Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is a valuable perennial crop with potential applications in food, feed, and nutraceutical industries. Compared to soil-based cultivation, hydroponic systems offer shorter growing cycles and reduced water waste. This study aimed to analyze the growth of coconut seedlings in hydroponic cultivation systems using Hoagland nutrient solution and water over 1 to 7 months post-germination. Morpho-physiological observations revealed significant differences in total and shoot height, chlorophyll index, stomatal resistance, transpiration rate, and chlorophyll fluorescence traits in seedlings grown in Hoagland nutrient solution compared to those grown in water. Additionally, the leaf area index of seedlings in Hoagland nutrient solution showed a marked increase at 7 and 8 months post-germination, suggesting periodicity in coconut growth and warranting further investigation. Differences in root and shoot nutrient uptake efficiencies were also discussed. This study paves the way for designing effective hydroponic systems for examiningphenology and nutrient dynamics in coconut seedlings.

Coconut, an important commercial plantation crop of India, is extensively grown from the state of Gujarat in the West Coast to West Bengal in the East Coast along the coastal lines of Peninsular India and is spreading inland over the non-traditional areas. The increased demand for fresh consumption and tender coconuts led the breeders towards development of dwarf hybrids for the benefit of the farming community. With this objective an experiment was initiated during 2011 to study the feasibility of growing D x D hybrids. The dwarf hybrids exhibited trunk height of i.e.3.8 to 5.5m height at 13 years of age. The tender fruit weight ranged between 741.43g (DDCH 3) to 1180.33g (DDCH 4). In DDCH 4, the yield of endosperm (57 liters) was also significantly higher than the check (22.65 liters) which indicate the prolific yield for beverage purpose. The PCA analysis of reproductive parameters revealed that, the total inflorescence per palm, number of spikelets per palm, number of male and female flowers per inflorescence had positive contribution (PC1). With higher yield and better quality parameters, the hybrid DDCH 4 was first D x D hybrid observed to be suitable for the East Coast region of Tamil Nadu.

There is ample scope for intercropping in arecanut plantations for better utilisation of natural resources like land and sunlight. An experiment was conducted at CPCRI, Research Centre, Mohitnagar, with different crop combinations to establish a model for increased system productivity and better livelihood. Five arecanut-based cropping system models comprising different crop combinations were compared with the monocropping system of arecanut. The total system productivity ranged from 31.5 q/ha (control) to 131.1 q/ha across different models. Model II (arecanut + black pepper + acid lime + turmeric) emerged as the most productive, demonstrating superior total system productivity. This model resulted in notable increase in arecanut challi yield. Particularly noteworthy was the contribution of black pepper, which accounted for over 50% of the total system productivity. It is concluded that the arecanut-based cropping system is more advantageous than the monocropping of arecanut. Arecanut based cropping system has the potential to double the farmers’s income as the total system productivity has increased many folds over control. Among the different models studied, Model II with a crop combination of arecanut, black pepper, acid lime, and turmeric performed better withhigher returns. It is also suggested to the arecanut growers to adopt arecanut-based cropping system for their better livelihood.

Tea cultivation in India faces significant challenges from biotic and abiotic stresses, necessitating advanced research for sustainable production. Due to acute labour shortages, shearing is commonly practiced in southern tea plantations, often leading to severe grey blight and die-back of shoots caused by Pestalotiopsis theae. This study examines the bioefficacy of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) green-synthesized from Cymbopogon citratus against grey blight disease in tea. The green synthesis was achieved by treating aqueous extracts of C. citratus with silver nitrate, confirmed through visual and spectrophotometric analysis. The scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction characterization revealed that the nanoparticles were spherical in shape with an average size of 19 nm. The GC-MS chromatographic spectra of C. citratus extract highlighted the presence of hydrazine, 1-(5-hexenyl)-1-methyl-, citral, and geraniol as notable compounds. The in vitro bioefficacy proved that the synthesized AgNPs at 2.0 mL/L manifested complete inhibition of the grey blight pathogen under the Poisoned food technique. Further field evaluation revealed a significant reduction in disease incidence of 62% in the plots treated with AgNPs at 500 mL/ha, which was on par with the standard schedule of Copper oxychloride at 420 g/ha(68%). Therefore, it is concluded that the application of C. citratus-mediated silver nanoparticles is an effective alternative offering a greener strategy, replacing chemical fungicides.

