Quantitative Characterization of Nut Yield and Fruit Components in Indigenous Coconut Germplasm in Sri Lanka

Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is a tropical palm offering multiple uses. Conservation of coconut germplasm has been undertaken globally in view of its economic importance. This research was designed to evaluate nine Sri Lankan indigenous coconut germplasm representing the three varieties Typica, Nana, and Aurantiaca. Total annual nut yield and the weights of fresh nut, husked nut, split nut, and fresh and dry kernel were scored and analyzed with analysis of variance. The annual average number of bunches varied from 14.9 to 16.8 which is significantly higher than the generally accepted 12–14 bunches in tall coconuts. The high potential of phenotypes Ran thembili and Gon thembili for kernel production was revealed. The high potential of Gon thembili, Sri Lanka Tall, and Ran thembili to produce fibre was also identified. Phenotypes Ran thembili and Gon thembili displayed their potential as pure cultivars and as parents in hybridization. King coconut, Red dwarf, and Bodiri were shown to be suitable as beverage coconuts due to the high production of nuts, bunches, and the quantity of nut water. This study reiterated the importance of conservation and characterization of indigenous coconut varieties globally for their effective use in the genetic improvement of the coconut palm. 1. Introduction Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is a perennial palm that is widely distributed in the tropical region of the world. Upon understanding the importance of this crop which provides food and beverage and numerous other raw materials to a multitude of industries, a lot of research effort has gone into the improvement of coconut cultivations in many of the coconut growing countries. Consequently, several concerted programmes have been in place for the collection and ex-situ conservation of the global coconut germplasm both in local and in regional or international field gene banks of coconut [1] during the last two decades. Characterization and evaluation of conserved material in a germplasm repository is a prerequisite for the identification of different collections/accessions that possess important features which will become useful in crop breeding. Diverse germplasm for important traits can then be used for the exploitation of hybrid vigour for important traits. Over 100 accessions comprising of local and exotic material collected both randomly and by using biased sampling techniques have been conserved in the field gene banks of coconut in the Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka. Both morphological [2–4] and molecular characterization [5–7] of these conserved coconut