King Coconut (KC) is an indigenous and highly valuable germplasm resource in Sri Lanka. Yet, KC populations' genetic diversity, relationships, and conservation strategies are not fully understood. Indigenous old KC populations have been dispersed across a few ancient villages in Sri Lanka. Five geographically dispersed locations were selected in Sri Lanka, and 20 KC individuals from each location were collected for the current study. Six randomly selected samples from every geographical location, together with the standard two Sri Lanka Red Dwarf and two Sri Lanka Tall varieties were initially genotyped using 21 SSR markers for polymorphism. Based on the results, ten polymorphic SSR markers were selected and used for genotyping. Power Marker, STRUCTURE, and GenAlex software were used for the SSR genetic analysis. Results revealed 0.62 mean Gene Diversity (Hs), 4.2 mean allele number, and 0.55 polymorphic information content (PIC). Clear differentiation of populations was observed with the STRUCTURE and UPGMA dendrogram. Single branching in the UPGMA dendrogram for Anuradhapura and Marandawila KC populations revealed high genetic uniformity over multi-branched Kadugannawa and Colambageara populations. According to AMOVA, 64% of the genetic variation has been partitioned among populations, indicating moderate population differentiation. Detail analysis, including a higher number of KC populations and systematic molecular analysis using more SSRs/SNPs needed in the future before implementing conservation and utilization strategies.

The present study was conducted at Coconut Research Station, Aliyarnagar Tamil Nadu state of India. The experimental trees comprised of five tall coconut genotypes viz., IC 610370, IC 610371, IC 610372, IC 610374 and IC 610379 West Coast Tall (Check), and the hybrids viz., Chowghat Orange Dwarf x Aliyar 1 (COD x ALR1), Chowghat Orange Dwarf x West Coast Tall (COD x WCT), Aliyar 1 x Malayan Green Dwarf (ALR1 x MGD), Malayan Green Dwarf x Aliyar 1 (MGD x ALR), Kenthali Dwarf x Aliyar 1 (KTD x ALR1) and Veppankulam Hybrid Coconut VHC 2 (Check hybrid - released from Veppankulam Coconut Research Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Tamil Nadu, India). Coconut palms of uniform size were taken from the chosen genotypes and hybrids for recording the observation. All the coconut genotypes and hybrids showed variation in yield, nut characters, and quality traits. The results of the present study revealed that the genotype IC 610370 and the hybrid COD x WCT recorded maximum values for all the recorded traits. This was followed by the genotype IC 610371 and the hybrid COD x ALR1.

This study was conducted for six years to assess the effects of two widely grown cover crops Gliricidia sepium (T1) and Puereria phasioloides (T2) on coconut yields and soil characteristics. Experiments were carried out on coconuts planted in Reddish Brown Latosolic soils located in the low country intermediate zone-IL1 of Sri Lanka. Results showed that treatments 1 and 2 were significantly (p≤0.05) effective over the control treatment (no cover crop) in suppressing weed biomass. Soil samples were collected and analyzed for physical, chemical and biological properties. Results showed that soils where G. sepium and P. phasioloides were grown were superior in most of the properties compared to the control. Soils under P. phasioloides showed significantly higher moisture contents compared to G. sepium and control treatments. Significant increases on soil properties were likewise observed in G. sepium and P. phasioloides plots: nitrogen (by 77% and 76 %), organic carbon content (by 86% and 148%), soil microbial activity (by 52% and 73%), respectively. On the other hand, soil bulk densities were reduced significantly by 20% and 27% under G. sepium and P. phasioloides, respectively. There was no significant increase observed on available P but P content improved with the establishment of cover crops. Significant increases in mean annual nut yields were observed during the 4th, 5th, and 6th years after cover crops establishment. Nut yields were found to increase with G. sepium and P. phasioloides by 46% and 58%, respectively when compared to that of control treatment plots.