The C x R coffee hybrid (a cross between Coffea congensis and Coffea canephora) represents a significant development in coffee cultivation in India, addressing challenges like plant size optimization for high-density planting and enhancement of beverage quality. However, maintaining genetic purity in this hybrid is challenging due to genetic segregation caused by cross-pollination with other diploid species or within the hybrid itself. This highlights the need for effective tools like DNA marker-assisted selection (MAS) to improve the genetic stability and performance of this hybrid. In this study, two dominant DNA markers (RAPD and ISSR) were analyzed for their utility in coffee genetic improvement. Out of 24 RAPD primers and 15 ISSR primers tested, only 3 RAPD and 5 ISSR primers were effective in discriminating the parental species.These selective RAPD and ISSR primers produced nine and twenty threepolymorphic bands with size range of 400 bp – 1200 bp for RAPD and 100 bp – 2000 bp for ISSR, respectively. Species specific RAPD and ISSR markers were found in female (Coffeacongensis) and male (Coffeacanephora) parent of the hybrid. Some of these markers were successfully inherited by F1 hybrids and backcross progenies.The suitability of the primers for MASwas evaluated based on the parameters such as Polymorphic information content (PIC), effective multiplex ratio (EMR), marker index (MI) and resolving power (RP). The selected RAPD and ISSR markers enable effective discrimination between the parental species and their hybrids. This is crucial for ensuring the genetic purity of seeds and plants.The ability to use MAS for maintaining seed purity and selecting superior hybrids can significantly enhance the productivity and quality of C x R coffee hybrids, benefiting the coffee industry.The importance of these markers in genetic improvement of this hybrid is discussed.

Soil health is one of the important properties that decide the status of soil fertility. The main objective of the present study was to conduct a comparative analysis of soil health status between arecanutmonocropping and intercropping with cocoa. We analysed and compared the soil pH, bulk density, moisture content, nutrient availability (N, P, K) and microbial diversity of the soil in arecanut+cocoa and arecanutmonocrop system at 0-30 cm and 30-60 cm soil depths. Our investigation revealed that the available macronutrient content reduced with depth in arecanut sole and intercropping with cocoa. At 0-30 cm soil depth, the available nitrogen(N), Phosphorus(P) and potassium(K) in intercropping system was 256 kg/ha,16 kg/ha and 117 kg/ha, respectively, whereas the nutrients were 202 kg/ha, 21 kg/ha and 125 kg/ha in monocropping system. Thesoil organic carbon (SOC) was high in the intercropping system(1.6%.) compared to monocropping (1.0%). Similarly, the HCl extractable micronutrient (Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn) content in the soil was higher in the arecanut intercropping system. The study revealed higher levels of SOC, available P, K, micronutrients, in the arecanut+cocoa system compared to arecanutmonocropping. This suggest that adopting mixed cropping with cocoa can enhance soil fertility.

Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is an economically and nutritionally important tropical crop, particularly renowned for its oil and tender coconut water, a beverage known for its hydrating properties and health benefits. This study investigates the morphological diversity of tender nuts from various coconut accessions collected from coastal and island ecosystems in India. A total of 31 coconut accessions, including the Indian West Coast Tall (WCT) as a reference, were evaluated for tender nut traits. Significant variability was observed, with tender coconut weights ranging from 831.67 g in Andaman Horned Tall to 2940.83 g in Kodiaghat Brown Tall. Quantity of tender coconut watervaried from 85.55 mL in Andaman Horned Tall to 545.58 mL in Kodiaghat Brown Tall followed byDugong Creek Tall (495.83 mL) and Nicobar Tall AuckChung (485.0 mL). The average TSS was 5.0° Brix, with Andaman Horned Tall recording the highest TSS at 5.98° Brix. Accessions such as Kodiaghat Brown Tall and Dugong Creek Tall demonstrated superior traits, suggesting their potential in varietal breeding programs. The study underscores the genetic diversity present in coconut accessions, with implications for improving tender coconut production. The findings highlight the importance of understanding these traits for developing varieties that meet consumer and market demands, ultimately contributing to the sustainability of coconut.

