Genetic variability and multivariate analysis in tall coconut germplasms

Abstract

Coconut is a perennial plantation crop grown extensively throughout the tropics and sub-tropics. Exploitation of available genetic variability forms the primary step in any crop improvement program. In this study, 18 Tall coconut germplasms, comprising of 12 exotic and six indigenous populations maintained under AICRP on Palms – Crop Improvement trials at Coconut Research Station, TNAU, Aliyar Nagar were used. The experiments were laid in randomized block design with two replications. Observations were recorded on seven morphological traits viz., palm height, palm girth, leaf length, petiole length, leaflet length, leaflet breadth and nut yield per palm per year for three years (from 2014 – 15, to 2016 – 2017). Analysis of the data revealed that the accession Seychelles recorded statistically significant mean value for nut yield. High heritability and genetic advance was recorded for nut yield indicating additive genetic control of the trait. In correlation studies, out of the six yield contributing traits, none showed significant correlation with nut yield. A total of three principal component axes explained the total variability. Cluster analysis showed that it would be advantageous to utilize the coconut genotypes in cluster I (Java, Federated Malay States), Cluster IV (Seychelles) and cluster V (Nadora Tall) in breeding programmes.