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Coconut Research Institue Sri Lanka

Tissue Culture Division

Improving quality of planting material of coconut through in vitro technologies.

Vision

Improving quality of planting material of coconut through in vitro technologies.

Mission

Development of in vitro technologies for clonal propagation, dihaploid plant production, exchange and conservation of germplasm for crop improvement.

Research Division

Agronomy Division

Crop Protection Division

Economics & Agribusiness

Genetics & Plant Breeding Division

Plant Physiology Division

Coconut Processing Research Division

Soils and Plant Nutrition Division

Tissue Culture Division

Technology Transfer Division

Current Research

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Induction of somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in ovary derived callus
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In vitro and biochemical approaches to investigate somatic embryogenesis and tissue culture responsiveness in coconut
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Identification of new explants for vegetative propagation of coconut
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In vitro axillary shoot multiplication for clonal propagation of coconut

Services

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Selling Embryo- cultured Dikiri coconut seedlings to growers
o Contact us: Tel. No.- 0312262003

Major achievements

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Development of a protocol for in vitro plant regeneration using unfertilized ovary, a novel and promising explant for clonal propagation of coconut, for the first time in the history of coconut tissue culture.
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Development of a protocol for production of dihaploid plants via coconut anther culture for the first time in the history of coconut tissue culture, a major breakthrough towards the production of pure lines for hybrid coconut production.
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Through germplasm exchange program, importation of mature embryos of 28 exotic coconut varieties from India, PNG and Ivory Coast and raising the plants in vitro and finally establishing them in the field for future breeding programs.
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Establishment of 4 field trial of ovary derived clonal coconut plants and confirmation of their genetic fidelity with the use of molecular markers.
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Development of cryopreservation protocols using mature embryo and plumule as a measure of long-term conservation of coconut germplasm.
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Development of a reliable embryo culture technique for coconut and propagation of Dikiri coconut through embryo culture technology to supply of true to type Dikiri coconut plants to growers at a nominal rate.

Staff

Research

Mrs. S P N C Jayarathna

Research Officer

Ms. M T N Indrachapa

Research Officer

Technical (Research)

Mrs. T R Gunathilake

Experimental Officer

Ms. P G K Perera

Experimental officer

Mrs. R M S S Rathnayake

Technical Officer

Ms. K A D R C Kodikara

Technical Officer

Non Research

Mrs. R M K G S Dissanayake

Lab & Field Assistant

Mr. J A S L Jayasinghe

Lab & Field Attendant

Ms. R.M.U.S.V. Rathnayake

Management Assistant

Awards and Patents

Awards

2022
  1. S.P.N.C. Jayarathna, H.G.M.R. Suraweera, N.K.L.S. Piyatissa, P.I.P. Perera, V.R.M. Vidhanaarachchi paper presented at 2nd Tissue Culture Symposium 2022, Organized by ICC-COGENT, held on 04 to 06 May 2022, Jakarta (Virtually) won the Award of 1st runner up in the Poster Contest
2017
1. Dr. V.R.M. Vidhanaarachchi, Dr. H. D. D.Bandupriya, Dr. P. I. P. Perera, Dr. S C Fernando, Dr. L K Weerakoon, Mr. E. S. Santha and Ms. T.R. Gunathilake received Certificate of Commendation ‘Plantation Sector’at National award for Excellence in Agricultural Research awarded by Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy
2015
1. Dr. H D D Bandupriya received the President’s Award for Scientific Publication, for scientific research evaluated by peers and published in the year 2013
2014
1. Dr. V R M Vidhanaarachchi received the President’s Award for Scientific Publication, for scientific research evaluated by peers and published in the year 2009

2. Dr. H D D Bandupriya received the President’s Award for Scientific Publication, for scientific research evaluated by peers and published in the year 2008

3. Dr. P.I.P. Perera received Merit Award for Scientific Publication in 2010, awarded by the National Research Council in October 2014

4. Dr. P.I.P. Perera received President’s Award for Scientific Publication, for scientific research evaluated by peers and published in the year 2009 awarded in January 2014

5. Dr. P.I.P. Perera received President’s Award for Scientific Publication, for scientific research evaluated by peers and published in the year 2008 awarded in January 2014

6. Dr. P.I.P. Perera received President’s Award for Scientific Publication, for scientific research evaluated by peers and published in the year 2007 awarded in January 2014

2011
1. Dr. (Ms.) H.D.D. Bandupriya was the recipient of following award.

