Crop improvement in Coconut, Oilpalm, Avocado, Mangosteen, Pineapple & Annona

1. SEMINAR ON
Crop improvement in Coconut, Oilpalm, Avocado,
Mangosteen, Pineapple & Annona
COURSE NO. - FSC 591
CREDIT HOURS- 1(0+1)
Seminar Incharge
Dr. Prabhakar Singh
Professor and Head
Department of Fruit Science,
College of Agriculture,
Raipur (C.G.)
Department of Fruit Science Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur
Presented by
Tikeshwari Patel
MSc. 2nd Semester (First Year)
Department of Fruit Science,
College of Agriculture,
Raipur (C.G.)

2. INTRODUCTION
MEANING OF CROP IMPROVEMENT
PROBLEMS IN CROP IMPROVEMENT OF FRUIT TREES
REFERENCES
IMPORTANCE OF CROP IMPROVEMENT
FRUIT CROP IMPROVEMENT IN–
COCONUT, OILPALM ,AVOCADO,
MANGOSTEEN, PINEAPPLE & ANONNA
CONTENT
CASE STUDY

3. Crop improvement refers to the genetic alteration of plants to
satisfy human needs. Crop improvement refers to the ways of
developing and breeding of crop varieties which are better than the
pre-existing cultivars in a number of characters like taste, height
and colour for a better yield.
INTRODUCTION
Crop improvement can be defined as an art, science and
technology of improving the genetic make up of plants in
relation to their economic use for the man kind.
 Crop improvement is essential to meet the demands of a changing
world (eg. increased population, climate change, and decreasing
land base). Plant breeding programs are continuously striving
to increase crop yield, enhance crop quality, and improve crop
tolerance to diseases and pests.
MEANING

4. Problems in crop improvement of Fruit Trees
Large size of the trees
Longer juvenile period
Presence of Polyembryony
Polyploidy, parthenocarpy and seedlessness
Fruit species are highly heterozygous nature
Presence of incompatibilty
Mass population is required for screening of promising genotypes
Genetic drag
Department of Fruit Science
Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur

5. Department of Fruit Science
Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur
 Highly productivity with good quality fruits.
 Regular, precocious and prolific bearing.
 Dwarfing stature.
 Wide geographical adaptability
 Tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress.
 Possess strong root system.
 Compatibility with scion stock union joint.
 Good processing, keeping and transport quality.
https://ecourses.icar.gov.in
Importance of crop improvement

6. Fruit Crop Improvement
Abiotic Stresses
Biotic Stresses Horticultural Traits
Diseases
Insects
Temperature
Water
Soil condition
Radiation
Development of
qualitative
cultivars
Department of Fruit Science
Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur

7. Fruit Crop Improvement
Classical or
Traditional breeding
Non –conventional
Approaches
Transgenesis
Cisgenesis
Genome Editing
Transgrafting
Department of Fruit Science
Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur

8. Long Juvenility: Biggest Concern
Crop Duration (years)
Coconut 3-6
Oilpalm 3
Mangosteen 8-15
Avocado >15
Length of the juvenile phase of fruit crops
Department of Fruit Science
Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur

9. • In coconut breeding effort are mostly limited to conventional
approaches such as mass selection and hybridization.
• There are only two distinct varieties of coconut, the tall and
the dwarf.
• The tall cultivars that are extensively grown are the West Coast
Tall and East Coast tall
• Recent development in biotechnological tools have resulted in
considerable advancement in the identification of parental
lines
Botanical name: Cocus nucifera L. Family -Arecaceae
Chromosome no.- 2n=32 Origin – South East Asia

10. Tall cultivar variety Dwarf cultivar variety
• Tall palm referred as `typica’
• Productive life 80- 100 years
• Occupy the major coconut
area
• West Coast tall(WCT)
• East coast tall (ECT)
• Lakshadweep Ordinary(LO),
• Lakshadweep Micro,
• Kappadam tall, Kampura,
Spicata, Andaman ordinary
tall, Laccadive ordinary tall
• VPM-3 (selection from
Andmaan island)
• Dwarf palm referred as ‘nana’
• Productive life 40- 50 years
• Cultivated now a large-scale
for tender nut purpose
• Chowghat orange dwarf
• Chowghat Green Dwarf,
• Malayan orange dwarf
• Malayan green dwarf,
• Malayan yellow dwarf,
• Gangabondam

