Journal of Applied Horticulture. 2002: 4(1): 14-16

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.