Central Coconut Research Station, Kasaragod, Kerala
Gytological consequences of inbreeding in a few geographically distinct exotic varieties of coconut palms available at Central Coconut Research Station, Kasaragod were studied. Inbred and open-pollinated progenies of Laccadive, Andaman, Philippine, New Guinea and Cochin China varieties and green, yellow and orange types of dwarf variety of indigenous and Malayan origin were screened for their meiotic behaviour.
Meiosis was comparatively more regular in both inbred and open-pollinated progenies of Laccadive variety.
Inbred progenies of Philippines and Andaman varieties and both inbred and open pollinated progenies of Cochin China and New Guinea show comparatively higher frequency of chromosome aberrations and higher percentage of pollen sterility. It is suggested that inbreeding depression observed in Philippine, Andaman and Cochin China varieties and lack of inbreeding depression in Laccadive varieties is either due to the difference in the intensity of inbreeding and selection between these geographically distinct varieties or to the Laccadive genotypes being comparatively less sensitive to inbreeding.
