Abstract
Sri Lanka tall (variety Typica, form typica) is the most widely cultivated coconut form in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka tall coconuts display variation in fruit colour ranging from green to divergent brownish red (rathi). The growers' perception is that rathi seedlings are more vigorous and higher yielding than the green phenotype. A study was conducted to evaluate and compare the nut and copra yield and seedling vigour of phenotypic groups of green, rathi and intermediate coloured fruits. Secondary data for nut yield recorded over 21 years and husked nut weight of 30 nuts per palm collected over a year in 30 palms in each of the three phenotypes were used for analysis. Furthermore, primary data for seedling girth, height and leaf number in 30 palms each of rathi and green phenotypes were collected for analysis. The data was subjected to Analysis of variance using MINITAB 16. Nut yield or the husked nut weight of the three phenotypes was not significantly different. Significant differences were observed in seedling collar girth between rathi and green phenotypes, with rathi seedlings appearing more vigorous as indicated by the thicker stem compared to the green seedlings. It is concluded that, there are no differences in the nut and copra yield among different colour forms of Sri Lanka Tall coconuts while the rathi seedlings appear superior due to their thicker seedling girth.
Highlights
Tall coconut variety Typica is the most commonly grown commercial coconuts in the world
The Sri Lanka Tall (SLT) coconut form constitutes the mainstay of coconut cultivation in Sri Lanka occupying the majority of coconut stands in the country (Liyanage et al 1988)
The data gathered from ninety adult palms comprising thirty palms each of green, rathi and intermediate fruit colour based coconut phenotypes (Fig 1) planted at field o. 04 of the Isolated Coconut Seed Garden at Ambakelle were used for this study
Summary
Tall coconut variety Typica is the most commonly grown commercial coconuts in the world. The first coconut classification in Sri Lanka (Liyanage, 1958) includes eight morphologically distinct tall coconut forms; namely Sri Lanka Tall (Typica), Ran thembili, Gon thembili, Porapol, Bodiri, Kamandala, Navasi and Dikiri. The Sri Lanka Tall (SLT) coconut form constitutes the mainstay of coconut cultivation in Sri Lanka occupying the majority of coconut stands in the country (Liyanage et al 1988). SLT coconuts are hardy and widely adapted and are cultivated in all the coconut growing regions in the country.
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