11. Hybrids of coconut
T x T T x D D x T D x D
• Usually have higher
yield then other
type of hybrid.
• High yield potential
• Early bearing
• More promising
than T x D
• D x D have not
given satisfactory
results with respect
to yield potential
trait.
• In India , TxT have
not yet been
released for
commercial
cultivation due to
poor combined
ability of other
parents.
• WCT X COD
• WCT X GB best for
production of
economic hybrid
• COD x WCT have
better nutrient
utilization capacity
and responding with
lower level of
fertilizers
• Sensitive to
environmental stress
• MYD X CGD – early
flowering and bunch
production.
• However ,at CPCRI
working in it for
their drought
tolerant nature.
• LO and WCT are
desirable female
parents
• Kera Shankara
• Chandra Sankara • COD X GBGD – more
no. of fruits

12. S. No. Cultivars
name
(CPCRI)
Plant
breeding
method
Salient feature Photograph
01 Kalpa
Raksha
MGD
Selection
Semi tall variety withsweet
tender nut water
02 Kalpa Surya MOD
Selection
Dwarf with orange fruit.
03 Kera Baster Fiji tall
Selection
Widely adapted to
different agro-Climatic
zones. Quantity of tender
nut water is 332ml . 110 -
117 nuts /palm/year.
04 Chowghat
orange dwarf Selection
Indigenous dwarf
Sensitive to copper. Early
flowering cultivar. Takes 3-
4yrfor initial flowering

13. S.N
o. Cultivars
name
Plant breeding
method
Salient feature Photograph
05
Gauthami
Ganga
Selection from
GBGD
Dwarf palm with semi circular canopy
with oblong shape green colour fruit.
Used as parent in production of dwarf
x tall hybrids -----------------
06 Kalpa
Jyothi
Selection from MYD Dwarf variety with yellow fruits,
higher average yield of 114 nuts per
palm per year under rainfed
conditions with estimated copra
yield of over 16 kg per palm per year
07 Kalpa
Sree
Selection from CGD Superior quality of coconut oil very
sweet tender nut water resistant to
wilt disease.
Earliest flowering cultivar.
08 Kalpa
Dhenu
Selection from
Andmaan Giant Tall
This variety has potential to produce
86 nuts per Palm.
High lauric acid content in oil. -------------------

14. S.No. Cultivars
name
Plant breeding
method
Salient feature Photograph
09 Kalpa
Pratibha
Selection from
Cochin China Tall
CPCRI
This variety has the potential to
produce 91 nuts per tree per year in
West Bengal state. Thequantity of
tender nut water is 448 ml.
67% oil
Tolerant to drought
Pomoted as national variety
10 Kalpa
mitra
Selection from
java tall
CPCRI
This variety has the potential to
produce 80 nuts/palm/year. The
quantity of tender nut water is
495 ml.
Tolerant to drought
11 Kalpa
Harita
Selection Less incidence of Eriophyid mite.

15. S.No. Cultivars name Parents Features
1 Konkan bhatye coconut
hybrid 1
(Dr. BSKKV, Dapoli)
GBGD X ECT Resistance to stem bleeding disease
2 Godawari Ganga
(Dr. YSRHU, AP)
ECT X GBGD Oil Content - 68%
high yielder
3 Vasista Ganga
(Dr. YSRHU, AP)
GBGD X PHOT higher nut yield (125
nuts/palm/year)
Oil Content - 69%
4 Anantha Ganga
(Dr. YSRHU, AP)
GBGD x LOT having heavy bunches with average
nut yield (128 nuts/Palm/year).
5 Kalpa Ganga
(CPCRI, Kasargod, Kerala)
GBGD
x FJT
Relatively tolerant to major pest and
diseases.

