Authors:

Abstract

The growth and development, from fertilization to maturity, of the fruit of Cocos nucifera var. Nana form pumila and its components, were studied in terms of dry matter accumulation. The development of the fruit showed an approximately sigmoidal pattern with a substantial linear phase during which most of the increase in dry weight occurred. During the linear phase of growth the rate of dry matter accumulation by the whole fruit was about 70.9g/ month. A linear phase was evident in the growth curves of each of the fruit components husk, shell, and endosperm. The growth curves of these components also conformed to a sigmoid pattern.

The husk, shell and endosperm commenced growth in the first, fifth and sixth months respectively. Over the 11 month period of fruit development the three components grew simultaneously only over a three month period from five to eight months after fertilization. The rapid growth phase of the husk, shell and endosperm extended from three to seven months, five to nine months and six to ten months, respectively. During this linear growth phase the average growth rate of the endosperm was 39.9g/ month and the highest rate of growth was 53.1g / month in the ninth month.

At maturity the total fruit dry weight was 476g with the husk contributing 41.9%, the shell 22.5% and the endosperm 35.6%.    

COCOS, (1985) 3 16-21

doi: 10.4038/cocos.v3i0.817