Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the transmission of the lethal yellowing disease (LYD) of coconut tree caused by a phytoplasma from the zygotic embryo to the regenerated plantlet in vitro. From a total of 30 trees, 150 mature coconut nuts where harvested. These nuts were used to extract 150 zygotic embryos. From this package, 96 zygotic embryos were used to regenerate 96 young coconut seedlings in vitro and the 54 others were used to extract total DNA. From the stem of the 30 palms at the stage 1 of the LYD, phloem sample were also collected. From the regenerated in vitro-plantlets at 6 months age, leaf sample were collected. From the molecular diagnosis by PCR, 80% of the phloem samples carried the 16S rRNA gene of the phytoplasma responsible for LYD. All the zygotic embryos and in vitro-plantlets regenerated were healthy. So, coconut zygotic embryos can be used for the safe exchange of genetic material regarding lethal yellowing disease. The regenerated in vitro plantlet are free of disease. Key words: Coconut, phytoplasma, transmission, in vitro.
Highlights
The coconut tree originates from two geographical areas, namely, the islands of Southeast Asia and South India (Gunn et al, 2011)
The aim of this study was to investigate the transmission of the lethal yellowing disease (LYD) of coconut tree caused by a phytoplasma from the zygotic embryo to the regenerated plantlet in vitro
The study focused on zygotic embryos from mature coconut nuts (10-12 months of age) harvested from trees that are visually affected by the LYD and are in stage 1 of the disease
Summary
The coconut tree originates from two geographical areas, namely, the islands of Southeast Asia and South India (Gunn et al, 2011). 10 6 6 6 10 10 6 54 disseminated by flotation of nuts at the mercy of marine currents and, later, by human travel and migration (Harries et al, 2004; Baudouin and Lebrun, 2009) Human migrations were those of Austronesians, Arabs and Europeans. With regards to the coconut tree, the exchanges of the genetic material are done using nut in order to create the diversity from the family of brood stocks in a country's collection. These exchanges are not done because of the volume and mass of the nut, which is the organ usually used (Orozco-Segovia et al, 2003). Studies on the conservation and transfer of coconut material in the form of embryos have been investigated in several laboratories (Assy-Bah et al, 1989; Danso et al, 2009; Rillo and Paloma, 1991; Cueto et al, 2012; Yoboue et al, 2014)
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