Identification of superior dwarf coconut (Cocos nucifera l.) parental cultivars for hybrid breeding

Indonesia has a high level of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) germplasm diversity. However, information about the superiority and genetics of each dwarf coconut accession remains limited. This research aimed to obtain information that is important for choosing the appropriate coconut material for breeding programs and industrial use. Eight coconut cultivars were evaluated at the morphological level on the basis of 12 traits and at the molecular level by using 10 SSR primers were carried out during 2017 and 2018. Morphological observations performed at the Mapanget Experimental Garden, IPCRI, Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Molecular characteristics were studied at the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The cultivars ‘Sagerat Orange Dwarf’ (SOD) and ‘Waingapu Red Dwarf’ (WRD) showed desirable fruit and yield characters. Genetic structure analysis showed that dwarf coconut cultivars could be divided into two groups, and multivariate analysis revealed the relationship of the individual palms with one another, thus enabling the selection of palms with genetic integrity. Coconut cultivars with large genetic distances and superior characters have a good chance of producing hybrids with heterosis for fruit and yield characters. The cultivars SOD and WRD were identified as the most superior parents for the production of dwarf × dwarf coconut hybrids. © Society for the Advancement of Breeding Research in Asia and Oceania (SABRAO) 2021.