Browsing by Author "Chandran, K.P."

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    5-Azacytidine promotes the induction of embryogenic calli and somatic embryos from transverse thin cell layer (tTCL) cultures in coconut
    (2024) Keezhath Thazha Kuniyil Amritha; Muralikrishna, K.S.; Jasmin Habeeb; Chandran, K.P.; Paulraj, S.; Rajesh, M.K
    Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is highly recalcitrant to in vitro interventions. There is a need to overcome various bottlenecks to standardize a repeatable protocol for in vitro regeneration in coconut to meet the requirements of quality planting materials. Epigenetic processes, especially DNA methylation, are known to assay crucial roles in regulating genes controlling plant growth and development, especially somatic embryogenesis. In this study, we demonstrate that the supplementation of 5-azacytidine (5-azaC), a demethylating agent, in the coconut tissue culture media can enhance the formation of embryogenic calli, somatic embryos, and plantlet regeneration from transverse thin sections of mature zygotic embryos. Transverse thin cell layer (tTCL) sections of zygotic embryos were cultured onto Y3 medium supplemented with different concentrations of 5-azaC (0, 10, 15, and 20 μM), auxins (2,4-D, picloram and atrazine; 75 and 100 μM) and thidiazuron (TDZ;4.5 μM). Explants were exposed to constant 5-azaC and reduced auxin concentration in subsequent sub-culturing. Our results indicated supplementing 15 μM 5-azaC, in combination with picloram (75 μM) and TDZ (4.54 μM), improved the percentage of callusing (95.8%) and formation of embryogenic calli (87.5%), and formation of somatic embryos (4.7) and plantlets (4.0) per explant in comparison with control having 80.8%, 75.0%, 1.6 and 0.67, respectively from tTCL sections of mature zygotic embryos. The results will form the basis for designing more efficient coconut tissue culture protocols.
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    Analysis of Farmer Producer Organisations in the coconut sector: current scenario, limitations, and policy outlook
    (2024) Jayasekhar, S.; Thamban, C.; Chandran, K.P.; Lijo Thomas; Regi Jacob Thomas
    Farmer producer organisation is a crucial institutional innovation that aids small holders in overcoming the issues of diseconomies of scale. Nonetheless, prior experience in the coconut sector reveals that the success rates of such organisations are not as high as projected. This article begins by exploring the relevance of FPOs in the current agrarian context and gives a brief account of the evolution of such organisations in the coconut sector. The study also highlights the points for intervention and provides a critical analysis of the significance and justification for FPOs in the sector. It also includes the challenges and actionable strategies in a ready reckoner mode. The primary motivation for the formation of producer organisations in the coconut sector is to organise unorganized coconut farmers through collectives in order to promote their socioeconomic growth. The success of an FPO is heavily dependent on having a solid business plan, and scope for scalability. Inadequate working capital, including grants and credit, is a major limitation for the majority of FPOs. In this setting, it is critical to obtain bank loans at low interest rates. The development of a well recognised and valued brand is critical for the FPO's viability. Lack of professional leadership has a negative impact on FPOs in the coconut sector, and many have gone out of business as a result. To assist them, target based capacity-building programme to inculcate leadership attributes among FPO representatives should be conducted on a regular basis. Only a few FPOs in the coconut industry have looked into the prospect of gaining premium pricing through certification techniques and product traceability. This is due to a lack of both capacity and awareness. This problem must be addressed with ultimate priority. The FPOs must be trained to be self-sufficient and weaned off external assistance in a short period of time after the initiation. Therefore, FPOs should focus on increasing productivity per unit of land and shifting their current production focus to market-oriented output.
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    Analysis of organic farming practices in cocoa in India
    (2015) Jaganathan, D.; Thamban, C.; Jose, C.T.; Jayasekhar, S.; Muralidharan, K; Chandran, K.P.
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    Analyzing the trade competitiveness of Indian coconut sector in the liberalization regime
    (2016) Jayasekhar, S.; Chandran, K.P.; Thamban, C.; Jaganathan, D.; Muralidharan, K.
    Coconut export sector in India of late gained an outward orientation, especially since the Coconut Development Board was elevated to the status of export promotion council in the year 2009. In the recent period, the growth rate experienced in the coconut based value added products has been stupendous. Since there is an attempt for global value chain up-gradation at the production node of the sector, it is imperative to analyse our strengths in the world market in comparison with the major competitors. We have used the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) methodology to analyse India’s competitiveness in the exports of major coconut value added products traded across the world. The study revealed that, as far as the coconut value added products are concerned, India is comparatively a very small player with paltry export market shares. The analysis of RCA revealed that comparative advantage of India is lower than the major coconut exporting countries like Philippines, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. The Philippines is the dominant player with highest RCA indices in most of the coconut value added product lines. The study suggests the need to formulate plausible strategies to reach the overseas market and capture the optimal share in market segments. Though we have a strong domestic market base, it is an indubitable fact that in the near future due to the evolving trade agreements even in the domestic sector we may confront fierce price competition from the overseas imports. Hence, we need to chalk out modalities and execution plans to elevate our export competitiveness and comparative advantage.
