Exploring reproductive traits of indigenous coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) accessions: Implications for crop improvement
Diwakar Y, Vishnuvardhana, Niral V, Venkatesh J, Halesh GK, Ramesh SV, Maruthi Prasad BN and Harish BS
Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is an economically significant crop in tropical and subtropical regions, and understanding the variability in its reproductive traits is essential for enhancing breeding programs aimed at improving productivity and adaptation. This study characterized 31 indigenous coconut accessions conserved in National Coconut Gene Bank of ICAR-CPCRI Research Centre, Kidu that hosts ICG, SA&ME in Karnataka, India, to assess key reproductive traits. The study revealed significant diversity in several traits, including inflorescence length, which ranged from 96.33 cm in Horned Coconut Tall to 148.50 cm in Kodiaghat Brown Tall. Similarly, the number of male flowers per inflorescence varied from 4,460 in Ponnani Yellow Tall to 9,085 in Indian West Coast Tall, while pollen output ranged from 3.30 g in Ponnani Yellow Tallto 14.02 g in Dugong Creek Tall. Number of female flowers per inflorescence ranged from 12.92 in Kutiadi Tall to 57.87 in Champin Micro Tall. Correlation analysis identified several significant associations among the reproductive traits in the studied population. Inflorescence length was positively correlated with the length of spikelet bearing portion (r = 0.841**) and the length of stalk (r = 0.821**), suggesting that larger inflorescences are associated with longer spikelet-bearing portions and stalks. Notably, number of female flowers per inflorescence was negatively correlated with length of spikelet (r = -0.444*). Moreover, a significant positive correlation was observed between male flower production and pollen output (r = 0.694**), indicating that genotypes with higher male flower production tend to produce more pollen. These findings underscore considerable variability in reproductive traits across the evaluated accessions, highlighting the potential for selecting superior coconut genotypes that exhibit larger inflorescences, enhanced pollen production, and optimal flower production. Such traits are valuable for improving breeding strategies focused on increasing coconut yield, quality, and adaptability to varying environmental conditions.
