Abstract

A total of twenty four coconut hybrids comprising of twelve direct (Tall x Dwarf) and their reciprocals (Dwarf x Tall) involving three tall varieties viz., East Coast Tall, Cochin China and Siam with seven dwarf varieties were studied for the manifestation of heterosis for nut and yield characters. The result revealed that high- degree of heterosis was observed for wholenut weight, dehusked nut weight, kernel weight, copra weight, annual nut and copra yield in both direct and reciprocal crosses. Among the twenty four cross combinations, direct and reciprocal crosses of ECT x MOD, ECT x MYD, ECT x CGD and ECT x GBD were found to be superior recording significant positive heterosis for most of the characters over the standard variety East Const Tall.

Keywords: Heterosis, Coconut, Nut yield