COCOS, (987), 5, 32-38. Printed in Sri Lanka Metrglyph Analysis in Ccnut {Ccs nucifera L.) T. S. RAVEENDRA, T. RAMANATHAN*, G. NALLATHAMBI 3 and H. VIJAYARAGHAVAN 4 Ccnut Research Statin, Veppankulam 64 96, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu Assciate Prfessr * Prfessr and Head 3 & 4 Assistant Prfessr ABSTRACT Metrglyph analysis was dne in a grup f 23 gentypes f ccnut, Ccs nucifera L. The varieties came under tw grups based n mrphlgical characters. Three grups were recgnized when the classificatin was made n the basis f nut characters. The extic cultivars, in general, had relatively higher expressin fr mrphlgical and nut characters. The pssibility f btaining hetertic hybrids frm divergent parental cmbinatins was indicated. INTRODUCTION The study f metrical variatin in cultivated crps is an essential pre-requisite t the identificatin f varieties superir in respect f their ecnmic attributes. Althugh methds t estimate genetic variability are available in annual crps, such prcedures have nt been standardised in perennial crps like ccnut in view f bvius difficulties. Hwever, metrglyph analysis prpsed by Andersn (957) will be useful t study the pattern f variatin in ccnut and t slve the prblems f classificatin. 32 MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty three gentypes f ccnut (Ccs nucifera L.) maintained at the Ccnut Research Statin, Veppankulam, Tamil Nadu, India, frmed the materials fr the study. The trees in different accessins were in the age grup f 24-26 years. The experiment was raised in a cmpletely randmised design. Amng the 23 cultivars, 4 were cllected frm India and the rest extic. The extic types were drawn frm Malaysia (three) Philippiness, Java, Siam, Fiji, New Guinea and Vietnam (Cchin China) thrugh Central Plantatin Crps Research Institute, Kasaragd, India. Althugh the number f palms in each gentype varies frm 6 t 3, bservatins were limited t nly 4 palms in each gentype which resemble t each ther very clsely in mrphlgy and nut characters, t avid intra gentypic variatin. The mean data ver the fur palms were subjected t study. Observatins were made n six mrphlgical traits viz. plant height, number f functinal leaves, girth at cllar, length f petile, length f leaflet bearing prtin and the number f leaflets n ne side, during 982 t 984. Fr studying the nut cmpnents, tw nuts f 2 mnths maturity were cllected frm each f the fur trees at harvest. Data were cllected n weight f whle nut, dehusked nut, kernel and cpra per nut and kernel thickness fr each nut separately by fllwing standard prcedures during the summer mnths (March, April, May, June), The mean data ver 96 bservatins (2 nuts, 4 palms, fur mnths and three years) in each variety were used fr the study.
Table. Mrphlgical characters in different ccnut gentypes sr. N. Gentype Abbreviatin used Origin Plant height (m) N. f functinal leaves Length f leaflet Girth at Length f bearing cllar petile prtin (cm) (m) (m) N. f leaflets n ne side Ttal -scre. Ayiramkachi 2. Kanyakumari Yellw 3. Kanyakumari Red 4. Kanyakumari Green 5. Lakshadweep Micr 6. Lakshadweep Small 7. Lakshadweep Ordinary 8. Lakshadweep Pink 9. Andaman Dwarf. Andaman Ordinary. Andaman Giant 2. Gangabndam 3. Spicata 4. East Cast Tall 5. Dwarf Green 6. Straits Settlements Green 7. Federated Malayan States 8. Fiji 9. Philippines Ordinary 2. Java Giant 2. Siam 22. New Guinea 23. Cchin China (AY) India 5.() (KY) Jndia 7.47(2) (KR) India 6.2(2) (KG) India 8.99(3) (LM) India 8.43(3) (LS) India 7.76(3) (LO) India 8.8(2) LP) India 8.9(2) (AD) India 5.