Dwarf × Dwarf Coconut Hybrids from ‘Annur’ Ecotype: A Rare Combination of Short Stature of the Palm with Nut Quality

Abstract

The cultivars of coconuts (Cocos nucifera L.) are divided into two main groups: tall and dwarf. Tall palms are widely grown owing to their higher yield and superior nut traits. The most popular tall cultivar in Kerala is West Coast Tall (WCT). However, as the palm grows to a height of 15-20m farmer preference is gradually shifting to dwarf palms and research focus is on developing a dwarf palm with high yield and good quality nuts.  Reports indicate that WCT, due to its extensive cultivation in diverse agro-ecological conditions, has diverged into several ecotypes, one among which is ‘Annur’, a dwarf type with superior nut qualities, found in Kannur district of Kerala. Through interse mating between selected superior palms of ‘Annur’, further improvements in desirable traits were achieved and it was recently released as a variety, viz., ‘Annur improved dwarf’ by Kerala Agricultural University. Simultaneously, the selected palms were crossed with other dwarf palms (D × D hybridization) in 2005 that combined the dwarf ecotype Annur (ANR) with Malayan Yellow Dwarf (MYD) and Gangabondam (GB). The hybrids, along with parents and check varieties, were evaluated based on morphological, reproductive and nut characters and the data were analysed statistically. Yield traits were also recorded, though the palms are in the juvenile stage. An early evaluation of the hybrids highlights the superiority of the two combinations with shorter stature and improved nut quality compared to the parental and check varieties and WCT. The favorable traits include higher leaf length, copra content, kernel thickness and oil percentage, with ANR × MYD showing the highest oil content. The yield data also show a promising trend that needs to be further ascertained after the yield stabilizes. The results indicate their potential as promising hybrids that can enhance commercial coconut farming, especially under mechanized or intensive management systems, due to their short stature and high-quality nuts, combined with high yields.