16. Hybrid Released by CPCRI
S.
No
Vareity Features Pictures
1 Kalpa Shreshta (MYD x TPT) The hybrid is suitable for tender nut
purpose. This hybrid is recommended
for cultivation in Kerala and Karnataka
States.
2 Chandra sankara (COD X WCT) The palms come to bearing early
compare to tall palms. Susceptible to
drought
3 Kera Sankara (WCT X COD) The palm comes to bearing by the
fourth year of planting. The mean
annual yield of nuts is 108 with a
range of 70-130 nuts
1st hybrid
4 Chandra Laksha (LCT X
COD)
Bearing in about 4-5 years after
planting. The annual yield is 109
nuts/ palm with a copra content
of150-210g/nut.
tolerant to drought.

17. NEW VARIETY - KALPA VAJRA
• The Kalpa Vajra variety of coconut has been
produced by crossing high-yielding and root
(wilt) disease-free West Coast Tall (WCT)
palms.
• The parental palms for crossing have been
selected from farmer’s plots located in
‘hotspots’ of root (wilt) disease after
serological testing.
• New variety, meant specifically for the root
(wilt) disease prevalent tract, has an annual
average yield of 80 nuts/palm.
• While the healthy palm produces on an
average 158 nuts per palm a year, the diseased
palms gives an average yield of 65 nuts.
Source: CPCRI
Institute related to coconut improvement –
1.CPCRI – Kasaragod ,Kerala (1970)
2.CDB – Kochi, Kerala (1981)

18. ADVANCES MODE OF CROP IMPROVEMENT
Embryo culture
• At present , embryo culture has become an important tool for safe germplasm exchange as
it reduce transportation cost and meet phytosanitary certificate.
• The protocol includes direct field collection of 9-11 month old coconut embyros, short
term, in vitro retrieval and field establishment.(Karun et al.2008).
• It is also useful in producing plantlets from special coconut types such as Mochan Narel
and Thairu Thengai where the endosperm is soft and jelly like and does not germinate
under normal conditions.
(A) Example of the nut of a kopyor-type
coconut with abnormal endosperm (white,
friable) and a zygotic embryo (red arrow); (B)
embryos began germination after 4 weeks of
culture and were ready to be incised up to
halfway of the embryo; (C) incised embryos
after 4 weeks of culture ready to be split into
two shoots.

19. Tissue culture
This is utilized for scaling-up the planting material production of released varieties of coconut
particularly Kalpa Raksha which has been released for cultivation in root (wilt) prevalent areas
of Kerala, India .
a) Ovary-derived callus produced in callogenesis induction medium. b) Somatic embryos obtained after subculturing the
calli onto somatic embryo maturation medium devoid of growth regulators. Note the converted somatic embryo indicated
by an arrow. C) Early stage of shoot development of a converted somatic embryo. d) Shoot and root development of the
plantlet in conversion medium containing GA3 that was maintained in the dark. e) Well developed complete plantlet in
liquid conversion medium containing GA3. f) Ovary-derived coconut plant transferred to the soil

21. Oil Palm
Botanical Name: Elaeis guineensis jacq
Elaeis oleifera
Family: Arecaceae
Origin: West Africa Chromosome no.: 2n=32
Nature of tree Monoceious
Cultivation of the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) has expanded tremendously in
recent years such that it is now second only to soybean as a major source of the world
supply of oils and fats.
Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research – West Godawari ,AP
Oil Palm India Limited (OPIL) – Kerala
Oil Palm Research Centre (OPRC) – Thodupuzha , Kerala

22. Objective of crop improvement in oil palm
The main emphasis of breeding is to evolve varieties with high
yield of palm oil
Better oil quality with higher percentage of unsaturation reduced
height increment
Drought, pest and disease tolerance
Precocity in bearing
Evaluation and Selection of germplasm material and
hybridization between selected dura, Tenera and Pisifera were
attempted for yield improvement.
To impart resistance to vascular wilt, spear rot and Cercospora
leaf spot, identification of parental materials with improved
resistance and breeding with such materials and interspecific
hybridization with E. oleifera are being attempted

