Mean Performance of the National and International Coconut Accessions for the Yield Attributing and Nut Quality Traits

Abstract

The mean performance study was carried out in coconut for the growth, yield and nut quality traits of exotic and indigenous coconut accessions which is maintained at ICAR, CPCRI, RC, Kidu. Wide variations on the growth parameters observed in the within the studied accessions. Among the twenty eight accessions, maximum vegetative characters viz., trunk girth at 1.5m height of stem in Bari Narikel-II (102.7 cm), number of functional leaves in Sambava Green Tall (36.1), length of petiole (172.0 cm) and length of leaflet bearing portion (464.5 cm) in Comoros Red Tall and number of paired leaflet in King Kumbra Tall (123.2) were recorded. The total bunches on the crown was recorded high in Bari Narikel II (17.6), number of bunches on crown with below fist size fruits (4.0) was high in the Comoros Tall Uzirpur Tall, Bari Narikel II and Sri Lankan Yellow Dwarf II and above fist size was high in Bari Narikel II (13.6). The mean number of fruits below fist size was recorded more in Chinashukania Tall (321.9) and above fist size fruits recorded high in Sambava Green Tall (131.5). The maximum nut characters viz., whole fruit weight (1734.7 gm), per cent of husk to whole nut weight (47.4 %) and fresh endosperm (449 gm) were observed in Guelle Rose Tall and Volume of endosperm cavity was in Sri Lankan Red Dwarf II (339.4 ml). From the study of mean performance of the accessions, it is difficult to postulate a single accessions with all the desirable traits combined together. However, based on growth and various yield attributing traits, the tall accessions Bari Narikel-II, Chandan Nagar Tall, Panama Tall, West Coast Tall, Rupdia Tall and Kayemkola Tall can be grouped as promising for the productivity traits. Hence, this accession can be included in to the further breeding programme to develop the new high yielding variety.