| Current Advances in Coconut Biotechnology 1999 Edition Contributor(s): Oropeza, C. (Editor), Verdeil, J. L. (Editor), Ashburner, G. R. (Editor) |
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ISBN: 0792358236 ISBN-13: 9780792358237 Publisher: Springer OUR PRICE: $208.99 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: July 1999 Annotation: The coconut palm occupies a significant place in the world economy as an important subsistence and cash crop in all the areas where it is cultivated. Unfortunately, yields are generally well below potential, despite recent developments with improved planting stock and agronomic practices. In the last 50 years, both aspects have received considerable attention, but the focus is shifting to investigate how the use of recently developed biotechnological techniques can benefit the coconut industry. This volume is the first one published on coconut biotechnology; the papers were presented at a symposium on this subject held in Mexico in December 1997. The book describes recent research in three important areas of this field: (a) molecular markers, diversity and genetic improvement; (b) molecular detection and diagnosis of diseases; and (c) in vitro propagation. It also deals with the impact of biotechnology on the coconut industry, weighing the advantages and pointing out areas where work should be directed to stimulate further research. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Technology & Engineering | Agriculture - General - Nature | Plants - Flowers - Science | Life Sciences - Botany |
| Dewey: 634.612 |
| LCCN: 99030212 |
| Series: Current Plant Science and Biotechnology in Agriculture |
| Physical Information: 1" H x 6.14" W x 9.21" (1.79 lbs) 440 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: The coconut palm occupies a significant place in the world economy as an important subsistence crop in all the areas in which it is grown. Relatively few countries are able to export any quantity of coconut products because of increasing home demands coupled with low productivity. Yields are generally well below potential despite recent developments with improved planting stock and agronomic practices. In the last 50 years, both these aspects have received considerable attention, but the focus is shifting to investigate how the use of recently developed biotechnological techniques- can benefit the coconut industry. This volume, the result of the International Symposium on Coconut Biotechnology (held in December 1997 in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico), describes recent research in three important areas. Standard plant breeding techniques used with coconut have produced improved planting material, but progress is inevitably very slow. Can more rapid genetic improvement be obtained using molecular techniques? The papers presented in this section suggest that such techniques will open up exciting new prospects, but only after basic information has been gathered on the genetic status of existing coconut stocks. Research using microsatellite techniques seems to provide a useful tool to help to classifying these stocks. However, only a combination of classical breeding methods with modem techniques will lead to the rapid improvement which is required to supply material for urgent replanting programs. |