23. Variety Description
Dura Have low to medium mesocarp and it
contains a thick shell around the kernel.
Tenera (Dura × Pisifera) Commercially cultivated, high
proportion of mesocarp, thin shell, fruit have lot of pulp.
Pisifera Shell less fruit and pea like kernal
inside, high mesocarp.
Three naturally occurring forms of oil palm and its description
Gangavathi Oilpalm variety

24. S. No. Characters/Composition Dura Tenera Pisifera
01. Mesocarp proportion in
fruit
(%)
35-50 60-96 98
02 Shell thickness (mm) 2-8 0.5 -4 --
03 Oil percentage 15% 36% 25%
04 Average proportion of shell
in fruit (%)
30 10 --
05 Average proportion of
kernel
in fruit (%)
60 16 10
Feature differentiating fruit types of oil palm

25. COMBINATION FFB YIELD tonnes /
ha
OIL YIELD tonnes/ha
MALAYSIAN HYBRID
DD X AVROS 31 – 35 6.9 -8.9
DD X PUMPY AVROS 33.3 8.6
INDIAN HYBRID
PALODE - I 18 4.5
PALODE - II 17 4.4
Yield Potential of Hybrid

26. AVOCADO
Botanical name - Persea americana Mill Chomosome no.- 2n=24
Family - Lauraceae Origin – Mexico/Central America
SELECTION Reed, Bacon, Benic, Zutano Jim, Teage, pallock, Taylor
HYBRIDIZATION Fuerte, Hass - ( Maxican x Guetmalan)
Booth 7, Booth 8 - ( Guetmalan X West Indian Race)
PPH(Paradenia purple hybrid) – borne in cluster
POLYPLOIDY Maxicola – Tetraploidy is induced through colchicine
MUTATION D9 – Root rot resistance and Dwarfing effect

27. FUERTE • Fuerte is one of the major varieties in
export markets
• The tree is broad, very productive and
susceptible to both Anthracnose and Scab
• Pear-shaped fruit with medium seed
• Weight: 140 – 395 g per fruit
• Smooth thin green skin
• Skin remains green when fruits are
mature
• Creamy, pale green flesh
• Fairly resistance to cold
HASS • World famous cultivar
• The tree grows tall and requires cutting
back
• Distinctive for its skin that turns from
green to purplish-black when fruits are
mature
• Oval-shaped fruit with small to medium
seed
• Easy peeling
• Outstanding shelf-life and shipping
characteristics
• One of the longest harvesting seasons

28. PINKERTON • Pear-shaped fruit with small seed
• Large fruit that weight 225 –510 g
per fruit
• Medium thick green skin with
slight pebbling
• Green skin deepens in colour as it
ripens
• Creamy, Long pale green flesh
REED • Round fruit with medium seed
• Medium to large fruits with the weight
of 225 – 510 g per fruit
• Thick green skin with slight pebbling
• Skin remains green when fruits are
mature
• Creamy flesh with good taste
PUEBLA • Small compact fruits resembling “Hass”
• Skin of ripe fruit is black, thin and
smooth
• Fruit has a velvety flesh with nutty aroma
and a rich butter taste
• Note: Cultivars used as rootstocks are
“Puebla” or “Local varieties

29. Character Arka Coorg
Ravi
Arka supreme
(seedling selection from
local collection)
Year of release 2022 2020
Yield kg/tree 185 170-200kg
Fruit weight(g) 450-600 370-420
Peel thickness(mm) 1.5 mm 1mm
Harvesting time May -July May – July
Fat % 12-14 % 18-20%
Flowering type B Type A type
New varieties of Avocado
Note : Released from CHES(Central Horticulture Eperiment Station) Kodagu , Kerala

30. MANGOSTEEN
Botanical Name- Garcinia mangostana L. Family- Clusiaceae
Origin -South East Asia Queen of Tropical Fruit
Finest fruit of the world/Mystery Fruit/Energy Tablet
Variety Description
Jolo Introduced Local variety from Phillipines