Farmer producer organisation is a crucial institutional innovation that aids small holders in overcoming the issues of diseconomies of scale. Nonetheless, prior experience in the coconut sector reveals that the success rates of such organisations are not as high as projected. This article begins by exploring the relevance of FPOs in the current agrarian context and gives a brief account of the evolution of such organisations in the coconut sector. The study also highlights the points for intervention and provides a critical analysis of the significance and justification for FPOs in the sector. It also includes the challenges and actionable strategies in a ready reckoner mode. The primary motivation for the formation of producer organisations in the coconut sector is to organise unorganized coconut farmers through collectives in order to promote their socioeconomic growth. The success of an FPO is heavily dependent on having a solid business plan, and scope for scalability. Inadequate working capital, including grants and credit, is a major limitation for the majority of FPOs. In this setting, it is critical to obtain bank loans at low interest rates. The development of a well recognised and valued brand is critical for the FPO's viability. Lack of professional leadership has a negative impact on FPOs in the coconut sector, and many have gone out of business as a result. To assist them, target based capacity-building programme to inculcate leadership attributes among FPO representatives should be conducted on a regular basis. Only a few FPOs in the coconut industry have looked into the prospect of gaining premium pricing through certification techniques and product traceability. This is due to a lack of both capacity and awareness. This problem must be addressed with ultimate priority. The FPOs must be trained to be self-sufficient and weaned off external assistance in a short period of time after the initiation. Therefore, FPOs should focus on increasing productivity per unit of land and shifting their current production focus to market-oriented output.

A study on standardization of micronutrient dosage to improve growth, yield and quality of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) was carried out at farmer’s field, Anaimalai, Pollachi, Coimbatore district to find out a suitable micronutrient combination for cocoa grown in coconut gardens as intercrop. The experiment was conducted with eight treatments and three replications laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD). Micro-nutrients used in this experiment were 0.5% ZnSO4, 0.3% FeSO4 and 0.1% Boraxin different combinations. Foliar spray was given thrice, first spray at the time of flowering and consecutive two sprays at 45 days interval to cocoa trees intercropped under coconut plantation. Observations on yield and quality parameters were recorded in cocoa. The pod characters namely pod length (22.2 cm) and pod girth (30.6 cm) were recorded maximum in the treatment combination(ZnSO4 (0.5%) + FeSO4 (0.3%) + Borax (0.1%)). The treatment (FeSO4 (0.3%)) registered maximum pod weight of 256.6 g. Treatments comprising of boron by itself and in combinations was found to improve the bean characters. The highest dry bean yield (2499.93g)per tree was recorded in (Borax (0.1%)).

The purpose of the study is to investigate the variables that affect coconut farmers' participation in Tamil Nadu's Replanting and Rejuvenation (R & R) scheme. Utilising a multi-stage sampling technique, a total of 120 coconut farmers were surveyed as respondents. Heckman's two-stage model was used with Probit model included in the first stage, and OLS was used to analyse the income regression in the second stage. Results reveal that age of farmer, education, farming experience, awareness of R&R programme, age of coconut tree, high incidence of pest and diseases, availability of irrigation facilities, and availability of credit for purchasing farm inputs are the most important determining factors for participation. These findings suggest that the R&R program requires to be implemented on a large scale with the aid of Coconut Development Board. This program should focus on removing old, senile, unproductive, and disease-advanced palm trees, replanting them with quality seedlings at subsidized prices, and revitalizing existing gardens through an integrated set of practices.