Dweep Sona – A promising dwarf coconut variety

Coconut palm is the predominantly grown crop in the Islands used for varied purposes. It is called ‘Kalpavriksha’ due to its versatile uses of all parts of the palm. The coconut fruits provide food, edible oil, sweet water and milk for consumption and industrial uses. Different coconut cultivars are preferred for product diversification. ICAR-CIARI has identified and selected Dweep Sona, a high yielding dwarf selection from Andaman Yellow Dwarf coconut population for promotion in the island areas suitable for tender coconut purpose. The palms of this selection exhibit attractive yellow coloured petiole, rachis and fruits. The fruits are round to oblong, bright attractive yellow coloured, bunches are huge with good number of fruits ranging from 10 to 20 per bunch. The palms produce round canopy, the leaf tip is drooping making the palms as ornamental with gracefully hanging leaves and bunches. The variety could be preferred for home gardens as well as avenue planting and for plantations suitable for tender coconut purpose. The palms are robust, medium sized stem, no bole at the base, tender fruits weigh over 2kg, tender nut water is sweet, quantity ranges from 300 to 400ml per nut with TSS above 5.5 to 6 brix. The seedlings of the variety are early splitting, vigorous and the palms are early flowering (about 30 months after planting) with regular bunch production over the years. The variety has not recorded any major pests under field conditions but observed to be moderately susceptible to scale insects and susceptible to spiralling whitefly. As the young leaves are attractive yellow in colour, they are preferred for making decorative items.

Benefit:The climate and soil in the whole of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is highly suitable for growing coconut palms. Owing to the attractive yellow colour of fruits and graceful appearance of palms with drooping canopy, it could also be used for avenue planting in landscapes besides home gardens or plantations for tender coconut purpose.

Scientific team: B Augustine Jerard, V Damodaran, I. Jaisankar, SK. Zamir Ahmed