31. PINEAPPLE
Botanical name : Ananas comosus (L)
Merrill
Family : Bromileaceae
Chomosome no. - 2n =2x= 50, 75, 100 Origin - Brazil
Breeding approaches and improvement
VARIETIES PARENTS FEATURES
Masmerah Clonal selection of
Singapore Spanish
Bears heavier fruit than the parent
cultivar (Wee, 1974).
Champaka Smooth Cayenne Originating in India and widely grown in
Hawaii.
Puerto Rico Clonal selection of Red
Spanish
Resistant to mealy bug wilt and gummosis
SELECTION
• Mostly mass selection is used for crop improvement in pineapple

32. Varieties Salient Features photographs
African
Sugarloaf
Exceedingly sweet with hints of honey and
almost no acidity, Flesh is whiter than other
varieties, Deep golden at maturity.
Hawaiian
Sugarloaf
Characterized by its smooth, cylindrical shape.
Sweet & juicy flesh .Smaller and more acidic
than other types.
Singapore Red Fruits are reddish, cylindrical, and small with
golden-yellow flesh.
Canning.
Green leaves with a reddish stripe at the end.
Red Spanish Sweet and tangy
flavour. Red colour flesh.
Great option for snacking or adding to a fruit
salad.

33. Queen Yellow skin and a sweet, juicy,
white flesh.
Queen is mostly eaten fresh also
used in juices, jams, and jellies..
Honey Cream Honey Cream pineapples smell
fragrant, sweet and floral and taste
extremely sweet, with hints of
honey and coconut.
Abacaxi Pineapples Abacaxi pineapples are very sweet.
A little too soft to use for
commercial purposes.
juicy flesh that is white and nearly
translucent in color.
Mauritius Very prominent eyes.
Table and fresh juice purpose.
Commercial in India and Malaysia

34. Hybrids
Varieties Parents Salient Features
Amritha
KAU, Mannuthi
Kew X Ripley Queen • 1st hybrid in India.
• Fruit is green when unripe and uniformly yellow
when ripe
P.R.1-67
P.R.1-56
Red Spanish X Cayenne • The pineapple is barrel-shaped having
yellow-orange exterior.
• The leaves are yellowish green with reddish tinge.
• Tolerant to mealybug and wilt disease
Josapine -------- • 1st hybrid developed from Malaysia Agricultural
Research and Developement Institute(MARD).
Josapine is also tolerant to diseases such as bacterial
heart rot and fruit collapse.
Yepoon gold --------- • It is a clone of smooth cayenne which produces
sweeter and less fibrous fruits in Winter.
H-7 Valera Monendi x Kew • Large fruit size.
• Fruit wt. – 3.0 to 3.5 kg.
Pinkglow RNAi technology • Distinct pink colour, accumulation of lycopene(200
mg/100g)

35. Jhaldhup
And
Lakhat
• These are two local types, both being named
after the places of their maximum
production.
• The varieties are cultivated for table as well
as processing purpose. Both fall in Queen
group of fruits, being smaller than 'Queen’.
• Jaldhup has its sweetness well blended with
acidity.
• Fruits of Jaldhup has a characteristic
alcoholic flavour of their own and can be
easily distinguished from other fruits of
the Queen group.
• Lakhat has a sour flavour.
Mutation Breeding
The Z- Queen and James Queen is reported to be a mutant of ‘Netal Queen' and is a
natural tetraploid. Originated in South Africa.
Indigenous Variety

36. • In 2018 the new cultivar, named Tainung No. 23, was developed by TARI’s
• Short plant height ,Short leaf length,low fruit wt , short cylindrical shape ,
suitable for summer, reduce incidence for physiological disorder.
• Tainung No. 23 has mango fragrance, delicate taste, and no apparent fibers
• This variety has a long shelf life, making it suitable for export.
NEW CULTIVAR - Tainung No. 23

37. Variety Breeding
method
Features Pictures
Red
Sitaphal
Chance
seedling
Dark pinkish with average
Quality and
more no. of seed.
APK(Ca) Clonal
Selection
from
Courtallam
(A.reticulata)
RRS,
Aruppukottai,
Tamil Nadu
Fruit medium size, Heart
shaped
ANNONA
Botanical Name – Annona squamosa L.
2n = 14
Family – Annonaceae
Origin – Tropical America
Note : Anonna montana used in fruit quality improvement

