Data are presented on weight of copra (dried endosperm) and oil content of typica x nana hybrids where all three colour farms of the variety nana viz, pumila, eburnea, and regia have been used ax male presents.  The observed difference in weight of copra or oil content in the F1 hybrids.  Typica x nana form regia hybrids had the highst oil content (69.4perc.) compared with typica x nana form pumila 68.6perc. and typica x nana form eburnea 68perc.  Caution has to be excercised in the choice of parental material for the production of these hybrid

Manthriratna, M.A.P.P.

Coconut Research Institute Repository

Ceylon Cocon. Q. (1973) 24, 96-101 Printed in Sri Lanka SOME RESULTS ON FIELD EXPERIMENTATION WITH TYPICA X NANAF, HYBRIDS (z) COPRA AND OIL CONTENT by M. A. P. P. MANTHRIRATNA Botanist, Coconut Research Institute, Lunuwila, Sri Lanka SUMMARY Data are presented on weight of husked nuts, weight of copra (dried endosperm) and oil con­tent of typica x nana hybrids where all three colour forms of the variety nana viz. pumila, eburnea, and regia have been used as male parents. The observed difference in weight of husked nuts is pro­bably due to the contribution made by the shell and nut water, and not a reflection of the weight of endosperm. There is no appreciable difference in weight of copra or oil content in the F i hybrids. Typica x nana form regia hybrids had the highest oil content (69.4%), compared with typica x nana form pumila (68.6%), and typica x nana form eburnea (68.0%). Caution has to be exercised in the choice of parental material for the production of these hybrids, INTRODUCTION Among the different varieties and forms of the coconu t palm (Cocos nucifera L), grown in Ceylon the form typica of the variety typica is by far the commonest, and would virtually account for the entire acreage under this crop. The "Ceylon typica" has a number of desirable cha­racters including economically important ones such as weight of dried endosperm (copra) per nut, good copra outturn and high oil content, (Liyanage, 1958). In common with the 'tall' variety of palms in other coconut growing countries, the late flowering habit of the variety typica appears to be a disadvantageous character. Plant breeders at various research stations have been aware of the necessity of producing strains of the coconut palm which are precocious in bearing and are also hgih-yielding. The character, early bearing, may be used to advantage in implementing national replanting pro­grammes, where quick returns would enable the grower to recover the initial outlay in a short period of time. However, as precocity in bearing is not the only desirable character, (particu­larly in a perennial tree crop), the plant breeder has to evaluate other desirable attributes. The combined effect of these factors may be related to the end products, which, in the case of the coco­nut palm would mainly consist of copra (dried endosperm), or oil. Intraspecific hybridization of coconuts has been in progress for over two decades chiefly in Ceylon, India. Ivory Coast and Jamaica, the emphasis being on the production of strains which bear early and are also high-yielding. The first generation hybrids involving the typica (tall) and the nana (dwarf) varieties have been under observation in Ceylon since 1950, (Liyanage, 1956). The rate of leaf production, period for initial flowering and yield of these hybrids when compared with typica palms have been reported in the first article of this scries, (Manthriratna, 1971). 