Anitha Karun, K.P. Gangaraj

V. Aparna, Krishna Prakash, K. Devakumar, M. Neema

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197*Corresponding Author: k_devakumar@yahoo.comThe extraction of coconut embryos is essentialfor embryo culture, which is an invaluable tool forinternational germplasm exchange (Engelmannet al., 2011), cryopreservation (Sajini et al., 2011)and rescue of non-germinating recessive mutantssuch as Makapuno (Rillo, 1999). The fieldcollection of coconut embryos from exotic placesrequires fast and efficient embryo extraction methodin a short available time. Further, the plumuleculture technique that can be used for fastmultiplication of elite coconut hybrids also requiresthe extraction of large numbers of coconut embryos.The commonly used tool for embryo extractionconsists of a hollow metal tube with serratedmargins at one end. The serrated end of the stainlesssteel tube is positioned around the embryo whichis visible as a minor depression on the surface ofthe kernel and is pressed hard and turned to extracta cylinder of kernel. The cylinder of kernel is thenwashed/surface sterilized with sterilants and splitopen with a knife to extract the coconut embryolocated inside the kernel. The stainless steel metallictube currently used for embryo extraction causereddening and injuries to palms as there is nospecific protection mechanism. The grip is also verypoor and often requires exertion of more pressureand hence not user friendly. Moreover, the extractedkernel often gets struck up inside the kernel andefforts are required to manually pull out the cylindereither through fingers or hooked forceps. Hence, anefficient tool was designed to overcome the abovementioned problems encountered by using thecommonly used coconut embryo extraction device.The improved coconut embryo extractorconsists of a hollow metallic stainless tube of25 mm in diameter; 150 mm in length and 1 mmin thickness with serrated margins of 10 mm deepat one end (Fig. 1A) and is similar to the currentlyused device. The teeth of the serration are cut withtapering cut in clockwise wise direction to providea sharp edge to slice through the kernel whileturning the extractor. The following threemodifications were made in the currently useddevice that improves the embryo extraction device.Firstly, the top end of the extractor is fitted with asmooth and curved stainless dome (Part 3 inFig. 1A) that protects the extracting person’s palmfrom injuries and pain. Secondly, a 5 mm diameterstainless steel tube is fitted by drilling hole insidethe tube and welded for better grip and handling(Part 4 in Fig. 1A). Thirdly an ejector mechanismis fitted inside the extractor and screwed fromoutside the tube (Parts 5 to 10 in Fig. 1A). Theejector consists of a shaft (Part 5 in Fig. 1A), theouter end of which is fitted with a curved roundknob made of aluminium (Part 6 in Fig. 1A) of thesize of the inner diameter of the tube. A spring isfitted between the knob and the trigger holder (Part8 in Fig. 1A). An L-shaped slit was provided onthe stainless steel tube of the extractor (Part 10 inFig. 1A). The other end of the shaft is fitted with atrigger that can slide through the vertical L-shapedcut on the extractor (Part 9 in Fig. 1A) and thetrigger gets struck or can be locked on thehorizontal slit on the L-shaped cut. The trigger slitis positioned in such a way that the trigger can bedoi:10.19071/jpc.2017.v45.i3.3344Journal of Plantation Crops, 2017, 45(3):197-199Methodology ArticleAn improved device for coconut embryo extractionK. Devakumar*, M. Neema, V. Aparna, Krishna Prakash, K.P. Gangaraj andAnitha KarunICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod-671 124, Kerala, India(Manuscript Received: 18-08-17, Revised: 01-11-17, Accepted: 17-11-17)Keywords: Coconut, embryo culture, embryo extractor, plumule culture198operated easily by index finger while holding theextractor.The coconut from which the embryo is to beextracted is first dehusked and the raw nut is splitinto two halves. The extractor is held in the righthand and the trigger is pulled back by index fingerand locked in the slit (Fig. 1B and 1C). The one-half containing the coconut embryo (identified bythree eyes like depression on the outer shell) isheld on the left palm and the extractor held in theright palm is bored inside the region of the kernelwhere the embryo resides. The tapering edges ofthe serrated teeth slices through the kernel and akernel cylinder piece detaches and remains insidethe cylindrical tube. The cylinder is ejected byreleasing the trigger by the index finger (Fig. 1D).The process is repeated for each coconut until therequired number of kernel cylinders containing theFig. 1 A. Parts and detailed mechanism of the improved coconut embryo extractor (1) stainless steeltube (2) serrated edges (3) smooth stainless steel dome (4) hand grip (5) shaft (6) aluminiumknob (7) ejector holder (8) spring (9) trigger (10) trigger movement slit. B. Coconut embryoextraction in process. C. Extractor (before embryo extraction). D. Extractor ejecting the coconutcylinder after release of the triggerDevakumar et al.199embryos is extracted. The embryos can then beextracted from the kernel cylinders by making anincision and splitting open to take out the embryofrom inside.The improved coconut embryo extractorweighs slightly heavier at 140 g as compared tothe earlier model which has a weight of 95 g; butthe new device is easy to handle. It provides a firmgrip for twisting the device and churns out a neatone inch diameter kernel cylinder with embryoinside. The efficiency of embryo extraction canbe increased due to increased palm protection andtherefore relief from excruciating pain by thesmooth dome provided in the modified tool andby saving time due to ease in removing the kernelcylinder from the tube. There is no necessity touse hand or forceps to remove the stuck-up kernelcylinder that will improves the overall hygiene andreduced microbial contamination. Ashburner et al.(1999) reported that, during germplasm collectionfrom remote locations, higher contamination ratewas observed and it affects the viability of theembryos. This simple extractor can reducecontamination due to its hands-free design tohandle the coconut cylinders. The kernel scrapingsclinging on to the sides of the inner region of theextractor is removed by the aluminium knob whilepushing the kernel cylinder, keeping the extractorfree from accumulating debris. This device willbe useful for rapid collection of coconut zygoticembryos from field.Embryo extraction is a prerequisite for embryoculture and plumule culture experiments incoconut. The current tools for embryo extractionsuffer from deficiencies that affect the efficiencyof embryo extraction. The improved device workslike a metallic protective dome fitting forprotecting extracting person’s palm, has a handlefor better grip and an ejector mechanism forexpelling out the coconut cylinder and kernel wastescraps from the extraction tube. This new deviceimproves the efficiency of embryo extraction andit would be a valuable tool for coconut embryorelated experiments.AcknowledgementWe greatly acknowledge the Director ICAR-CPCRI for providing facilities to carry out thiswork. The support from Technology section atICAR-CPCRI Kasaragod is also dulyacknowledged.ReferencesAshburner, G.R., Faure, M.G., Tomlinson, D.R. andThompson, W.K. 1996. Collection of coconut (Cocosnucifera) embryos from remote locations. Seed Scienceand Technology 24(1): 159-169.Engelmann, F., Malaurie, B. and N’Nan, O. 2011. In vitroculture of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) zygotic embryos.Methods in Molecular Biology 710:  63-72.Rillo, E.P. 1999. Coconut embryo culture. In: CurrentAdvances in Coconut Biotechnology. Current PlantScience and Biotechnology in Agriculture Vol. 35.(Eds.) Oropeza, C., Verdeil, J.L., Ashburner, G.R.,Cardeña, R. and Santamaría, J.M. pp. 279-288.Sajini, K.K., Karun, A., Amamath, C.H. and Engelmann, F.2011. Cryopreservation of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.)zygotic embryos by vitrification. Cryo Letters 32(4):317-28.Device for coconut embryo extraction

An improved device for coconut embryo extraction

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An improved device for coconut embryo extraction

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