Plant resistance to pests and diseases: potency in coconut

Abstract

Plant resistance to pests and diseases help avoid, tolerate or recover from an injury that would cause greater damage to plants of the same species under similar environmental conditions. In coconut, resistant traits are generally acquired traits against pests and diseases in conventional breeding programs and indirectly through the application of nutrients. The paper provides a list of existing resistant or tolerant coconut varieties reported against key pests and diseases. The use of resistant coconut varieties as part of the integrated pest management toolbox is considered to be an effective medium to long-term strategy. Thus, it is anticipated that resistant varieties will become increasingly important as a component of the IPM toolbox as we encounter invasive species and face the vagaries of climate change. This strategy may also be helpful for managing diseases caused by phytoplasmas. The paper alluded to a number of challenges faced in breeding resistant coconut varieties and the strategies for deploying them. The future projects interesting prospects for resistant variety development that are underpinned by the use of biotechnological tools such as Resistance Gene Analogues (RGAs) and Eco-TILLING and supported by advances in tissue culture and micropropagation that could be used to expedite conventional breeding programs.