(2) (AO) India 7.63(2) (AG) India 8.42(3) (GGB) India 6.7(2) (SP) India 7.95(2) (ECT) India 7.6(2) (DG) Malaysia 3.67() (SSG) Malaysia 7.96(2) (FMS) Malaysia 9.48(3) (Fiji) Fiji 9.9(3) (PHO) Philippines 9.5(3) (JG) Java.3(3) (SI) Siam 8.45(3).. (NG) New Guinea 9.24(3).. (CC) Vietnam 9.23(3) 26.7() 69.9().(2) 37.8(3) 67.().5() 3.7(2) 6.6().97() 4.5(3) 73.8(2).8(3) 36.6(3) 72.5().2(3) 37.6(3) 67.9().6(2) 29.3() 65.().5(3) 36.6(3) 68.() 5(3) 29.7() 76.7(2).98() 35.3(2) 82.3(2).9(3) 33.4(2) 96.2(3).44(3) 37.(3) 72.().2(3) 32.8(2) 7.3().9(2) 32.(2) 76.7(2).3() 28.4() 6.9().3() 38.8(3) 66.3().5() 39.2(3) 73.3() 24(3) 38.8(3) 7.().3(2) 39.8(3) 73.3().4() 39.5(3) 72.5().23(3) 38.5(3) 72.5().98() 32.2(2) 72.().(2) 35.5(2)) 75.(2).3(2) 3.4(2) 98(2) 9 3.7(2) 88() 2.(982) 88 () 9 3.9(3) (2) 6 * 3.73(2) 2(3) 5 3.5(2) 8(3) 4 3.42(2) 8(3) 2 a- 3.3(2) 8(3) 4 2.98(2) 99(2) 9 ft C 3.48(2) U(3) 4 9" Z' 4.98(3) 6(3) 7 3" 3.55(2) 9(3) 4 3.53(2) 4(3) 2 3.4(2) 6(2) e 2-7() 9() 6 2.96(2) 99 (2) 3.89(3) (3) 6 3.4(2) 8(3) 4 3.8(3) 4(2) 3 3.88(3) 2(3) 6 3.36(2) 7(3) 3 3.33(2) 2(2) 2 3.43(2) (2) 3
T. S. RAVEENDRA, T. RAMANATHAN,» G. NALLATHAMBI 3 and H. VIJAYARAGHAVAN 4 Table 2. Nut characters f different ccnut gentypes SI. N. Gentype Whle nut weight (g) Dehusked nutwt. (g) Kernel thickness (cm) Kernel weight (g) Cpra weight (g) Ttal scre. Ayiramkachi 435() 22().() 28.() 55.() 5 2. Kanyakumari Yellw 8(2) 45().() 46.5() 78.() 6 3. Kanyakumari Red 7() 428().3(2) 225.(2) 9.() 7 4. Kanyakumari Green 852(2) 582(2).4(3) 3.(3) 56.7(2) 2 5. Lakshadweep Micr 499() 265().4(3) 75.() 83.() 7 6. Lakshadweep Small 655() 33().5(3) 83.5() 84.7() i 7. Lakshadweep Ordinary...,8(2) 545(2).2(2) 23.(2) 4.() 9 8. Lakshadweep Pink 85(2) 425().2(2) 22.(2).() 8 9. Andaman Dwarf... 752() 5(2).() 27.(2) 24.8() 7. Andaman Ordinary...,288(3) 788(3).3(2) 37.7(3) 85.3(3) 4. Andaman Giant...,5(3) 756(3).4(3) 32.8(3) 9.(3) 5 2. Gangabndam...,(2) 6(2).4(3) 37.8(3) 68.8(2) 2 3. Spicata 89(2) 55(2).3(2) 26-(2) 28.6(2) 4. East Cast Tall 962(2) 526(2).3(2) 274.4(2) 8.6() 9 5. Dwarf Green 447() 242().() 29.5() 83.8() 5 6. Straits Settlements Green...,4(2) 623(2).5(3) 326.7(3) 57.(2) 2 7. Federated Malayan States...,252(3) 92(3).4(3) 375.(3) 74.6(3) 5 8. Fiji 88(2) 493(2).4(3) 272.5(2) 6.5(2) 9. Philippines Ordinary 933(2) 65(2).4(3) 388.3(3) 62.3(2) 2 2. Java Giant...,95(3) 673(2).5(3) 362.5(3) 9.9(3) 4 2: Siam...,365(3) 725(3).5(3) 375.(3) 22.(3) 5 22. New Guinea...,48(3) 72(3).4(3) 335.(3) 94.(3) 5 23. Cchin China...,25(3) 9(3).4(3) 35.(3) 78.3(3) 5 Table 3. Index scres and signs fr different traits in ccnut germplasm varieties Scre I Scre II Scre III SI. Range f Value Sign Value Sign Value Sign M. Character means less (ranges) mre than than (a) Mrphlgical characters. Plant height (m) 2. Number f functinal leaves 3. Girth at Cllar (cm) 4. Length f petile (m) 5. Length f leaflet bearing prtin (m) 6. Number f leaflets n ne side (b) Nut characters '. Whle nut weight (g) l. Dehusked nut weight (g) 3. Thickness f kerne (cm) 4. Weight f kernel (g) 5. Weight f cpra (g) 3.67-.3 26.7-4.5 6.9-96.2.97-.24 5.49 3.63 73.33.6 5.5-8.23 3.64-36.56 73.34-84.76.7-.5 2.7-4.98 2.88 2.89-3.79 88.-7. 97.66 97.67-7.32 447.-5. 242.-9..-.5 29.5-375. 78.-22.5 8. 46..2 2.4 25.6 82.-55. 462.-68. -.3-.4 2.5-293.3 25.7-73. 8.23 36.56 84.76.5 3.79 7.32 55. 68..4 293.3 73. 34