2. Price for the best presentation in Molecular Biology and Gene Manipulation Session of the 23rd Annual Congress of PGIA.

3. Merit Award for the best presented at session A, first symposium of the Young Scientist Forum.

2010

1. Dr. (Ms.) S.C. Fernando received of NRC Presidential award for research

2. Dr. (Ms.) K. Weerakoon received NRC Presidential award for research

3. Dr. (Ms.) P.I. P. Perera received Hiran Thilakarathne special award for postgraduate research

4. Recipient of NRC Presidential award for research

2008

Dr. P.I.P. Perera received following awards

1. Third World Academy of Science / National Science Foundation (TWAS / NSF) Young Scientist Award for the scientific excellence in the field of Biology

2. Gold Medal for the best paper presentation of the 2nd Symposium on Plantation Crop Research

3. Postgraduate Research Merit Award at sixty fourth annual sessions of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science

4. Best paper presentation in the session on Plant Breeding and Biotechnology of the 20th Annul Congress of Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture

Recent Publications

2022
  1. Viability of heat-treated microspores of Cocos nucifera L. for induction of microspore embryogenesis. S.P.N.C. Jayarathna, H.G.M.R. Suraweera, N.K.L.S. Piyatissa, P.I.P. Perera, V.R.M. Vidhanaarachchi. Paper presented at 2nd Tissue Culture Symposium 2022, Organized by ICC-COGENT, held on 04 to 06 May 2022, Jakarta (Virtually). Won the Award of 1st runner up in the Poster Contest.
2021
  1. P. I. Prasanthi Perera, Vijitha R. M. Vidhanaarachchi (July 2021). Anther Culture in Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.). Methods in Molecular Biology In book: Doubled Haploid Technology 2289: 167-178, DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1331-3_11
  2. P. I. P. Perera, Ranjith Pathirana,V. R. M. Vidhanaarachchi (March 2021) Somatic Embryogenesis in anther-derived fast-growing callus as a long-term source for doubled-haploid production of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.). Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 49(1): 505-515, DOI: 10.4038/jnsfsr.v49i1.9834
2020
  1. I. P. Perera, K. F. Motha and V. R. M. Vidhanaarchchi (2020). Morphological and histological analysis of anther-derived embryos of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.). Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult 140:685-689
  2. Shenali Balasooriya, Dinum Perera, Vijitha Vidhanaarachchi, Thanuja Gunathilake, Navodini Jayarathna (2020). Improving Coconut (Cocos Nucifera) Micropropagation through Enhanced Somatic Embryogenesis. International Journal of Biotechnology and Bioengineering Vol:14, No:11, Proceedings of International Conference on Advances in Biotechnology held on November 19-20, 2020 London, United Kingdom   
  3. N.K.L.S. Piyathissa, P.I.P. Perera and V.R.M. Vidhaanarachchi (2020). Effect of Heat Pretreatment on Induction of Microspore Embryogenesis in Cocos nucifera L. Proceedings of 19th Agricultural Research Symposium 340-344
  4. H.G.M.R. Suraweera, P.I.P. Perera and S.P.N.C. Jayarathne (2020). Viability of Heat Pre-treated Microspores in Cocos nucifera L. for Androgenesis Induction. Proceedings of 19th Agricultural Research Symposium 405-409
  5. M.K. Meegahakumbura, H.D.M.A.C. Dissanayaka, S.A.C.N. Perera, C.R.K. Samarasinghe, P.R. Weerasinghe, V. Vidanaarachchi and L. Perera (2020). Exchange and Utilization of Global Genetic Resources in the National Coconut Breeding Programme in Sri Lanka: A Historic Overview. COCOS, 23: 37-46
  6. H.D.B.K. Hettiarachchi, V.R.M. Vidhanaarachchi, S.P.N.C. Jayarathna and D. Perera (2020). Effect of exogenous polyamines on coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) embryogenic callus multiplication. COCOS, 23: 47-56.
  7. Perera, N. Jayarathna (2020). Deviating from the norm: dikiri coconut, Coconut Technology Update Vol:1, Coconut Research Institute, Sri Lanka, pp 3-4.
2019

  1. V R M Vidhanaarachchi, E S Santha and T R Gunathilake (2019). Improved callogenesis in coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) ovary culture. Proceedings of the 7th Plantation Crop Research Symposium, held on 4-6 November 2019, Colombo, Sri Lanka

