the participation of 33 scientists in eight important meetings. It ena- bled researchers, often isolated in small national structures, the oppor- tunity to interact with their col- leagues from other countries and contribute to and benefit from each other ’s programmes within the BUROTROP network. These include the two APCC COCOTECH meet- ings in Manila, Philippines (July 1997) and in Bali, Indonesia (July 1998), the Multilocation Variety/ Hybrid Trials Workshop and CO- GENT Steering Committee Meeting, held back-to-back with BUROTROP’s Programme Commit- tee in Abidjan (November 1997) and the International Symposium on Co- conut Biotechnology at CICY, Mexico (December 1997). BUROTROP also contributes to the direct funding of selected research and training projects. The Coconut Processing Technology Skills Deve- lopment Training for the SPC, in Davao City, Philippines (April 1997) is one such project. A Manual of Procedures was produced which provides the details of 17 coconut processing technologies in simple terms for would-be entrepreneurs. Another project is the ongoing APCC project on the assessment of the performance of high yielding coconut varieties/hybrids and the varietal preference of coconut farm- ers. This study is being conducted through a survey by national con- sultants in 18 countries. The long- Bureau for the Development of Research on Tropical Perennial Oil Crops (BUROTROP) COGENT Partner Institutions term project objective is to provide policy directions to increase coco- nut productivity and contribute to the sustainable development and global competitiveness of the coco- nut industry. The third project was on coconut molecular markers, with Long Ashton Research Station (LARS), UK, and CIRAD, France, using material supplied by the Phi- lippines and Côte d’Ivoire. The project compared SST and RFLP markers on the same material for di- versity studies and tried to establish a preliminary linkage map of a hy- brid population. The results are now being interpreted. Attending scientific and technical meetings provides opportunities for BUROTROP to exchange informa- tion and ideas with the participants and to generate new initiatives. One such meeting was the Regional Co- conut Project Formulation Meeting in Kingston, Jamaica, from 7 to 10 July 1997 for the establishment of the LAC regional coconut network. This was co-funded by COGENT and IICA. BUROTROP’s participation in policy meetings enables it to speak for its members and clients, and to influence decisions taken. One such meetings was the European Collo- quium on Agricultural Research for Development in Montpellier (Sep- tember 1997), where BUROTROP was cited as an effective example of a North-South network involving all kinds of members of the indus- try as well as partners from Euro- pean research organizations. Other activities included the publi- cation and dissemination of BUROTROP’s Bulletin No. 12 and the General Overview of Oil Palm in Africa, prepared in collaboration with AFOPDA. BUROTROP Web site has also been established and can be viewed at http:// www.burotrop.org. The year also saw the relocation of BUROTROP’s headquarters from Paris to Montpellier and the selec- tion by the Board of a new Director, seconded from CIRAD as a contri- bution from the French Government to BUROTROP. BUROTROP considers that the in- terventions made during the year under review, and during earlier years, have resulted in increased re- search activities in both oil palm and coconut. Events organized by its partners have also been en- hanced through its support in fund- ing the participation of key persons. Any deficiencies in the content and balance of its programme will be corrected in the coming year to the extent made possible by donors and partners. *Directeur Burotrop, Agropolis Inter- national, Montpellier, France. COGENT 11 Spotted on the Internet www.soupsong.com It was unknown to the western world until the 6th century, when it was imported into Egypt from the Indian Ocean— and still made little impression, though Marco Polo recognized it as “Pharoah’s nut” when he ran across it in India on his travels. In the Middle Ages, co- conuts were so rare and so cher- ished that their shells were pol- ished and mounted in gold. By the 19th century, however, new transportation routes made them common in European markets—and throwing objects (“coconut shies”) at local side shows. By Francois Rognon* The Asian and Pacific Coconut Com- munity was established in 1969 and was the first intergovernmental orga- nization to be set up on a single com- modity basis in the region. At present, APCC has 13 member countries, namely; Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Ma- laysia, Papua New Guinea, Philip- pines, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vanuatu and Viet- nam. The Secretariat of the Community is located in Jakarta, Indonesia. It coor- dinates activities with the member states through a network of national liaison officers drawn from govern- ment agencies that are involved with the coconut industry in the respective countries. The objectives of the Community are to promote, coordinate and harmonize all activities of the coconut industry. To achieve these objectives, the Articles of Agreement provided for 15 func- tions covering different aspects of the industry. The plenipotentiary de- legates of the member countries meet at least once a year to draw up plans and discuss policy matters affecting the industry, at national, regional and international levels, guidelines and programme of activities for the follow- ing year. The meeting also reviews the previous year’s programme both at na- tional and regional level. Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) COGENT Partner Institutions APCC realizes the important role in- formation plays in the development of the industry. For this purpose the Sec- retariat of the APCC functions as the regional center in a network for col- lection, analysis, packaging and dis- semination of coconut information. Information is disseminated in vari- ous forms such as journals (CORD, COCOMUNITY, COCOINFO Interna- tional), proceedings of meetings, coun- try studies, technological sheets, direc- tories, statistical year books and video documentaries. APCC, from its inception, has pro- moted programmes for product and market diversification. Studies had been conducted to identify constraints and potential for expansion of mar- kets for coconut products. APCC was also instrumental in bringing together exporters of coconut products on a common platform in order to have close link among themselves and also with importers. APCC realizes the need to maintain high quality standards if the coconut products are to retain and expand their markets. Accordingly, in 1995, APCC with the inputs provided by an expert group of food scientists drew up a set of uniform quality standards for aqueous coconut products which should serve as a basis for the coun- tries to follow. APCC also frequently arranges training programmes to suit the varying needs of the countries as a technology transfer exercise. Then Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Boutros Boutros Ghali in his message to the APCC on the occa- sion of its silver jubilee celebrations in 1994, stated: “I do believe that organizations like the Asian and Pacific Coconut Com- munity has an extremely important role to play. Despite the commendable initiatives that member countries have taken over the years, individually or collectively through the Community, a great deal remains to be done. I am, therefore, convinced that strengthened regional cooperation among coconut producing countries remain the key to meeting the challenges that the coco- nut industry will have to face in the coming years”. The plenipotentiary delegates to the XXXI APCC Session held in October 1994 in Colombo concurred with the views expressed by the Secretary Ge- neral in declaring their commitment and political will to accord appropri- ate priority to the development of the coconut industry at national level and to further strengthened intra- and in- ter-regional cooperation in the area of production, processing, marketing, re- search, information and policy. *Executive Director, Asian Pacific Coco- nut Community (APCC), Indonesia. COGENT Databases COGENT 12 The International Coconut Genetic Resources Network (COGENT) is de- veloping three databases; the Coco- nut Genetic Resources Database: (CGRD), farmers’ varieties and multi- purpose uses of the coconut, and re- search information. Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD), in Montpellier, France, implements the CGRD project in collaboration with COGENT member countries. The CGRD stores passport and characte- rization data of coconut accessions from the member countries. Farmer Participatory Research (FPR) is a major component of the IFAD project being conducted by the par- ticipating COGENT member coun- tries. In these surveys, the farmers will identify and describe coconut varie- ties being grown and their multi-pur- pose uses using their own terminolo- gies. The data and information ob- tained will be developed into a data- base and shared with member coun- tries. COGENT will also establish a coconut research information base where it will identify, source, docu- ment and disseminate information of completed activities from member countries, partner institutions and donors. The databases are set-up in IPGRI-APO regional office in Serdang, Malaysia. By P.G Punchihewa* Ongoing Projects Coconut Genetic Resources Network and Human Resources Strengthening in Asia and the Pacific (Phase II) The project, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) involves 20 countries; China, Vietnam, Thailand, Malay- sia, Indonesia, Philippines, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Is- lands, Tonga, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Marshall