Coconut palms are classified into two major types, viz. ‘talls’ and ‘dwarfs’, based on plant stature. The
selection of coconut seedlings in the nursery, presently relying solely on morphological markers, often
results in selection of out-crossed seedlings. Hence, identification of molecular markers for distinguishing
tall/dwarf character at an early stage of growth assumes importance. In the present investigation, a RAPD
marker for tall-type palm trait was identified using a pooled DNA approach. Screening of tall and dwarf
palm bulked DNA with 200 decamer primers revealed a primer OPA09, producing a unique band of around
260 bp exclusively in tall accessions. The primer was used for screening and validation in individual tall
and dwarf coconut accessions representing different geographic regions. The band was present in all the
tall accessions, but absent in the dwarfs. Furthermore, sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR)
primers were designed from the unique RAPD amplicon. The primers produced a specific 260-bp amplicon
in tall accessions, but not in dwarf accessions. The SCAR marker was utilized in assessing the purity of
hybrid seedlings of D
×
T (Dwarf
×
Tall) cross. The results pave the way for ensuring genuineness/quality
of hybrid seedlings of coconut.