Coconut germination with three types of cuts in Sandy Bay Sirpi, Southern Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua

Abstract

The germination of the native coconut (Cocos nucifera) was evaluated using 3 types of cuts (horizontal, transversal, vertical) at Sandy Bay Sirpi, Rio Grande estuary municipality, the experiment was univariate with an Experimental Block Design (BCA), with 4 treatments and 4 replicates. The variables evaluated: mean time, percentage of germination and mortality among treatments and susceptibility to attack of pests and diseases, morphological characteristics (embryo size, leaf thickness, root size), variables were subjected to an analysis of variance with a 95 percent confidence. The highest percentage of germination of the nuts was presented by vertical cut with a percentage of 95, the second of cross section 83, followed by the horizontal cut 76 and control with 50: all of which were evaluated with a sample of 60 nuts with the different treatments. In the index of mortality at the 135 days of establishment, was obtained by T4 (vertical cut) with the percentage of 5; Followed by T3 (cross-section) with 16; T2 (horizontal cut) with 23; And T1 (control) with 50. Regarding the morphology T4 obtained better averages, embryo size (53.71 cm), leaf thickness (5.72 cm), root size (29.55 cm), followed by T3, T2 and T1. It was determined that the best treatment to accelerate the germination of the Atlantic Alto Creole coconut variety, vertical cut (T4), showed better characteristics and more germinated nuts in less average time.