Standardization of seednut storage techniques for Kalpasree variety of coconut

Abstract

The study was conducted to standardise the storage conditions of seednuts of Kalpasree, a dwarf variety of coconut. Seednuts were stored under four conditions viz., sand, saw dust, dark room and normal storage for period of 15, 30, 45 and 60 days. Higher germination of upto 85% was recorded in seednuts stored in sand and saw dust for a period of 60 days, whereas only 53% germination was observed in normal storage for the same period. The nut weight reduction was 35-43% in dark room and normal storage whereas it was only 10- 15% in sand and saw dust storage even after 60 days of storage. The significantly higher weight reduction for nuts stored under normal and dark room condition may be attributed to the drying up of nut water, which in turn adversely affects germination. Studies revealed that Kalpasree seednuts should be sown within a period of 15 days under normal storage condition and it can be stored upto 60 days in sand and saw dust without affecting germination.