Islands. The two objectives of the project are, firstly, to develop sound environmental management of coconut genetic resources in Asia and the Pacific through sustainable conservation and utilization of the coconut, and secondly, to organize high quality training courses on plant genetic resources to strengthen human resources needs for sustainable conservation and utilization of the coconut. These objectives support the governments’ goals to increase coconut productivity, reduce poverty and con- serve plant genetic diversity. Sustainable Use of Coconut Genetic Resources to Enhance Incomes and Nutrition of Coco- nut Smallholders in the Asia-Pacific Region The project is funded by the International Fund for Agri- cultural Development (IFAD) and involves 14 countries: China, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philip- pines, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu. The project’s objectives are: enhancing national agricultural research system (NARS) capacity in participatory technology development in coco- nut conservation and utilization, and improving income- generating potential of coconut production systems. Over- all, the project’s strategy is to promote genetic resources conservation and use through the increase in yield of cul- tivars, smallholders’ income through high value products, and productivity per unit area. Improvement of In Vitro Techniques for Collecting and Exchange of Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) Germplasm The project is funded by the Department for International Development (DFID), U.K. Thirteen embryo culture laboratories are refining embryo culture and acclimatization technology using local and major regional varieties under local laboratory conditions, and developing a protocol for medium-term conservation. The participating research laboratories are: Institute for Research through Development (ORSTOM), France;Centro de Investigacion Cientifica de Yucatan, Mexico; Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, India; Coconut Re- search Institute, Sri Lanka; Research Institute for Coconut and Palmae, Indonesia; Albay Research Center, PCA, Phil- ippines; Department of Agriculture, University of Philip- pines Los Banos, (UPLB), Philippines; Institute of Plant Breeding, UPLB, Philippines; Centro de Pesquisa Agropecuaria dos Tabuleiros Costeiros, EMBRAPA, Bra- zil; Stewart Research Center, CCRI, Papua New Guinea; Agricultural Research Institute at Mikocheni, Tanzania; Instituto de Investigaciones de Citricos y Frutales, Cuba and Wenchang Coconut Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS), China. The project also supports training of coconut researchers, workshops, meetings and publications worldwide. Coconut Germplasm Utilization and Con- servation to Promote Sustainable Coconut Production The project is funded by the Common Fund for Commodi- ties (CFC). Six countries are participating in the multilocation hybrid/varietal trials project, namely: Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Tanzania, Jamaica, Mexico and Brazil. The 5-year project aims to address the problem of low produc- tivity of the coconut. The objectives of the project are to assist national programmes in conducting multi-location trials to identify suitable varieties/hybrids for yield im- provement and enhanced adaptation in six coconut-grow- ing African and Latin American/Caribbean countries (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, Brazil, Jamaica and Mexico), and to evaluate germplasm x environment inter- action, which will serve as a guide to the application of results to other countries with similar cultivation condi- tions. COGENT 13 Six-month old embryo cultured Rennel Tall using the PCA protocol at the Research Institute for Coconut and Palmae (RICP), Indonesia. Picture courtesy of Nurhaini Mashud (RICP). Publications Manual on Standardized Research Techniques in Coconut Breeding (STANTECH) The STANTECH Manual enables coconut breeders and germplasm re- searchers worldwide to use stan- dardized techniques in breeding and germplasm conservation. It is hoped that the manual would as- sist coconut researchers in obtain- ing better and comparable research results to accele- rate the development of improved varieties for millions of coconut farmers. Coconut Breeding - Proceedings of Workshop on Standardization of Coconut B reeding Research Techniques Port Bouet, Cote d’Ivoire 20 – 25 June 1994 The proceedings present the coconut breeding programmes in 16 coun- tries: India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Mexico and Jamaica. Proceedings of the COGENT Regional Coconut Genebank Planning Workshop Pekanbaru, Riau Indonesia 26 – 28 February 1996 This publication provides a com- prehensive overview of COGENT’s plans for the establishment of a multi-site International Coconut Genebank. Viroid-like Sequences of Coconut Proceedings of a Meeting