Coconut is so important, not only economically but also socially, that it was described as ‘one of Nature's greatest gifts to man’ by Burkill (1966). Despite the inherent constraints to the breeding of palm species, important progress in coconut improvement has been obtained using standard breeding techniques. A continuous effort to search for new genetic material within Sri Lanka and to conserve valuable material threatened with erosion is in progress. Somatic embryogenesis, which is the only method of vegetative propagation, has been achieved on a limited scale but consistent plant regeneration is yet to be accomplished. Zygotic embryo rescue has been exploited to propagate an indigenous ‘Makapuno ’ type coconut. Development of DNA markers in order to exploit the existing variability in coconut germplasm to its maximum potential is being explored.
An analyses is presented of the yield components of coconut established under densities varying from 128 palms/ha to 239 palms/ha from a spacing trial conducted by the Coconut Research Institute. Analysis of yield data during 1976-1980 from 24 palms from 4 replicates analysed for each density treatment revealed significant differences in nuts/palm and copra/palm for the densities tested. The nuts/palm decreased with increasing density but the yield/ha maximised at a density of 171 palms/ha and decreased beyond 171. Significant differences were absent in yield of copra/nut for the densities tested. The differences in copra/palm were due to the effect of nut number/palm. At a density of 179 palms/ha, copra/ha maximised to 2260 kg and decreased beyond 179. The results of the present analysis indicate that a density ranging from 171-179 palms per hectare is the optimum for planting coconut in dry-intermediate zone where the study was conducted.
The tall form of coconut, San Ramon was imported to Sri Lanka from the Philippines and was first established in the North Western Province. The open pollinated seed obtained from the first introduction and planted at the Coconut Research Institute (CRI), form the genetic base for San Ramon improvement at present. This cultivar inherits the potential of producing 51 % more copra per nut than Sri Lanka Tall palms and 50% more copra per nut than the improved tall, CRIC 60. The mean copra yield per nut recorded for San Ramon (selfed), Sri Lanka Tall and CRIC 60 was 371 g, 240 g and 246 g respectively. Preliminary investigations have shown that the oil extraction efficiency of copra is 776 ml per kg of copra for Tall x San Ramon whilst for both Sri Lanka tall and CRIC 60, it is 740 ml. The results of this study strongly justify the use of San Ramon and its crosses for copra and oil industry in Sri Lanka.
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