Coconut is so important, not only economically but also socially, that it was described as ‘one of Nature's greatest gifts to man’ by Burkill (1966). Despite the inherent constraints to the breeding of palm species, important progress in coconut improvement has been obtained using standard breeding techniques. A continuous effort to search for new genetic material within Sri Lanka and to conserve valuable material threatened with erosion is in progress. Somatic embryogenesis, which is the only method of vegetative propagation, has been achieved on a limited scale but consistent plant regeneration is yet to be accomplished. Zygotic embryo rescue has been exploited to propagate an indigenous ‘Makapuno ’ type coconut. Development of DNA markers in order to exploit the existing variability in coconut germplasm to its maximum potential is being explored.
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