Fruit morphological characteristics at different maturity stages of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) improved hybrids (PB113+, PB121+) and their parent males (RIT+, WAT+)

Abstract

Cocos nucifera L. is an important coastal crop in Côte d'Ivoire, with 53 coconut cultivars. The present study was carried out to compare the morphophysical characteristics of C. nucifera L. fruit of the improved parents Rennell Island Tall (RIT+) and West Africa Tall (WAT+) and their hybrids PB113+ and PB121+, harvested at different maturity. The ANOVA results showed that cultivar and maturity had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on all morphological characteristics studied, except for sphericity, H2, H3, and H4 where maturity was not statistically significant (p ≥ 0.05). The morphological parameters of RIT+ coconuts were statistically different from those of WAT+, PB113+ and PB121+ (p < 0.05). The WAT+ coconuts had high kernel thickness. The hybrid PB121+ was more spherical than other fruits and had a higher shell thickness. Improved Rennell Island Tall as a parent had good kernel water mass and large shape, while the improved West Tall Africa had good kernel thickness. Concerning PB113+ and PB121+ hybrids, they were similar in dimensional parameters. However, PB121+ fruits had the highest mass and volume, kernel mass, and shell mass compared to PB113+. This study showed variabilities between the improved cultivars WAT+, RIT+ and the PB121+ and PB113+ hybrids. Key words: Cocos nucifera L., fruit, cultivar, maturity morphological, Côte d’Ivoire, germplasm.