38. Varieties Inst./B
M
Parents Salient Features
Arka Sahan
IIHR,
Banglore
Hybridization
Annona atemoya
x Annona squomosa
(Island Gem x mammoth)
Fruit wt. – 210g.
Seeds- 10/100g fruit
TSS- 31ºBrix (very high)
Flesh- creamy white
Suitable – drought prone area.
Having long self life.
Balanagar Fruits are very large and heart shaped, very
good pulp and
Heavy bearer and Suitable for Chhattisgarh
Green skinned fruits of medium size.
Fruit wt. – 137g. Pulp – 44.9%
TSS – 20.7 ºBrix. Yield / tree – 48 fruits/tree
VNR
Madhur
Fruit wt. – 300g-900 gm
Pulp – 64.65%
TSS – 22-24%

39. Variety / Institute Breeding Method Features Photographs
Arka Neelachal
Vikram
IIHR,Bengluru
Clonal selection from
Balanagar
Fruit wt. 220 g
High yield ,TSS – 24 B
Low seed content
High keeping quality
Phule Janki
MPKV Rahuri
(2017)
A.atemoya x A. sqamosa
Island Gem x 7/17
Fruit wt 392 gm ,TSS
25.5 B , Modeatly r/s
to mealy bugs ,fruit
spot and leaf
spot,Used for making
iceceam
Phule purander
(JWC -1) 2017
MPKV Rahuri
Selection from Local
Germplasm from
purander Tehsil
Fruit wt 366 gm
Less seed
r/s to mealy bugs and
fruit rot.
Godawari
VNMKV Parbhani
Seedling selection from
survey under taken in
Kandhar tehsil of
Nanded dist.
Fruit wt – 750 gm
TSS -32 B
Total sugars 25%

40. CASE STUDY
Department of Fruit Science
Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur

42. RESULT
Shoot proliferation varied with the concentration of BAP in the medium (Fig).
Generally, shoot bud number increased with increasing concentration of BAP a high cytokinin-
auxin ratio favors bud and shoot formation. In both cultivars, optimal proliferation of shoot
buds occurred at concentration of 20 um/L BAP.
The cultivar 'Smooth Cayenne' proliferated better than the cv. 'Sugar Loaf. The mean shoot
proliferation for 'Smooth Cayenne' at this optima was 100 compared with 85 shoots for 'Sugar
Loaf.
Effect of BAP concentration on shoot prolifeation
Fig :-

43. CONCLUSION
 Fruit breeding is manipulation of a biological system with help of various
traditional and novel techniques to achieve the results.
 While traditional methods like Introduction, Selection, Hybridization, etc. are
responsible for varietal development in past and still quite prevalent now but
there is surge in novel breeding techniques like tissue culture, marker assisted
selection etc. in past decade to overcome the long-time barrier.
 So, there is a need to integrate both traditional and novel methods to achieve a
desired variety with desired quality within stipulated time span. There should
be combined efforts from public as well as private partners to achieve
desired results.

44. References
 Karanjalker, G. and Begane, N. 2016. Breeding perennial fruit crops for quality
improvement. Agricultural and food security, 58(1): 119-126.
 Arias, R.S., Borrone, J.W., Tondo, C.L., Kuhn, D.N., Irish, B. M. and Schnell, R.J.
2012. Genomics of tropical fruit tree crops. Springer Science, 10(6): 57-59.
 Wannemuehler, S. D., William, W. S., Karina Gallardo R. and McCracken., V. 2020.
Breeding in fruit Programme, Hort Technology, 30(3): 1-9.
 Nocker, S.V. and Gardiner, S.E. 2014. Breeding better cultivars, faster applications of
new technologies for the rapid deployment of superior horticultural tree crops.
Horticulture Research. 22(1): 1-8.
 Agrawal, A. and Kumar, K. 2021. Fruit crop improvent mutation breeding.
physiology and molecular biology plant 24(1) :175- 183.
Department of Fruit Science
Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur
 Flachowsky, G., Aulrich, K., Bohme and H., Halle, I. 2007. Studies on feeds from
genetically modified plants (GMP) - Contributions to nutritional and safety
assessment. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 133:2-30.

45. Thank you!