2017
  1. Bandupriya H D D, Iroshini W W M A, Perera S A C N, Vidhanaarachchi V R M, Fernando S C, Santha E S and Gunathilake T R. (2017) Genetic fidelity testing using SSR marker assay confirms trueness to type of micropropagated coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) plantlets derived from unfertilized ovaries.  The Open Plant Science Journal 10: 46-54
  2. Iroshini Welewanni, Dharshani Bandupriya, Anil Jayasekera (2017) Coconut cryopreservation: Present status and future prospects. CORD 33: 41-61
2016
  1. Nguyen Q.T, Bandupriya H.D.D.,   Foale M. and Adkins S.W. (2016) Biology, propagation and utilization of elite coconut varieties (makapuno and aromatics) Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. 109: 579 – 589
  2. Vidhanaarachchi V.R.M., Suranjith W.C. &. Gunathilake T.R. (2016) Effect of genotype, embryo maturity and culture medium on in vitro embryo germination of Sri Lankan coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) varieties. Journal of National Science Foundation 44: 273-278
  3. Bandupriya H.D.D.,   Fernando, S.C. and Vidhanaarachchi V.R.M. (2016) Micropropagation and androgenesis in coconut: an assessment of Sri Lankan implication COCOS. 22(1): .31–47
  4. Iroshini W.W.M.A., Jayasekera G.A.U. and Bandupriya H.D.D. (2016) Cryopreservation of coconut embryogenic calli using the encapsulation/dehydration technique. Proceedings of the Wayamba University International Conference (WinC 2016) 19-20 August 2016. pp295
2015

1. Bandupriya H D D (2015) Expression of Aintegumenta –like gene related to embryogenic competence in Cocos nucifera L. is confirmed by 454 pyrosequencing transcriptome analysis. CORD, 31 (2): Pp 15 – 25.

2. Bandupriya H D D & Dunwell J M (2015) Transcriptome analysis for discovering candidate genes involve in embryogenesis in coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) through 454 pyrosequencing. Journal of National Science Foundation, 43 (4): Pp 319 – 336.

2014
1. Bandupriya, H.D.D., Gibbings, J.G. and Dunwell,J.M. (2014) Overexpression of coconut AINTEGUMENTA-like gene, CnANT, promotes in vitro regeneration in transgenic Arabidopsis. Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture, 116 (1): Pp 67-79.

2. Bandupriya H D D, Fernando S C, Verdeil J-L, Malaurie B (2014) Efficient method of transporting coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) zygotic embryos for cryopreservation of plumules by encapsulation/dehydration. CORD, 30 (2):

3. Wijebandara D M D I, Vidhanaarachchi V R M, Gunathilake T R, Tennakoon (2014). The effect of copper and zinc on embryo germination and seedling growth of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.). In: Keerthipala A P (ed.). Towards a green plantation economy, 5th Symposium on Plantation Crop Research, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Pp. 71-76.

2013
1. Bandupriya, H. D. D., Gibbings, J. G. and Dunwell, J. M. (2013) Isolation and characterization of an AINTEGUMENTA-like gene in different coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) varieties from Sri Lanka. Tree Genetics and Genomes, 9 (3): Pp 813-827.\

2. Herath, H.M.D.M.P., Bandupriya, H.D.D. and L.M.H.R Alwis. (2013) Initiation of callogenesis from unfertilized ovary explants of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis jacq.). Proceedings of Fourth Research Symposium, Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka.

3. Satharasinghe, S., Bandupriya, H.D.D., De Silva, S.N.T. and Vidhanaarachchi V.R.M (2013). Multiplication and differentiation of ovary derived callus of Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) for higher embryogenic potential. Proceedings of 12th Agriculture Research Symposium, Faculty of Agriculture and Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka.

4. Vidhanaarachchi, V.R.M., Fernando S.C., Perera P.I.P, Weerakoon L.K. (2013) Application of un-fertilized ovary culture to identify elite mother palms of Cocos nucifera L. with regenerative potential. Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, 41 (1): Pp 29-34.

2012
1. Bandupriya, H.D.D., Dunwell, J.M. (2012) Overexpression of CnANT, coconut BABYBOOM homologue alters plant growth and morphology in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. Tropical Agricultural Research, 23 (3): Pp 249-260

2. Bandupriya, H. D. D. and Dunwell, J. M. (2012) Sequencing Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) expressed sequenced tags (EST) using 454 Life Sciences Technology. 2012 World Congress on In Vitro Biology, June 3-7, Bellevue, Washington, USA.