Kajang, Malaysia 21 – 23 April 1997 Recognizing the need to resolve the issue of viroid-like sequences in co- conut, ACIAR, IPGRI and COGENT organized a workshop in which participants from laboratories in Australia, France, Italy and the Phi- lippines presented summaries of their research and dis- cussed the quarantine relevance of the viroid-like se- quences in coconuts. The results of the workshop led to the formulation of the Addendum to the FAO/IBPGR Tech- nical Guidelines for the Safe Movement of Coconut Germplasm Promoting Multi-purpose Uses and Competitiveness of the Coconut Proceedings of a Workshop Chumphon, Thailand 26 – 29 September 1996 This publication contains valuable information that could promote a better understanding of the oppor- tunities that exist in generating highly profitable coconut products. Coconut Embryo In Vitro Culture Proceedings of the First Workshop on Embryo Culture Banao, Guinobatan, Albay, Philippines 27 – 31 October 1997 For every embryo lost, there is a pos- sibility that an important diversity may be lost. In order to address this concern, the work- shop was organized to assess the status of the coconut embryo culture and acclimatization technologies, and to upgrade and standardize the protocols so that more coco- nut researchers could use it with better efficiencies. The proceedings contain papers on status of embryo culture research in 10 laboratories, the research gaps identified and the research projects designed to address these re- search gaps. Addendum to the FAO/IBPGR Technical Guidelines for the Safe Movement of Coconut Germplasm (1997) The update is based on discussions of new research results concerning viroid-like sequences in coconut, which were held at a meeting sponsored by ACIAR, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, in April 1997 in Serdang, Malaysia. The addendum states “Several viroid-like nucleic acid sequences related to cadang-cadang viroid are widely distributed in coconuts and understorey plants. They are not proven disease-causing agents and should therefore not be considered to be of quarantine signifi- cance”. COGENT 14 For order requests, please contact COGENT at the ad- dress provided on the back cover of the newsletter. Coconut riddle... A childhood riddle asks, “What resembles a woman with unkempt hair waving in the wind?” to which any child will answer, “A coconut palm”. It is no coincidence that comparison of a coconut palm is made with a woman. For it is a motherly figure, in the eyes of hundreds of generations who have been living in the Maldive islands. Haveeru Daily Online November 12 1998 www.haveeruonline.com COGENT Bulletin Board The COGENT Bulletin Board will serve two main functions: 1) to announce forthcoming activities of COGENT; and 2) to serve as a mechanism for the exchange or transfer of ideas or information. Below is the list of scheduled activities of COGENT from August to December 1999. Events Questions & Answers From: Coconut Research Institute [SMTP:rescri@sri.lanka.net] Subject: A new infestation in coconut - Sri Lanka Dear Dr Batugal, I wish to request your assistance in co-ordinating certain remedial work for a mite infestation in coconut in Sri Lanka. It is normally called as Eryophid mite and classified under Aceria. The mites damage the nut and eventually nut for- mation is disturbed or nut fall is experienced. Recently, this has been experienced in India. We came to know that this mite infestation has been experienced by South Ameri- can countries for a long time and they have biological control methods developed. Can you please direct our re- quest to our counterpart coordinators of South America for some assistance in finding out the methods available there? W M U Fernando From: Pons Batugal [SMTP:p.batugal@cgiar.org] To: ‘Diekmann, Marlene’; ‘Tupinamba, Evandro Almeida’; ‘Been, Basil’; ‘Wallace, Millicent’; ‘Wallace, Millicent’; ‘Nampoothiri, K U K’; ‘Kullaya, Alois’; ‘Carpio, Carlos’; ‘Allorerung, David’; ‘Osborn, Tom’; ‘Antonio T Perez (ADB)’; ‘Eden-Green, Simon’; ‘Tabora, Panfilo’; ‘Rognon, Francois’; ‘Rouziere, Andre’; ‘Oropeza Salin, Carlos’; ‘Jones, Phil’; ‘Ghosh, S.P.’; ‘Harries, Hugh’; Bhag, Mal (IPGRI-DELHI); Shaharudin Saamin; Engels, Jan (IPGRI); ‘Molina, Agustin’ Cc: Zulyana; ‘Fernando, UMU’; ‘Liyanage, M de S’; Ken Riley; Paul Quek; Ramanatha Rao; ‘P G Punchihewa’ Dear Colleagues, Dr W.M.U. Fernando, our colleague from the Coconut Re- Mites COGENT 15 search Institute, Sri Lanka, sent this urgent request for help regarding the problem of mite infestation in coconut in Sri Lanka. As this pest is also a problem in Africa and LAC, I request our colleagues from these regions to kindly provide information and advice on IPM and other control measures. Likewise, our other colleagues would have ac- cess to information and expertise in their respective insti- tutes (i.e. mite specialists, IPM experts, project reports, etc.) that they could tap to assist