Coconut (Cocos nucifera)

• Botanical Name: Cocos nucifera
• Chromosome Number: 2n = 32
• Family: Palmae (Arecaceae)
• Origin: South East Asia

Introduction; The coconut palm is referred to as ‘Kalpavriksha’ – the ‘Tree of Heaven’ – as every part of the palm is useful to mankind in one way or another. It provides: Food, Drink, Fuel, Timber.

• Coconut is often called the “Tree of Life”
• World Leading Producers Indonesia (1st), Philippines (2nd), India (3rd)
• The four major coconut-producing states in India (accounting for more than 90% of area and production) are: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh

Coconut Development Board (CDB), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, promotes integrated development of coconut cultivation and industry in the country.

Uses of Different Parts of the Coconut Tree

Coconut Water

• The water inside the tender coconut is a natural isotonic beverage with high electrolyte content.
• Rich in potassium, magnesium, and natural sugars.
• Commonly used as a natural remedy for dehydration and digestive disorders.

Coconut Oil

• Used as edible oil in many South Indian and coastal cuisines.
• Has antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties.
• Commonly used in hair care, skin moisturization, and massage therapy.

Climate and Soil

• Climate: Essentially a tropical plant
• Ideal Temperature: 27 ± 5°C
• Humidity: More than 60%

Cultivars and Hybrids

• Tall Cultivars; Laccadive Ordinary, Andaman Ordinary, Philippines, J, ava, Cochin-China, Kappadam
• Dwarf Cultivars; Chowghat Green Dwarf, Chowghat Orange Dwarf, Malayan Green Dwarf, Malayan Orange Dwarf
• Hybrid Cultivars; D × T, Kalpasankara, Kalpashree

Planting Material

• Propagated through seedlings raised from selected seednuts
• Generally, 9 to 12-month-old seedlings are used for planting
• Early splitting of leaves is another selection criterion for good seedlings

• Pollination in Coconut; Coconut is mainly cross-pollinated, especially in tall varieties, although dwarf varieties may show some self-pollination. Pollination is primarily carried out by insects (entomophily), especially bees and weevils.

• Life Span and Bearing Age: Life Span: 60 to 80 years (productive up to 60 years), Bearing Age: Begins to bear fruit after 5–7 years in tall varieties and 3–4 years in dwarf and hybrids.

• Time of Planting: Transplanting is done at the beginning of the South-West monsoon

• Planting Method: Pits should be filled with topsoil and powdered cow dung/compost up to a depth of 50–60 cm

Husk Burial: Burying fresh or dried coconut husks is beneficial for moisture retention, especially in drought-prone areas

• Methods:
  • Linear trenches: 3 m away from the trunk between rows of palms
  • Circular trenches: around the palm at a 2 m distance from the trunk

Yield: 60–80 nuts per palm per year

Pests

• Rhinoceros Beetle
• Symptoms: Adult beetle bores into unopened fronds and spathes, Attacked fronds show geometric cuts when opened
• Control: Hook out the beetle using a beetle hook.

• Red Palm Weevil
• Symptoms:
  • Presence of holes on the stem
  • Oozing of viscous brown fluid
  • Extrusion of chewed-up fibres through the hole
  • Sometimes gnawing sound of grubs is audible

• Black-headed Caterpillar
• Symptoms:
  • Severe attack from January to May
  • Caterpillars feed on green matter from lower leaf surface, hiding in silk and frass galleries
  • In severe cases, all green matter of leaves is eaten up

Diseases

• Bud Rot
• Symptoms:
  • Early symptom: Yellowing of one or two young leaves
  • Appearance of black spots on spindle leaves
  • Later: Spindle withers and drops down

• Leaf Rot
• Symptoms:
  • Blackening and shriveling of leaflet tips in central spindle and young leaves
  • Affected parts break off in bits
  • Leads to gradual weakening of the tree and decline in yield

• Stem Bleeding
• Symptoms:
  • Reddish-brown liquid exuding through cracks on the stem
  • Decaying of tissues at the bleeding point

• Root (Wilt) Disease
• Symptoms:
  • Abnormal bending/ribbing of leaflets
  • Flaccidity of leaves
  • General yellowing followed by marginal necrosis
  • Abnormal button shedding
  • Reduced crown and number of leaves
  • Gradual reduction in yield