DOST-PCAARRD, PCA Report Initial Yield Performance of 4 New Hybrids

The genetic potential and yield performance of four newly developed single-cross coconut hybrids are being evaluated through a project funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), through the Coconut Hybridization Program (CHP).

Led by Gilbert M. Eslit of the Philippine Coconut Authority-Zamboanga Research Center (PCA-ZRC), the five-year project, “Performance Evaluation of the Newly Developed Single Cross Hybrids Using Selected Varieties with Special Traits,” targets to generate performance profiles of four single-cross hybrids.  PCA-ZRC developed the said hybrids with unique and special traits, which utilized Tutupaen Tall (TPNT) as source pollen, and Sanchez-Mira Tall (SCHT), Markham Valley Tall (MVT), Malayan Red Dwarf (MRD), and Galas Dwarf (GALD) as mother palms.  These hybrids are MRD x TPNT, GALD x TPNT, SCHT x TPNT, and MVT x TPNT.  The project maintains 120 palms per hybrid at the field genebank of PCA-ZRC.

In its first year of implementation, the project team conducted preliminary screening of the extracted deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) samples from 1,632 tissue samples collected from hybrids and parental palms using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to validate the legitimacy of hybrids.  Confirmation of unique alleles among these hybrids is underway.

Field assessment showed that hybrids have an average palm girth of 80-100 centimeters and can grow to an average height of 600-700 centimeters.  Initial reproductive data also revealed that some hybrid palms, such as MRD x TPNT, started to  bloom and produce fruits 34 months from field planting, which is earlier than anticipated.  MRD pairs well with local and foreign tall varieties, while TPNT has a thick shell.  With this, the project team expects a high yield of copra and oil, good fatty acid, a thick shell, and an excellent toddy from the MRD x TPNT hybrid.