Abstract

Studies on genetic diversity of 28 coconut genotypes from Coconut Research Station, Veppankulam was evaluated based on 17 traits. Characters studied included both vegetative, inflorescence and fruit/nut characters. Genotypes were grouped into 8 clusters. Tall cultivars were grouped in 4 clusters. Dwarf cultivars resolved into four clusters. The intra cluster distance was the highest in the seventh cluster. Andaman Ordinary Dwarf and Chowghat Giant Dwarf show distinguishing nut characters constituted a separate cluster. This analysis indicated the possibility of obtaining promising progeny from the parents of divergent clusters. The study also confirmed the distinctiveness of the dwarf and tall varieties. Nut characters were found to be more efficient in assessing genetic divergence. Intercrossing among the genotypes belonging to cluster II and VII was suggested to develop high yielding varieties with other desirable characters

Keywords: Coconut varieties, Divergence, Genetic distance, Tall and dwarf varieties