Varieties

Tender Coconut Varieties

for the benefit of coconut growers
V. Niral, Principal Scientist, Crop Improvement Division, ICAR-CPCRI, Kasaragod
Ranjini, T.N., Scientist, Crop Improvement Division, ICAR-CPCRI, Kasaragod

T he Coconut palm (Cocos nucifera L.) in India

is referred to as ‘Kalpavriksha’ which means
“tree which gives all that is necessary for living”.
and Nicobar islands have coconut as the major crop.
Coconut cultivation has also spread to the non-
traditional tracts like Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat,
This palm continues to have hundreds of uses as a West Bengal and North Eastern states.
source of nutritious food, refreshing drink, oil (used
In recent years, coconut is being increasingly
in cooking, pharmaceuticals, industrial applications
considered as a health food with tender coconut
and biofuels), fibre of commercial value, charcoal,
water, virgin coconut oil and inflorescence sap being
construction material and a variety of miscellaneous
promoted for consumption in addition to copra and
products for domestic and industrial use.
oil. Tender coconut water is blooming increasingly
Global coconut production is widely dispersed in popular as a refreshing health drink. Tender coconut
most of the tropical regions over an area of 12.47 water refers to the liquid endosperm obtained from
million hectares. In India, coconut is grown in an 6-8 months old tender coconuts, the period before
area of 2.07 million hectares, across 18 states and the solid endosperm or white kernel forms. It is a
three Union Territories. India ranks among the top natural isotonic beverage with the same level of
three coconut producing countries in the world, electrolytic balance as we have in our blood. Hence,
with an annual production of 23,351 million nuts during World War I and II, tender coconut water
and productivity of 10,614 nuts/ha (Coconut has been used as an intra-veinal fluid (IV fluid) for
Development Board, 2015-16). Traditional areas medical emergencies. In Ayurveda, tender nut
of coconut cultivation, accounting for 90% of the water is believed to increase semen levels, promote
total area under coconut, are in the states of Kerala, digestion and clear the urinary path. Tender coconut
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Island water contains sugars, minerals and minor amounts
territories like Lakshadweep Islands and Andaman of nitrogenous compounds (proteins/amino acids).

C18 Indian Coconut Journal

January 2020
 Products

Improved varieties for dual purpose -

copra and tender nut
Vol. of
Copra Agency
tender Recommen-
Important yield (t respon-
Variety nut wa- dation for
traits ha-1 sible for
ter (ml cultivation
year-1) release
nut-1)
Tall
Kerala, Karna-
taka, Konkan ICAR-
Kera Chandra High yield 450 3.68 region, Andhra CPCRI,
Pradesh, West Kasaragod
Bengal
Kerala, Andhra
ICAR-CP-
Pradesh, Tamil
Kalpa Pratibha High yield 448 4.12 CRI,
Nadu, Maha- Kalpa Samrudhi
Kasaragod
rashtra
Green
ICAR-CP-
fruits, Less Kerala, Karna- The primary nutrient in coconut water
Kalpa Haritha 440 3.72 CRI,
eriophyid mite taka
Kasaragod is potassium. This makes it a high
damage
High yield,
electrolyte beverage and helps to
Lesser Kerala, Kar- ICAR-CP- maintain blood volume, heart health,
Kalpa Shatabdi incidence of 612 5.01 nataka, Tamil CRI, prevent dehydration and stress. In
rhinoceros Nadu Kasaragod recent years, health benefits of coconut
beetle
water continued to be fine tuned,
Bidhan as many marketers call it “natures
Chandra
Krishi
sports drink” and a “life enhancer”.
Kalyani Coco- Viswav- Worldwide awareness and popularity
High yield 274 3.84 West Bengal
nut 1 idyalaya towards tender coconut water as a
(BCKV), refreshing health drink, has resulted
West
Bengal in many aerated drink manufactures
venturing into this field. The global
Dwarf/Semi-Tall coconut market is expected to grow at
Semi-tall, ICAR-CP- a compound rate of 26.75% until 2020.
Kalparaksha High yield, 290 2.11 Kerala CRI, Presently, Brazil is the world’s largest
green fruits Kasaragod
market for packaged coconut water,
Kerala Ag- accounting for 67% of juice volume
Semi-tall, high
ricultural
Kera Madhura yield, green 287 4.80 Kerala sales in 2010 and reportedly growing at
University,
fruits the expense of orange juice. The tender
Kerala
AICRP nut water products are also gaining
on plams, rapid popularity in both traditional
Gouthami Dwarf, Green
467 1.80 Andhra Pradesh Ambajipe- and nontraditional areas, thus opening
Ganga fruits
ta, Andra new vistas for coconut entrepreneurs
Pradesh
to capture the widening tender nut
ICAR- market.
Dwarf, green
Kalpasree 240 1.51 Kerala CPCRI,
fruits
Kasaragod In order to meet the market driven
ICAR-Cen- demands for the tender coconut, ICAR-
tral Island Central Plantation Crops Research
Agri- Institute is continuously evaluating
Dwarf, high
CARI-C1 Andaman & cultural
(Annapurna)
copra content, 470 2.23
Nicobar Islands Research
coconut germplasm, accessions as
green fruits well as experimental hybrids at the
Institute
(CIARI), institute for the quantity and quality of
Port Blair tender nut water towards developing

