Inflorescence and nut characters of some coconut cultivars
and hybrids grown in West Bengal.
Manna, S. , Mathew, B. , Hasan, M. A. , Chattopadhyay, P. K.
Faculty of Horticulture, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya,
Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal - 741 252, India.
The performance of 15-year-old palms of 7 cultivars (Local Tall,
Laccadive Micro, West Coast Tall, Straight Settlement Green,
Philippines Ordinary, Andaman Ordinary and Laccadive Ordinary) and 3
hybrids (Malayan Dwarf Yellow x West Coast Tall, Malayan Dwarf Orange x
West Coast Tall, and West Coast Tall x Malayan Dwarf Orange) of coconut
grown in West Bengal, India was evaluated. Malayan Dwarf Orange x West
Coast Tall, West Coast Tall x Malayan Dwarf Orange, and West Coast Tall
recorded high annual nut yields. Malayan Dwarf Orange x West Coast Tall
had the highest number of spadix per plant (9.2), number of female
flowers per spadix (102.0), and annual nut yield (161.9 nuts per
plant). Principal component analysis revealed 3 sets of characters
influencing yield: number of spikelets with female flowers, number of
spikelets per spadix, and number of nuts per spadix (for which Local
Tall was superior); number of female flowers per spadix and number of
female flowers per spikelet (Malayan Dwarf Orange x West Coast
Tall); and number of spadix per plant on an annual basis and number of
nuts per spadix (Malayan Dwarf Yellow x West Coast Tall and West Coast
Tall x Malayan Dwarf Orange). Local Tall produced the largest nut with
highest water content (413.33 ml). Kernel weight (306.7 g) and
thickness (1.76 cm), and husk thickness (2.86 cm) were greatest in
Philippines Ordinary. Based on overall performance, Philippines
Ordinary and Malayan Dwarf Orange x West Coast Tall were the most
productive. Philippines Ordinary, Malayan Dwarf Yellow x West Coast
Tall, and Malayan Dwarf Orange x West Coast Tall exhibited good
potential for husk production. |
