GENETIC CONTROL OF HUSKED NUT WEIGHT IN COCONUT (Cocos nucifera)

The genetic control of husked nut weight in Coconut (Cocos nucifera) was investigated using a full-diallel cross including eight parents. The parents were a selected sample of palms which gave an annual mean yield of 23 kg of copra per palm with 713 gm of husked nut weight over five years. An average of five progenies per cross planted in a fully randomised design were evaluated for five years. Husked nut weight of five nuts per palm was recorded at each pick. Analysis of variance of mean husked nut weight confirmed the presence of additive and non additive genetic variance. The non additive genetic component was found to be higher in magnitude than the additive component. The heritability expressed as the ratio of the genetic variance to the total phenotypic variance was 0.45. Of the dominance components, directional dominance was non significant. Neither the presence of heterosis nor inbreeding depression was consistent among the selfed and crossed progenies elucidating the fact that not only crossing but selfing could also improve the trait, depending on the genetic constitution of the individual. Reciprocal differences were evident in the crosses suggesting the importance of the direction of cross.