96 M. A. P. P. MANTHRIRATNA 97 This paper reports on the productivity of the typica x nana hybrids in terms of copra (dried endosperm) weight and oil content. It further aims to assess the relative merits and suita­bility of the three colour forms of the variety nana viz: form pumila (dwarf green), form eburnea (dwarf yellow) and form regia (dwarf red) for the production of typica x nana and nana x typica hybrids. (In the discussion, the term typica x nana is used only when referring to hybrids between the two varieties; where no distinction is made among the three colour forms of the nana variety used in the crosses). (a) Production of experimental material:—Selected high yielding palms from the Latin Squaie Selection Experiment, Ratmalagara Research Station, were used as female parents. These were crossed with dwarf male parents, selected on early flowering and nut size, from the Dwarf Palm Block and Hybrid Palms Block "A" at the above station. The crossing programme was completed in 1956, and the technique used has been des­cribed earlier, (Manthriratna and Liyanage, 1960). (b) Layout of field experiment:—225 seedlings from the above crosses were selected largely on vigour of the seedlings at the third-leaf stage and transplanted in 1958 at the Ratmalagara Research Station on the'hedge plantation system' (Liyanage 1955), with a fully randomized distri bution. Rows were spaced 26 feet (8 metres) apart, and within each row the seedlings were spaced at 18 feet (5.5 metres). This gave an initial density of 93 palms/acre, (229 palms/hcclarc). The plantation was subsequently thinned down to the conventional density of 64 palms/acre, (158 palms/hectare), based on growth and yield. The data relating to certain characters of the nuts of the F x progeny of the three types of typica x nana hybrids is presented in Table 1, and an analysis of variance for these characters in table 2. It will be observed from table 1 that the husked nuts of typica x nana form pumila progeny are heavier (mean weight 787 g.-28 oz.) than from those where the forms eburnea and regia have been used as pollen parents; (mean weight 673 g—24oz.and 504 g—18 oz. respectively). However, as the nuts from the progeny of all three types of crosses produce 213—216 g. (7.5 oz.) of copra (table 1), the observed difference in weight of husked nuts is probably a reflection of the contribution made by the other components of the husked-nut such as the shell and the nut water. For these same reasons the analysis of variance, of husked nut weight (table 2(a)) shows a highly significant difference, (P<0.01) between types although this item is not significant when weight of copra per nut is considered (table 2 (b)). Satyabalan et al. (1968) have reported that the nut and copra characters of the hybrids of tall x dwarf (orange) are far superior to those obtained where dwarf (green) was used as the male parent. Furthermore, it has been reported by these workers that there are no hetcrotic effects in weight of URhusked nut, but there is marked heterosis for weight of husked nut. From an analysis of nut characters of the F1 hybrids of West Coast Tall x Dwarf Orange and West Coast Tall x Gangabondam, Satyabalan, Ratnam & Kunjan, (1970), state that there is heterosis for nut water content, and kernel weight, and in the case of West Coast Tall x Dwarf Green for shell content as well. The degree of heterosis for the different nut characters have not been esti­mated for the material described in this paper. Oil content of copra was estimated in 39 samples belonging to different crosses (table I), and the mean values obtained are as follows: 1. Typica x nana form pumila 68.6% (mean of 19 samples) 2. Typica x nana form eburnea 68.0% (mean of 10 samples) 3. Typica x nana form regia 69.4% (mean of 10 samples)? METHOD RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 4 - y 98 SOMB RESULTS OF FIBLD EXPERIMENTATION , Although, the sample size is too small for definite conclusions it would appear that typica x nanaioxm regia hybrids have a slightly higher oil content than the other two. However, the difference is not statistically significant, (ta ble 2(c).). As the between crosses item is significant (P<0.05) for two economic characters, weight of copra per nut and oil content, (table 2 b & c), caution must be exercised in the choice of parental material that is used for production of hybrids as has been suggested by Satyabalan and bis colleagues (1968). The oil content of copra from typica x nana hybrids has not been studied to any great extent although Satyabalan (1956) mentions that natural cross dwarf x tall hybrids yield 68—70% oil. A fuller investigation of all the nut characters of typica x nana form pumila is now being carried out by the Division of Chemistry of this Institute and the findings would be published ia due course. