Sri Lanka Coconut

Coconut (Cocos nucifera), the only species in the genus Cocos in the family Arecaceae, is a tropical oil crop and is widely cultivated in tropical regions due to its extensive application in agriculture and industry. As a plantation crop with a variety of versatile uses, it plays a significant role in the food security and economy of people in many development countries.

The most popular classification of coconut (Cocos nucifera), is based predominantly on height and pollination behavior, resulting in two broad categories;

• Tall
• Dwarf

Also known as ‘Typica’ and ‘Nana’ respectively.

Tall coconut is widely grown commercially. It is fast growing, has a swelling (a bole) at the base of the stem, bears fruit late, thrives in diverse environments, produce medium to large nuts and is predominantly outcrossing. However, self-pollination (geitonogamy) through inter-spadix pollination has been observed in some Tall populations.

Dwarf coconuts represent about 5% of global population and are usually found close to habitation. They share a number of characteristics which distinguishes them from Talls; short internodes, slow growth in height, predominant self-pollination, short leaves with a small number of leaflets, large numbers of relatively small fruits, early fruit set and a relatively short life span. Most Dwarfs have no bole and their nuts have a sweet and pleasant- to-drink water (liquid endosperm).

Dwarfs are diverse for a small number of traits such as colour and appearance of the nut, shape of the inflorescence and of the crown. It is appreciated for its short stature and for the sweet and pleasant taste of its coconut water. Due to below average copra quality and yield it is rarely grown commercially for oil production though it is increasingly planted on a large scale for coconut water production, especially in Brazil.

Variety Tall (Typica) is the most abundant coconut variety in Sri Lanka and most coconut growing countries. It is tall in stature and naturally outbreeding. Typica forms usually take 5-6 years to flower and they produce flowers continuously. Tall have their specific characteristics (Large nut size, Kernel quality, high oil content, resistance to biotic and abiotic stress than dwarf varieties, etc.,) and have gained popularity as commercial planning materials among than unimproved planting material of coconut throughout the world. The form Typica (Sri Lanka Tall), is grown on a commercial scale for production of endosperm, shell and fiber products.

Variety Intermediate (Aurantaca), which includes king coconut and similar forms, is intermediate in stature, predominantly inbreeding and late flowering. Flower production, which commences about 5 to 6 years after planting, is seasonal. The low tolerance to drought, pests and diseases restricts the areas in which king coconuts thrive. Tender king coconut, with its bright orange epicarp, and high sucrose, sweet nut water, is a very popular beverage coconut. Variety Aurantiaca has three forms, namely King Coconut (Thembili), Rathran Thembili and Navasi, Thembili.

The classification was Sri Lankan Coconut was done based on the breeding pattern and the stature of palms. Tall (Typica), Dwarf (Nana), and Intermediate (Aurantaca) were identified as a main varieties and sub phenotypes within these identified varieties have been characterized by visual observations of the fruits.