CARI Annapurna - A promising coconut cultivar

The variety was developed through selection from exotic accession IND 099 introduced by ICAR-CPCRI from Fiji as NiuLeka Dwarf and conserved at World Coconut Germplasm Centre at Sipighat farm, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair. It is a dual-purpose variety suitable for copra making as well as for tender coconuts. The palms of this variety take about 4 years for first flowering. It isrecommended by Group Meeting of All India Coordinated Research Projects on Palms during 2013 for cultivation in coconut growing tracts of Andaman and Nicobar Islands ecosystems. The palms are dwarf with compact canopy, erect leaf tip, stout stem with prominent but closely arranged leaf-scars over the stem. The palms are cross pollinated unlike other dwarf varieties. The fruits are green, large-sized, oval shaped, average fruit weight of over 1500g with copra content of over 240g having oil content of about 64%. The palms take about 65 months for first flowering after planting. The tender nut water content is 470ml. Unlike, most other dwarf varieties, this variety performs well under rainfed conditions also. The variety has not recorded any major pests under field conditions but moderately susceptible to scales and inflorescence moth. It recorded an average of 52 nuts per palm per year under rainfed conditions with copra yield of about 13kg per palm per year. The potential yield was estimated to be over 110 nuts per palm per year with copra yield of over 25kg per palm per year.

Benefit:Owing to the compact canopy it could be planted at closer spacing of 6 x 6 m also. Due to its compact canopy, dwarfness with strong and stout stem, it is considered as tolerant to heavy winds.

Source : Interested persons may contact: Dr. B Augustine Jerard, Principal Scientist, Email : agustinejerard.b@icar.gov.in, Phone : 9447064463 (source: Division of Horticultural & Forestry, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair)