Abstract

A trial was conducted to evaluate the rate of germination, vigour and recovery of quality seedlings with two cultivars of coconut, West Coast Tall and Komadan under open and partial shade in the Instructional farm attached to the College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 1986-87. Rate of germination of Komadan seednuts under open conditions was found to be significantly higher upto five months though West Coast Tall seednut registered the maximum germination percentage at eight months after sowing. More than 50 per cent of Komadan seednuts germinated within the first four months of sowing indicting its ability for early germination which revealed that Komadan cultivars of coconut possessed desirable economic characters such as precocity in flowering and higher nut production potential. Seedling characters such as height, girth at collar, number of leaves, plant spread and weight were found to be higher under open conditions irrespective of cultivars. The study also revealed that direct sunlight was essential for expressing seedling vigour. Though significant difference could not be observed between treatments with regard to recovery of quality seedlings, komadan cultivar produced the maximum number.

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