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This field trial was initiated by the former Botanist, Dr.D. V. Liyanage, presently attached to FAO to whom grateful acknowledgement is made. . My thanks are due to the Staff, Division of Botany and Plant Breeding, Coconut Research Institute, for collection of data as well as to the Chemist and Biometrician, Coconut Research Institute, for estimation of oil content of copra and statistical analysis of data, respectively. REFERENCES ~> Liyanage, D.V. 1955 Ceylon Cocon. Q. 6, 24 Liyanage, D.V. 1956 Ceylon Cocon. Q. 7,45. Liyanage, D.V. 1958 Ceylon Cocon. Q.9,1. MantTiriuatna, M.A.P.P. and Liyanage, D.V. I960 Ceylon Cocon. Mrs. Rev. 1, (2): 3. Manthriratna, M.A.P.P.: 1971 Ceylon Cocon. Q. 22,107. Satyabalan, K: 1956 Indian Cocon. J. 9,166. Satyabalan, K. Ratnaoi, T.C. and Menon R.M. 1968 Indian J. agrk. Sci. 38, 155. Satyabalan, K. Ratnam, T.C. and Kunjan. P.V. .1970 > Indian J. agric. Sci. 40:1088. TaWe 1 Nut Characteristics of F x Progeny Cross and Progeny No. Wt. of husked nuts (jg) oil content {Percent) Wt. of copra per nut{g) Wt of husk {g) Wt. of shell(g) Typica x nana {form pumila) • 418x45-610 9,128 68.57 205 508 176 „ -717 7,795 68.41 120 367 188 „ -688 5,365 67.55 193 381 185 59x36-609 9,886 66.98 223 518 177 „ -627 5,540 66.89 237 700 179 „ -676 7,178 67.42 197 444 194 „ -799 8,720 69.65 206 440 155 „• -747 9,099 69.42 219 600 221 „ -705 9,771 68.82 222 433 133 69x47-581 9,733 66.83 221 544 201 „ -587 6,409 68.63 217 386 168 „ -614 13,699 68.80 241 487 149 -716 10,220 67.28 234 441 172 „ -847 7,946 — 248 448 163 „ -855 2,585 69.95 181 664 172 215x36-638 6,034 68.08 222 339 148 „ -658 9,979 70.47 221 532 160 -665 7,832 68.15 218 501 183 „ -685 6,951 69.90 230 450 166 „ -800 3,466 71.13 200 605 196 Table 1 Nut Characteristics of F t Progeny (Continued) Cross mid Progeny No. Wt. of husked nuts (g) Oil content (Percent) Wt. of copra per ma(g) Wt. of husk (S) Wt. of shell(g) Typica x nana (form eburnea) 59x493-679 10,234 68.09 206 AffJ 153 „ -583 3,635 65.59 136 329 154 -642 4,299 66.89 214 ' 314 150 207x584-546 6,848 68.03 190 341 143 „ -586 4,680 65.94 218 379 148 „ -740 9,574 68 .96 236 393 161 „ -821 7,722 66.47 200 276 145 570x584-714 4,013 69.05 233 471 157 >. -743 12,952 70.23 205 341 144 „ -749 3,411 70.35 240 504 181 Typica x nana (form renter) 285x476-543 7,493 70.02 218 494 201 „ -620 5.614 70.88 158 375 143 ,. -684 6,523 68.69 185 374 146 „ -«73 4.606 69.61 200 418 154 „ -851 3,257 68.43 250 516 190 240x527-536 3,465 69.67 208 447 141 „ -634 3,602 70.16 240 535 172 „ -597 7,845 68.49 236 481 186 „ -657 3,364 69.58 240 487 184 „ -707 4.700 68.62 228 530 165 A / r ^ i V VALUES Typica x /HW;O (form pumila) 787 68.57 213 Typica x nana (form eburnea) 673 68.00 213 • Typica x mma (form tegia) 504 69.41 216 • Table 2 Analysis of Variance—(a) Wt. of husked nuts (g) Source D.F. s.s. M.S. V.R. Bn. Types 2 53283085 26641542 11.89** Bn. Crosses wn. types 6 13449613 2241602 — Bn. Individuals wn. Crosses 33 290037584 8789018 (b) Wt. of copra/nut (g) Source D.F. s.s. M.S. V.R. Bn. Types Bn. Crosses wn. types Bn. Individuals wn. Crosses 2 6 33 93 8684 16525 46.50 . 1447.33 500.76 2.89* (c) Oil Content Source D.F. S.S. M.S. V.R. Bn. Types Bn. Crosses wn. types Bn. Individuals wn. Crosses 2 ,1 10.70 22.70 4y.02 5.355 3.783 1.532 1.42 2.47* 

Some results on field experimentation with Typica X Nana F, hybrids (2) copra and oil content

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Some results on field experimentation with Typica X Nana F, hybrids (2) copra and oil content

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