Metrglyph Analysis in Ccnut The mrphlgical and nut characters were assigned scres in three grades and the scres are presented alng with the mean values in Tables and 2. Tw separate diagrams were cnstructed t shw the distributin f gentypes ne fr mrphlgical traits and the ther fr nut characters. Since plant height and number f leaves are the tw mst imprtant mrphlgical characters, these tw were alltted t Y and X axis f Figure, respectively. Similarly, weight f whle nut and dehusked nut were taken in Y and X axis f the Figure 2 based n their imprtance in nut analysis. The scatter diagrams (Fig. and 2) were cnstructed in which each accessin was represented by a circle with its cde apprpriate fr the intervals f the traits (Table 3). The range f variatin in each character was represented by a crrespnding range in the length f the ray. The different characters were represented by different psitins f the rays n the glyph. The index values fr each character were divided int three classes n ray; 2 shrt ray and 3 lng ray. The ttal index was recrded by summing up the index scre f all the characters. 6 7 8 9 234967 36 9 NG?SS6 'AD 4-5 AY DG 3 3 35 4 45 NUMBER OF FUNCTIONAL LEAVES Fig.. Metrglyph analysis f mrphrlgical characters in ccnut. 35
T. S. RAVEENDRA, T. RAMANATHAN, G. NALLATHAMBI and H. VIJAYARAGHAVAN 8 r 6- "S U - H a 2-6 7 8 9 T 2 3 4 9 JG O- AO NG SI AD 8 6 LS SP OO 4. LP Fl^ AD & LO v k E C T NL ^ PHL KG SSG ilm <8 DG 3 4 5 6 7 DEHUSKED NUT WEIGHT (g) s 9 Fig. 2. Metrglyph analysis f nut characters in ccnut. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. Variatin in mrphlgy Amng the 4 accessins f Indian rgin, Ayiramkachi, Andaman Dwarf and Kanyakumari Red were dwarf and the thers were Tall. One f the nine extic gentypes, Dwarf Green (Malaysia) als expressed dwarfism. All these fur cultivars were intermediate r lw in their phentypic expressin. The girth at cllar did nt vary much in mst f the tall cultivars. Hwever, Andaman Giant had thick cllar. Extic types, in general and Java Giant and Federated Malay States in particular, had high expressin fr all the characters. The fur Lakshadweep types were almst similar in their mrphlgy. The three accessins frm Andaman shwed a gradatin in their mrphlgical expressin, Andaman Ordinary being intermediate between 'Giant' and 'Dwarf types. Similarly, the three types cllected frm Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu) als shwed a range f variatin. The 'Green' had larger size f palms fllwed by 'Yellw' and 'Red' types. East Cast Tall, the native gentype f Tamil Nadu, was intermediate in its mrphlgy. Thus, frm the mrphlgy, tw distinct grups were evident, the large grup f 'Tall' cultivars with a high phentypic expressin fr all the metrical traits and the secnd grup f 'Dwarf cultivars. 36
2. Variatin in nut characters Metrglyph Analysis in Ccnut Three distinct grups f gentypes culd be recgnized based n nut characters The first grup had fur types, 'Ayiramkachi', 'Lakshadweep Small', 'Lakshadweep Micr'(India) and 'Dwarf Green' (Malaysia). This grup is characterised by small sized nuts. Nine Indian and three extic varieties cme under the secnd grup which is distinguished frm their mderate sized whle and dehusked nuts. The three extic cultivars 'Fiji', 'Philippines Ordinary' and 'Straits Settlements Green' f this grup had thick meat. Amng these, 'Fiji' had intermediate kernel and cpra weights per nut while the ther tw had a high cntent f kernel and cpra per nut. Mderate kernel and cpra weights were bserved in tw f the nine Indian cultivars, 'Gangabndam' and 'Kanyakumari Green' f the secnd grup. The thers were mderate r lw in their nut cmpnent. The third grup includes seven gentypes, tw Indian ('Andaman Giant' and 'And a man Ordinary') and five extic ('New Guinea', 'Siam', 'Cchin China', 'Federated Malay States' and 'Jaya Giant') accessins. These are characterised by high expressins fr the different nut characters studied. Harries (978) classified ccnut varieties based n nut size int 'Niu Vai' types pssessing larger nuts and lesser husk cntent and 'Niu Kafa' types representing the naturally evlved gentypes. Accrdingly these seven gentypes culd be classified under 'Niu Vai* types in view f their bigger whle nut and dehusked nut. Althugh, the three cllectins frm Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu) ccupy a single grup they vary slightly in their nut size. 'Green' exhibits higher expressin fr nut characters than 'Yellw' and 'Red' types. The nut characters in respect f the fur Lakshadweep accessins als shw a range f variatin as seen frm their psitins in the scatter diagram. 'Lakshadweep Micr' which is clse t the rigin and 'Lakshadweep Small' had thick meat while 'Lakshadweep Pink,.'and 'Lakshadweep Ordinary'had intermediate kernel thickness. Amng the indigenus types 'Ayiramkachi' was the lwest in nut weight. This variety culd be characterised by small nuts, thin kernels and lw kernel and cpra yield. It culd be seen that nut characters prvide a mre reliable scale fr classificatin f the varieties than the mrphlgical expressins. Menn and Pandalai (958) reprted that varieties differed frm each ther in their mrphlgy f the tree and t a larger extent in respect f their nut characters. Ra and Pillai (982) als mentined that mrphlgical characters depend mre n the age f the palm and need repeated recrding Althugh the fur Lakshadweep cllectins express similarity in mrphlgy, they vary cnsiderably in their nut characters. These types might have arisen as a prduct f intrgressin frm a cmmn parentage and subsequent selectin might have stabilized their mrphlgy. Ra and Pillai (982) indicated that the island ppulatins, 'Andaman Ordinary', 'Andaman Giant' and 'Lakshadweep Ordinary' represent intrgressed frm. Similarly, the three different cultivars frm Kanyakumari might als have their rigin frm a cmmn parentage. A tendency f dminance was evident in 'Green' and recessiveness in 'Red' and 'Yellw' was intermediate fr mrphlgy. While in respect f nut characters, 'Red' and 'Yellw' express prly. It wuld be wrthwhile t initiate a hybridisatin prgramme between Dwarf Green (Malaysia) and the Indian gentypes 'Andaman Giant' r 'Ordinary' t btain hybrids f superirity as crssing between divergent parents is likely t yield high hetersis. Hybridisatin between lcally adapted 'East Cast Tall' and extic gentypes, 'New Guinea', 'Siam', 'Cchin China', 'Philippines' and 'Federated Malay States' may als yield fruitful results. 37
T. S. RAVEENDRA, T. RAMANATHAN, G. NALLATHAMBI and H. VIJAYARAGHAVAN ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authrs are thankful t Dr. S. Chelliah, Directr, Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute, Aduthurai fr the encuragement and the ICAR, New Delhi fr the financial supprt. REFERENCES Andersn, E., (957). A Semigraphical methd fr the analysis f cmplex prblems* Prc. Natinal Acad. Sci. Washingtn 43: 923-927. Harries, H. C, (978). The evlutin, disseminatin and classificatin f Ccs nucifera L. Bt. Rev. 44 : 265-39. Menn, K. V. and Pandalai, K. M. (958). The ccnut palm A Mngraph Indian Central Ccn. Cmmittee. The times f India Press, Bmbay PP. 86-2. Ra, E. V. V. B., and Pillai, R. V., (982). Characterisatin f ccnut germplasm based n fruit cmpnent analysis. Prc. Fifth Sympsium n Plantatin Crps Kasaragd India PP. 2-24. 38