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    Assimilating socio-economic perspective in designing crop sector technology interventions: A farmer participatory study on coconut sector in Kerala
    (2019-12) Thamban, C.; Lijo Thomas; Chandran, K.P.; Jayasekhar, S.; Rajesh, M.K; Jesmi Vijayan; Srinivasan, V.; Nair, K.M.; Anil Kumar, K. S.
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    Chromosome scale genome assembly and annotation of coconut cultivar Chowghat Green Dwarf
    (2024) Rajesh, M.K.; Roli Budhwar; Rohit Shukla; Praveen Kumar Oraon; Shailendra Goel; Bobby Paul; Dr. Regi Jacob Thomas; Akshay Dinesh; Jayasekhar, S.; Chandran, K.P.; Muralikrishna, K.S; B. J. Nirmal Kumar; Alpana Das
    The high-quality genome of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is a crucial resource for enhancing agronomic traits and studying genome evolution within the Arecaceae family. We sequenced the Chowghat Green Dwarf cultivar, which is resistant to the root (wilt) disease, utilizing Illumina, PacBio, ONT, and Hi-C technologies to produce a chromosome-level genome of ~ 2.68 Gb with a scaffold N50 of 174 Mb; approximately 97% of the genome could be anchored to 16 pseudo-molecules (2.62 Gb). In total, 34,483 protein-coding genes were annotated; the BUSCO completeness score was 96.80%, while the k-mer completeness was ~ 87%. The assembled genome includes 2.19 Gb (81.64%) of repetitive sequences, with long terminal repeats (LTRs) constituting the most abundant class at 53.76%. Additionally, our analysis confirms two whole-genome duplication (WGD) events in the C. nucifera lineage. A genome-wide analysis of LTR insertion time revealed ancient divergence and proliferation of copia and gypsy elements. In addition, 1368 RGAs were discovered in the CGD genome. We also developed a web server ‘Kalpa Genome Resource’ (http://210.89.54.198:3000/), to manage and store a comprehensive array of genomic data, including genome sequences, genetic markers, structural and functional annotations like metabolic pathways, and transcriptomic profiles. The web server has an embedded genome browser to analyze and visualize the genome, its genomics elements, and transcriptome data. The in-built BLAST server allows sequence homology searches against genome, annotated transcriptome & proteome sequences. The genomic dataset and the database will support comparative genome analysis and can expedite genome-driven breeding and enhancement efforts for tapping genetic gains in coconut.
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    Coconut based farming system for higher income : Sucess story of a 'Kerakesari'
    (2014-07) Thamban, C.; Chandran, K.P.; Jayasekhar, S.
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    Coconut blues: Tracing the reasons for looming crisis
    (2012-11) Jayasekhar, S.; Chandran, K.P.; Muralidharan, K.; Thamban, C.
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    Coconut production in Kerala - trends, challenges and opportunities
    (2016) Thamban, C.; Jayasekhar, S.; Chandran, K.P.; Jaganathan, D.
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    Coconut sector in India experiencing a new regime of trade and policy environment:: A critical analysis
    (2019) Jayasekara, S; Chandran, K.P.; Thamban, C.; Muralidharan, K
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    Coconut-growing soils of Kerala: 2. Assessment of fertility and soil related constraints to coconut production
    (2018) Nair, K.M; Abdul Haris, A.; Jeena Mathew; Srinivasan, V.; Dinesh, R.; Hamza, H.; Subramanian, P.; Thamban, C.; Chandran, K.P.; Krishnakumar, V.; Ravi Bhat; Hegde, R.; Singh, S.K.
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    Controlled delivery of essential oils for the management of rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros L. ) in coconut
    (2019) Ravindran, P; Kesavan Subaharan; Chandran, K.P.; Vibina, V.; Subrahmaniyan, T.M.; Sonu, K.P.
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    Crop weather relationship in arecanut
    (2019-12) Jose, C.T.; Chandran, K.P.; Muralidharan, K; Jayasekhar, S.
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    Differences in in vitro pollen germination and pollen tube growth of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) cultivars in response to high temperature stress
    (2018) Hebbar, K.B; Helan M. Rose; Anusree R. Nair; Kannan, S.; Niral, V.; Arivalagan, M; Alka Gupta; Samsudeen, K; Chandran, K.P.; Chowdappa, P; Vara Prasad, P.V.
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    Electrical Induction as Stress Factor for Callus Growth Enhancement in Plumular Explant of Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.)
    (2022) Neema, M.; G. S. Hareesh; Aparna, V.; Chandran, K.P.; Anitha Karun
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    Enhancing coconut productivity in Kerala: A simple solution to the complex problem
    (2020-08) Nair, K.M; Anil Kumar, K.S.; Thamban, C.; Lalitha, M.; Chandran, K.P.; Jeena Mathew; Abdul Harris; Srinivasan, V.; Maria Dainy; Shoji Joy Edison; Sajnanath, K.; Rajeev, M.S.; Vinod Mathew, S; Ajith Kumar, R; Rajasekharan, P.
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    Evolving tender coconut sector in Kerala: Need for upgradation in the value chain
    (2014-01) Thamban, C.; Jayasekhar, S.; Chandran, K.P.; Muralidharan, K.