3. Bandupriya, H. D. D. and Dunwell, J. M. (2012) Analysis and functional annotation of expressed sequence tags from coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) mature embryo. In: Hettiarachchi L. S. K. and Abeysinghe I. S. B. (eds.), Proceedings of the 4th Symposium on Plantation Crop Research. September 20-21 Colombo, Sri Lanka.

4. Fernando S. C., Santha, E. S., Perera, S. A. C. N., Dissanayake, H. D. M. A., Meegahakumbura, M.G. M. K. and Perera, L. (2012) In vitro characterization of indigenous coconut varieties (Cocos nucifera L.) of Sri Lanka for water stress tolerance. CORD, 28 (2): Pp 55-63

2011
1. Perera, P.I.P., Kularathna, J.D.J.S.M. and Weerakoon, L.K. (2011). Effect of gelling agent and selective sub-culturing on hyperhydricity in anther-derived coconut embryos, CORD, 27(3): Pp. 26-37.

2. Fernando, S.C., samarajeewa, D.A.D.S. and Liyanagedara, L.G.N.H.K. (2011). Use of arabinogalactan protein in coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) tissue culture: An alternate approach for improved tissue response, CORD, 27(3): Pp. 9-16.

3. Malaurie, B., Tregear, J.N., Nan, O., Bandupriya, H.D.D., Borges, M. & Verdeil, J.-L. (2011). Cryopreservation as a Tool for the Management of Coconut Germplasm, Acta Horticulture, 908: Pp. 461-466.

4. Bandupriya, H.D.D., Fernando, S.C., Verdeil, J.-L. and Malaurie, B., (2011). Cryopreservation of encapsulated plumules of Coconut; effect of transport/ store conditions, AsPac. J. Mol. Biol. Biotecnol., 18 (1) : Pp. 135-137.

2010
1. PPerera, P.I.P., Hocher, V., Weerakoon, L.K., Yakandawala, D.M.D., Fernando, S.C. and Verdeli, J-L. (2010). Early inflorescence and floral development in Cocos nucifera L., South African Journal of Botany, 76: Pp. 482-492.

2. Fernando, S.C., Santha, E.S. and Hewarathna, D.J.A. (2010). Activated coconut shell charcoal as a component of tissue culture media of Cocos nucifera L., Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, 38(3): Pp. 181-185.

3. Perera, P.I.P., Hocher, V., Weerakoon, L.K., Yakandawala, D.M.D., Fernando, S.C. and Verdeli, J-L. (2010). Morphological aspects of coconut anther culture derived structures, Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, 38(1): Pp. 69-74.

4. Fernando, S.C., samarajeewa, D.A.D.S. and Liyanagedara, L.G.N.H.K. (2011). Use of arabinogalactan protein in coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) tissue culture: An alternate approach for improved tissue response, In: Book of abstracts; International conference on coconut biodiversity for prosperity, October 25-28, Kasaragod, Kerala, India, Pp. 49.

5. Vidhanaarachchi, V.R.M., Fernando, S.C., Perera, P.I.P. and Weerakoon, L.K. (2010). Identification of elite coconut mother palms with in vitro regeneration potential using unfertilized ovary culture, Proceedings on Plantation Crop Research, 30 September -01 October, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Pp. 333.

6. Bandupriya, H.D.D., Fernando, S.C., Verdeli, J-L. and Malaurie, B., (2010). Cryopreservation of encapsulated plumules of coconut: effect of transport/store conditions, AsPac. J. Mol.BiolBiotechnol., 18 (1): Pp. 135-137.

7. Bandupriya, H.D.D. and Dunwell, J.M. (2010). Characterization of AINTEGUMENTA like gene in Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) and its expression during embryogenesis, 12th Proceeding of World Congress of the International Association for Plant Biotechnology, June 6-11, St.Louis, Missouri, USA.

8. Bandupriya, H.D.D. and Dunwell, J.M. (2010). Isolation and characterization of AINTEGUMENTA like gene in coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), International Symposium on the Biology of the Palm Family, May 5-7, Montpellier, France.

2009
1. Perera, P.I.P., Vidhanarachchi, V.R.M., Gunathilake, T.R., Yakandawala, D.M.D., Hocher, V., Verdeil, J-L and Weerakoon, L. K. (2009). Effect of plant growth regulators on ovary culture of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture, 99(1): Pp. 73-81.

