Floral biology and breeding of coconut
- 2. FLORAL BIOLOGY AND BREEDING OF COCONUT PRESENTED BY M SARMAD ANWAAR 16-ARID-3159
- 3. TAXONOMIC CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Palm Class: Liliopsida Subclass: Arecidae Order : Arecales Family: Arecaceae Genus: Cocos L. Specimen: Cocos nucifera L
- 4. 0RIGN AND DISTRIBUTION The origin of coconut is a matter of controversy. There are several views on the place of origin and evidences are also shown to prove the various versions on the origin. Most of the authorities claim it to be a native to south Asia. Recently Gunn (2011) proposed two geographical origins 1. Island South east Asia 2. southern margins of the Indian subcontinent
- 5. It belong to the lower group of flowering plants called Monocotyledons. The coconut is a large palm, growing to 30 m tall, with pinnate leaves 4-6 m long, pinnae 60-90 cm long; old leaves break away cleanly leaving the trunk smooth. IT is also called “ Tree of heaven ” OR “Tree of life” , is considered as nature’s valuable gift to the mankind due to its innumerable uses to millions of people. The coconut palm is grown throughout the tropical world for decoration as well as for its many culinary and non-culinary uses.
- 6. The trait such as high content of husk and low proportion of shell, kernel and nut water made the whole nut light, highly water resistant and enabled its dispersal to different continents and countries through marine currents. Though it is a sea-side plant, it is grows in interior areas also, far away from the sea.
- 7. The main coconut growing areas are located in Asia, Oceania, West Indies, Central and South America and West and East Africa. In India ,The coconut palm is grown in an area of around 1.935 million hectare
- 8. FLORAL BIOLOGY AND POLLINATION Coconut is monoecious plant with numerous male and female flowers on each spadix which borne in the axil of each leaf of a bearing palm. Flowering start at 6-12 years of age. Inflorescence length is about 1-2 m with central axis and about 40 laterals branches called spikelets. Each spikelets bear 200-300 male flowers at the top and 1 or 2 female flowers at the base.
- 9. There are six stamens in male flower, female flowers are 2-3 cm in diameter having a large ovary with three locules and a stigma with three nectary glands In tall variety female flowers do not become receptive until all male flowers in same spadix have shed their pollens. In dwarf and hybrid varieties interval between two phases i.e. pollen dehiscence and stigma receptivity are less thereby increasing the chances of self pollination.
- 10. Maturation of inflorescence is a progressive process, pollen discharge and anthesis is continued for about 18-20 days. Pollination in coconut is carried out by wind and insects. The fruit consist of exocarp ( outer skin), mesocarp (fibrous layer) and endocarp which is ovoid shell along with 3 ridge and seed (one) situated at calyx with a thin brown testa attached to the edible endosperm
- 11. BREEDING METHODS INTRODUCTION SELECTION HYBRIDIZATION Coconut breeding was started for the first time in the world in 1916 .
- 12. INTRODUCTION Plant introduction is a process of introducing plants (a genotype or a group of genotypes) from their own environment to a new environment. Theprocess of introduction may involve new varieties of crop or the wild relatives of crop species
- 13. SELECTION Mass selection can be used as effective methods in improvement of coconut. In this method superior mother palms are selected. breeder and heritability of traits under consideration
- 14. SELECTION OF MOTHER PALM Coconut palm are being selected on the basis of following characters. a) Yield • It should be regular bearer. • Annual yield should not be less than 80 per palm. • Copra content should be about 150g per nut. b) Age of the plant •It is advisable to select palm which have reached full bearing stage and giving higher yield for conservatively four years. •Selection of very old tree should be avoided. •Seed nut should be collected from established seed garden
- 15. NATURE AND DISPOSTION OF LEAVES A mother palm should have at least 30 fully opened leaves on the crown. The leaves should have short and strong petiole with wide leaf base firmly attached to the stem. Tree having a drooping or upright position of leaves are generally avoided due to their poor yielding capacity.
- 16. Cont……… Female flower distribution per spike determines the yield potential of tree. Generally every leaf axil should be one inflorescence with several spike. There should be 12 bunches on the crown.
- 17. SIZE AND SHAPE OF NUT Size is variable factor and which varies from variety to variety . Generally, these shapes are common in coconut i.e. oblong, round and elliptical. Vigour of seedlings depend upon the size of the husked nut, thickness of kernel and size of embryo present in kernel. Palm producing barren nuts, irregular bearing should be avoided for selection as mother palm.
- 18. HYBRIDIZATION Hybridization is the process of interbreeding between individuals of different species (interspecific hybridization) or genetically divergent individuals from the same species (intraspecific hybridization). Offspring produced by hybridization may be fertile, partially fertile, or sterile. The following cross combination have been attempted in coconut: Dwarf × Dwarf Tall × Dwarf Dwarf × Tall Tall × Tall