Indian Coconut Journal

January 2020
C
19
 Varieties

Improved hybrid varieties for dual purpose - copra and tender nut
Hybrid Variety Source population Important traits Vol. of tender Copra yield (t Area recommend- Agency responsible
of parents nut water (ml ha-1 year-1) ed for release
nut-1)
Chandra Sankara COD x WCT High yield 347 4.27 Kerala, Karnataka, ICAR-CPCRI,
Tamil Nadu Kasaragod
Chandra Laksha LCT x COD High yield, toler- 339 3.76 Kerala, Karnataka ICAR-CPCRI,
ant to moisture Kasaragod
stress
Kalpa Samrudhi MYD x WCT Tolerant to 346 4.5 Kerala, Assam ICAR- CPCRI,
moisture stress, Kasaragod
higher nutrient use
efficiency
Kalpa Sreshta MYD x TPT High yield 368 6.28 Kerala, Karnataka ICAR-CPCRI,
Kasaragod

improved varieties for tender nut purpose, including

dual purpose varieties suitable for tender nut as
well as copra production for release and cultivation
in different agro ecological regions in the country.
The varieties developed in the country under the
National Agricultural Research System is listed in the
given tables.
ICAR-CPCRI, ICAR-CIARI, various SAUs, State
Department of Horticulture and the centres under
AICRP on Palms as well as the Coconut Development
Board – DSP farms supply seeds/seedlings of
improved varieties/hybrids to farmers, NGOs,
developmental agencies and research organizations
also facilitate higher crop productivity and net returns.
Farmers/ farmer’s organizations and developmental Chandra Sankara

Coconut farmers need

to be motivated to plant
improved varieties suitable
for tender nut purpose
including dwarf as well as
dual purpose varieties and
hybrids. Under irrigation
and proper management
practices, farmers can
expect higher yield from
hybrid coconut varieties
compared to tall varieties.

C20 Indian Coconut Journal

January 2020
 Varieties

Improved dwarf varieties for tender nut and ornamental purpose

Variety Important traits Vol. of Copra Recommended states/regions Agency responsible for
tender nut yield release
water (ml (t ha-1
nut-1) year-1)
Chowghat Orange fruits, less eriophyid mite 351 2.78 All coconut growing regions ICAR- CPCRI, Kasaragod
Orange Dwarf damage
Kalpa Jyothi Yellow fruits, relatively tolerant to 380 2.83 Kerala, Karnataka, Assam ICAR-CPCRI, Kasaragod
water deficit stress
Kalpa Surya Orange fruits 400 4.00 Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu ICAR- CPCRI, Kasaragod
CARI-C2 Ornamental purpose, orange fruits 154 1.31 Andaman & Nicobar Islands ICAR- CIARI, Port Blair
(Surya)
CARI-C3 Ornamental purpose, yellow fruits 117 1.45 Andaman & Nicobar Islands ICAR- CIARI, Port Blair
(Omkar)
CARI-C4 Ornamental purpose, orange fruits 198 1.74 Andaman & Nicobar Islands ICAR- CIARI, Port Blair
(Chandan)

tap the opportunity among the rising popularity of

tender coconut water as a refreshing health drink,
it is advised to establish gardens with tender nut
varieties, dual purpose varieties for meeting the
domestic demand for tender coconut water as well
as to promote product diversification to avoid the ill
effects of coconut price fall due to excess availability
of copra in the market. Additionally, tender nuts are
harvested at 6-8 months of maturity, so that it saves
nutritional requirements for another 4-6 months of
Chandra Sankara fruit development for production of copra and helps
in the better fruit set and development in subsequent
inflorescences, which in turn results in higher nut
yield/palm. In Pollachi and Coimbatore districts of
Tamil Nadu, wherein farmers have planted tender
nut varieties in fairly large tracts of land to meet the
local demand for tender coconut and also exploring
avenues for tapping the export market. Now, this
trend is drifting towards other states too namely,
Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra
and West Bengal. Hence, coconut farmers need to
be motivated to plant improved varieties suitable for
tender nut purpose including dwarf as well as dual
purpose varieties and hybrids. Under irrigation and
Kalpa Jyothy proper management practices, farmers can expect
higher yield from hybrid coconut varieties compared
to tall varieties. It is also advisable to plant these
agencies also encourage to establish seed gardens improved varieties not just for establishment of new
to promote supply of improved varieties and ensure plantations but also in the senile gardens where
higher productivity and remuneration to coconut replanting and rejuvenation is recommended. This
growers. will help to boost the overall profitability of the
To combat, the loss in remuneration due to coconut farming and promote coconut cultivation in
lesser market price for mature coconuts and to the country. g

Indian Coconut Journal

January 2020
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