Characterization and evaluation of nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) genotypes of Coastal Karnataka for yield attributes

Abstract

The present study evaluated thirty nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) accessions collected from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of coastal Karnataka during 2024-25 to assess variability in yield-contributing traits. Significant differences were observed among the accessions for fruit, mace, nut and kernel characteristics, reflecting a wide range of genetic diversity. Accession 24 exhibited superior performance with the highest fruit size, mace and nut weights and kernel yield per tree, followed closely by Accession 30, while Accession 21 consistently recorded the lowest values. High dry recovery percentages in mace and nut of superior accessions indicated better post-harvest efficiency. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive associations between fruit and nut traits with overall yield and high heritability estimates suggested that these traits are reliable targets for selection. The study highlights the existence of considerable genetic variability in coastal nutmeg germplasm and identifies Accession 24 and Accession 30 as promising genotypes for large-scale cultivation and future improvement programmes aimed at enhancing productivity and quality under coastal Karnataka conditions.