With the support of the joint research project on agricultural resources in the “One Belt, One Road” tropical countries of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Dr. Vijitha, expert on coconut tissue culture from Sri Lanka Coconut Research Institute (CRISL) and her colleague Dr. Kasun, coconut breeding expert arrived on June 2-6 ,2019, under the invitation of the Coconut Research Institute, CATAS. Our academic exchanges have strengthened the construction of the China-Sri Lanka Coconut Joint Laboratory Platform. The two experts and the relevant researchers of the CRI-CATAS conducted academic exchanges on coconut breeding and tissue culture, and discussed the sicentists' exchange between the CRI, CATAS and CRISL.
Dr. Vijitha gave a detailed introduction to Sri Lanka's achievements in coconut tissue culture with the theme of "Recent Advance in Coconut Tissue Culture in Sri Lanka". And material selection, treatment methods and medium preparation were also discussed in detail between young scientists from Asian and African, researchers from CRI, CATAS and experts. Dr. Kasun introduced the current conservation and utilization of coconut germplasm resources in Sri Lanka and the key points of molecular marker screening. He also expressed his hope to cooperate with coconut plants on the differences in protein and genetic analysis between coconut germplasm resources.
During the visit, Dr. Vijitha and Dr. Kasun and our researchers jointly carried out coconut field sampling survey, laboratory pretreatment and aseptic vaccination. When finishing experiments, two sides exchanged and discussed key technologies of coconut tissue culture, and reached consensus on technical improvement. The two experts exchanged ideas on key technologies in coconut tissue culture, collection and preservation of germplasm resources, and utilization of molecular biotechnology in Sri Lanka, and proposed a new perspective to our research.
The joint projects will further promote the academic exchange and cooperation between the two institutes.
Coconut field sampling survey
Dr. Kasun presented the report