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is a superior edible oil extracted from fresh coconut (Cocos nucifera L) kernel using mixed coconut varieties without considering the varietal effect. Therefore, this research focuses on the quality evaluation of VCO extracted from four types of coconut varieties, namely Sri lanka Tall×Tall (TT), a tall variety of Gon Thambili (GT), a tall variety of Ran Thambili (RT) and Philippines tall variety of San Ramon (SR). Mature coconuts from each variety were collected from the Bandirippuwa Estate of the Coconut Research Institute, Sri Lanka to extract VCO by cold press oil extraction method. The extractability of VCO from different varieties was investigated. Moisture, free fatty acid (FFA), fatty acid profile (gas chromatography), peroxide value (PV), color (Lovibond scale), total phenolic substances (Galic acid equivalent), antioxidant capacity (α,α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl, 0.1mM – DPPH method) and sun protection factor (SPF) of VCO extracted from each variety were analyzed. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design with three replicates. Data were analyzed using ANOVA using Tukey’s test by MINITAB 17. Oil extractability (58%-59%), FFA (0.04%-0.12%), color (0.43–0.93) and fatty acid profile of VCO did not show variation among varieties. A higher concentration of total phenolic substances was observed in GT (0.24±0.03mg GAE/100g) while antioxidant capacity (857.19±14.99mg/ml) and SPF (8.99±1.26) was rich in RT.

Coconut testa is an important byproduct of the coconut industry. In this study, particle size distribution, physical and functional properties of flour produced from partially coconut testa of four local cultivars namely san raman, gon thembili, ran thembili, TallxTall were compared with those of commercial hybrid (COM) using relevant procedures. Results showed that particle size distribution, physical and functional properties of flours of different coconut cultivars were varied significantly (p<0.05). The highest bulk density value was observed for SR (0.67 g/ml) while the lowest for TxT (0.54 g/ml) (p<0.05). Maximum swelling capacity (35.00 ml) and oil absorption capacity (142.67%) were recorded for COM while the least swelling capacity (20.67 ml) and oil absorption capacity (85.67%) were recorded for RT (p<0.05). The highest emulsion activity was found for COM (50.00%) while the least value recorded for SR (42.95) (p<0.05). The maximum emulsion stability was displayed by COM (54.86%) while the least emulsion stability was recorded for GT (27.51%) (p<0.05). The observed physical properties suggested that coconut testa flour of COM variety has certain advantages over others. It could be used for partial replacement with wheat flour for value addition leading to non-cereal based products.

Weligama Coconut Leaf Wilt Disease (WCLWD) is a non-lethal, but debilitating phytoplasma disease found in coconut palms in Sri Lanka which is confined to the Southern Province of the country, well-away from the major coconut growing area. If it spreads to the major coconut growing area, it might severely damage the coconut industry in Sri Lanka. Government commenced a disease control program to eradicate the disease and, more importantly to prevent spreading of the disease to major coconut growing areas. The major constraint in this program is the lack of an accurate and reliable method for identifying affected palms. Visual symptoms are used to identify the affected palms for removal, yet growers are not always convinced of the method of resisting palm removal. This poses a serious threat to the implementation of the disease control program. Although a Nested-PCR-based disease diagnosis was established earlier, the detection rate and reliability need further improvements. Therefore, an urgent necessity for a more reliable disease detection method has arisen. In the current study, a Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) powered by a pair of primers and a probe designed from the published partial sequences of the WCLWD phytoplasma was validated with 202 coconut samples and a detection rate of above 95% was achieved. This newly established detection system was highly reliable and a way forward for controlling the WCLWD disease in Sri Lanka.

The global supply and demand of coconuts and coconut-based products have been increased tremendously over the past decades; hence, the industry has become one of the significant contributors to the economies of producer countries. However, similar to the other agricultural industries, coconut has confronted by fluctuation in prices and accords the importance of reliable price modelling and forecasting techniques to ease the burden on the value chain actors. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to review the main approaches used in modelling and forecasting coconut prices, with an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. The modelling techniques used in coconut price forecasting were mainly time series models dominated by univariate time series models. This type of models excessively confines the analysis to a single variable, despite the many interactions affected in a system of coconut pricing. The major drawback in existing price modelling studies is the absence of interacting factors such as prices, production, climatic variables and their interactions as a system. Therefore, it is important to extend the existing studies of coconut price modelling and forecasting with a system’s approach by including other influencing variables to generate more realistic forecast values, allowing the industry to adopt its changing circumstances.
 Keywords: Coconut, modelling, price forecasting, time series models, system’s approach