Sri Lanka. As I will be travel- ling from 27 February to 18 March, may I request you to kindly provide needed information directly to Dr. Fernando, with copy to me so that I could follow it up as needed. Her email number is indicated in her attached origi- nal email message. Her fax number is (94)31 57391. In ad- dition to the above, I would welcome suggestions on how we, as a group, could address this problem which is be- coming more serious worldwide. Thank you in anticipation of your priority attention to this urgent request. Pons Batugal, COGENT Coordinator. From: Bob.Ikin[SMTP:Bob.Ikin@aqis.gov.au] Sent: 08 March 1999 10:16 Dear All, I note that according to the CABI Compendium that the coconut mite was detected in 1990 but the report was un- confirmed. I am advised by the acarologists at AQIS that the most important thing is to get the mites correctly iden- tified as the main control strategy would be biocontrol. We cannot see that spraying miticides in coconut plantations as a worthwhile occupation. Mite (eriophids) experts for this pest are advised as - JW Amarine. Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia continues next page 1. Technical Writing Course 30 August – 3 September 1999 Venue: Los Banos, Philippines Organizer: SEARCA – IPGRI/COGENT 2. Data Analysis Course 6 – 10 September 1999 Venue: Los Banos, Philippines Organizer: SEARCA - IPGRI/ COGENT - UPLB 3. ADB-funded Project Annual Meeting 13 - 15 September 1999 Venue: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Organizer: OPI - IPGRI/COGENT 4. IFAD-funded Project Annual Meeting 16 – 18 September 1999 Venue: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Organizer: OPI - IPGRI/COGENT 5. 8th Steering Committee Meeting 20 – 22 September 1999 Venue: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Organizer: OPI - IPGRI/COGENT COGENT Bulletin Board COGENT 16 From : Paula Angelo[SMTP:pcangelo@rgm.fmrp.usp.br] Subject : Coconut embryo tissue culture Dear Dr. Batugal, I am writing to ask for some help. My embryo plants are suffering oxidation and browning. They develop well un- til 5-10 cm and after that they turn brown, dry and die. The temperature in the growing room is very high (almost 40 C during the day), the luminosity is around 40 umoles x m-2 x s-1. I am using glass tubes with 250 x 245 mm, covered with polyethylene. Could you help me or put me in contact with someone that could help me with suggestions about it? Paula Angelo Readers are welcome to write about issues affecting the coconut. Read- ers are also encouraged to respond directly to the writers or to the CO- GENT Newsletter. Selected letters will be featured in each issue. Beetle attack in Malaysia From : Shaharudin Saamim[SMTP:s.saamin@cgiar.org] Subject : Beetle attack in Malaysia Many farmers in the heartland of coconut farms in Malaysia are facing a severe attack of the rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros) on their mature tall palms, with some farms having more than 80% of dead palms. The main contributing factor was the improper dis- posal of coconut trunks when the neighbouring coco- nut plantations began replanting with oil palm since 5 years ago. The coconut trunks have provided exten- sive breeding grounds for the beetles. These resource- poor farmers need help in alleviating this severe pest problem. The beetle is also causing genetic erosion of Malaysian germplasm. We would like to have your expert recommendations to control the pest. Embryo culture From: Pons Batugal [SMTP:p.batugal@cgiar.org] Dear Paula, This is a further suggestion on lowering the temperature. If you are using flourescent bulbs as light source for the growing plants, you may wish to explore modifying the electrical wiring so that the “ballast” of each flourescent lamp is located outside the growing room. Normally, the ballast is the biggest source of the heat in growing rooms. Your electrician in the Centre should be able to modify your electrical wiring system as suggested. Pons Batugal, COGENT Coordinator This newsletter is published twice a year by the International Coconut Genetic Resources Network (COGENT). For more information or order requests, please contact us at: International Coconut Genetic Resources Network (COGENT) International Plant Genetic Resources Institute(IPGRI) Regional Office for Asia, the Pacific and Oceania P.O Box 236, UPM Post Office Serdang, 43400 Malaysia Tel : (603) 942 3891 Fax : (603) 948 7655 Email : ipgri-apo@cgiar.org The views and opinions expressed in the publication do not necessarily reflect those of COGENT. Articles may be reproduced with prior permission from COGENT. Univ. PO Box 6108, Morgantown, WV 26506-6108, USA J Boczek, Dept Applied Entomology, Warsaw Agricultural Uni- versity, 02-766. Warszawa, ul Nowoursynowska 166, Poland EE Lindquist, Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, Ag- riculture Canada, NW Neatby Building- CEF, Ottawa K1a C6, Canada. Bob Ikin