Identification of Prepotent Palms in West Coast Tall Coconuts Based on the Early Stages of Growth of the Progeny in the Nursery
Loading...
Date
2007-02
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Monthly observations on growth rate and seedling vigour as measured by collar girth and leaf production from the time of germination taken in 599 open pollinated progeny seedlings of 16 selected high yielding families (cultivar : West Const Tall) indicated highly significant differences in growth rate of progenies between families. Correlations of these growth characters from the first to the ninth month from the time of germination with those of the tenth month showed that correlation was high and positive from the fifth month. This shows that it may be possible to identify palms of superior genetic value (prepotents) even from the fifth month based on these two growth characters of the progeny. The breeding values of six families worked out for leaf production and collar girth of the progeny during the fifth and tenth months of growth in the nursery and their yield performance in the field showed that prepotent palms, whose progenies would be high yielders, have high breeding values for both these characters. Thus it may be possible to screen a large number of palms for prepotency and identify them based on these growth characters of the progenies in the nursery during the fifth month of growth. In areas where young seedlings of less than six months old are preferred for planting, it is better to select them from five months old seedlings based on these two characters, as (hey are genetically correlated with yield of adult palms.
Description
Keywords
Citation
In: Coconut research and development; proceedings of the international symposium, 1st, CPCRI, Kasaragod. 27-31 Dec. 1976. Edited by N.M. Nayar. Wiley Eastern, New Delhi 1983 p-15-22