Variation in phenotypic characteristics of ASD Costa Rica hybrids of oil palm in India

Abstract

Eighteen Costa Rican (C65711, C11067, C11239, C11225, C11143, C11146, C65635, C11044, C11076, C11053, C65893, C11142, C65758, C11169, C11163, C11189, C11092 and C11075) and two Palode (65D × 111P and 120D × 111P) hybrids of representative palms were evaluated for phenotypic characteristics by nut component analysis. No Dura contamination is reported in any of the hybrids. The analysis revealed that the variation was high for shell weight (57.7%) followed by kernel weight (40.3%) and nut weight (39.8%). Mean highest kernel weight was recorded in C65711 of ASD Costa Rica and single dry kernel weight showed a range from 0.48 (C11075) to 1.35 g (C65711) while single nut ranged from 1.57 g (C65635) to 3.97 g (Palode). The individual palm analysis indicated that the hybrids of ASD Costa Rica namely, C11146, C 65635, C11044, C65758, C11092 and C11075 had very thin shell and palm number 112 (C65711) and 78 (C11189) had high kernel weight. The present investigation revealed a good potential for improving palm kernel utilizing promising hybrids of ASD Costa Rica by hybridization or introgression to generate desirable segregates that posses large kernels.