2. Perera, P.I.P., Yakandawala, D.M.D., Hocher, V. Verdeil, J-L. and Weerakoon, L.K. (2009). Effect of growth regulators on microspore embryogenesis in coconut anthers, Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture, 96: Pp. 171-180.

2008
1. Bandupriya, H.D.D., Weerakoon, L.K., Ranasinghe, C.S. and Fernando, W.P.K.K. (2008). Changes in soluble sugars, sugar profile, starch and proline in developing coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) inflorescences, CORD, 24(1): Pp. 54-60.

2. Perera, P.I.P., Yakandawala, D.M.D., V Hocher, J-L Verdeil, and Weerakoon, L.K. (2008). Use of SSR markers to determine the anther – derived homozygous lines in coconut, Plant Cell Reports 27: Pp. 1697-1703.

3. Perera, P.I.P., Hocher, V., Verdeil, J-L., Bandupriya, H.D.D., Yakandawala, D.M.D., and Weerakoon, L.K. (2008). Androgenic potential in coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture, 92: Pp 293-302.

4. Perera, P.I.P., Yakandawala, D.M.D., Verdeil, J-L., Hocher, V. Weerakoon, L.K. (2008). Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in unfertilized ovary explants of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), Journal of Tropical Agriculture, 20: Pp. 226-233.

5. Perera, P.I.P., Wickremasinhe, I.P. and Fernando, W.M.U. (2008). Morphological, Cytogenetic and genotypic differences between Spicata and ordinary tall Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, 36(1): Pp. 103-108.

6. Perera, P.I.P., Hocher, V., Verdeil, J-L. Yakandawala, D.M.D., Weerakoon, L.K. (2008). Generation of double haploid coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) plants via anther culture, Pragna (Special issue for Aries Kovoor Memorial symposium, Sri Lanka), 19(1): Pp. 35-39.

7. Fernando, S.C. (2008). Clonal propagation of coconut: Prospects and limitations, In: Nainanayake, N.P.A.D. and Everard, J.M.D.T. (Eds.) Export competitiveness through quality improvement, 2nd Symposium on Plantation Crop Research, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Pp. 322-326.

8. Motha, K.F., Perera, P.I.P. and Attanayake, D.P.S.T.G. (2008). Histological studies on coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) anther culture, In: Proceedings of 8th Agricultural Research Symposium, University of Wayamba, Sri Lanka, Pp. 160-164.

9. Perera, P.I.P., Yakandawala, D.M.D., Hocher, V., Verdeil, J-L. and Weerakoon, L.K. (2008). Effect of genotype and anther orientation on androgenesis induction of coconut, In: Nainanayake, N.P.A.D. and Everard, J.M.D.T. (Eds.) Export competitiveness through quality improvement, 2nd Symposium on Plantation Crop Research, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Pp. 104-110.

10. Samarajeewa, D.A.D.S., Fernando, S.C. and Attanayake, D.P.S.T.G. (2008). Role of arabinogalactan proteins in coconut tissue culture, In: Proceedings of the 8th Agricultural Research Symposium, University of Wayamba, Sri Lanka, Pp. 217-223.

2007
1. Bandupriya, H.D.D., Fernando, S.C., Verdeil, J-L. and Malaurie, B. (2007). Effect of Abscisic acid on survival and recovery of cryopreserved plumule explants of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), COCOS, 18 : Pp. 45-51.

2. Perera, P.I.P., Hocher, V., Verdeil, J-L., Doulbeau, S., Yakandawala, D.M.D., Weerakoon, L.K. (2007). Unfertilized ovary: a novel explant for coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) somatic embryogenesis, Plant Cell Reports, 26(1): Pp. 21-28.

2006
1. Malaurie, B., Bandupriya, H.D.D., Fernando, S.C. and Verdeil, J.L. (2006). Optimisation du procédé de cryoconservation de la plumule de cocotier, Les Actes du BRG, 6: Pp. 449-468.

2. Perera, P.I.P., Hocher, V. Verdeil, J-L., Yakandawala, D.M.D. and Weerakoon, L.K. (2006). Recent advances in anther culture of coconut (Cocos nucifera L), In: Xu, Z., Li, J., Xue, Y., Yang, W. (Eds.). Biotechnology and sustainable agriculture 2006 and beyond. Proceedings of the 11th IAPTC&B Congress August 13-18, 2006, Beijing, China, Pp 451-456.

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