Study on segregation, phenotypic and genotypic variance and heritability in the F2 population of coconut (Cocos nucifera L).

Abstract

The present study was undertaken in F2 populations developed from three dwarf x tall (Chow ghat Orange Dwarf x West Coast Tall) coconut hybrids to ascertain the extent of segregation and to assess the phenotypic and genotypic variance and heritability for vegetative and reproductive characters. The dwarf x tall hybrid (Chowghat Orange Dwarf x West Coast Tall) was released for commercial cultivation by CPCRl as Chandrasankara during 1985. Eighty one F2 palms of three F 1 families of COD x WCT (HB 96, HB 111 and HB 136) planted in a randomized block design with three replications and a plot size of9 palms during 1992 at CPCRI, Kasaragod were used for the study. The three F2 populations ofD x Tcoconut hybrid showed wide segregation for different vegetative and reproductive trai ts and appearance of transgressi ve segregan ts for man y of the characters studied indicating the possibility of selection from the F2s. However, owing to the wide variation in annual nut yield and yield related traits among the palms in the F2 populations, it is suggested that progenies of F I hybrid palms cannot be directly utilized for commercial seed production