Production of Elite Coconut seedlings
The productivity of coconut in southern parts of Kerala is highly reduced because of the incidence of root wilt disease of coconut. It was noticed over a century ago in Kerala in 1882 Kaviyoor, Kallooppara area of Pathanamthitta District was a hot spot of root wilt disease and reported a century back. It is generally believed that disease resistance occurs at the place of origin of the disease. One of the most important constraints for coconut production in the root wilt prevalent tracts is the lack of root wilt disease resistant/tolerant plant materials.
Among the various measures for the management of root wilt disease, developing a resistant/tolerant variety is the most ideal long-standing for a perennial problem on a permanent and practical solution. During 2009-2011 KVK implemented the RKVY project entitled” Selection of root (wilt) resistant/tolerant elite palms and establishment of elite palm garden in Pathanamthitta District” in this project KVK surveyed over 8000 WCT palms in the district and identified 250 numbers of elite palms following standard protocol. These palms were yielding on an average over 80 nuts per year, with an average weight of 600g after removing the husk. KVK has produced and distributed 49,159 root wilt tolerant elite palm seedlings from the nuts procured from the selected elite palms during the last decade.
