EFFECT OF SEED SOURCE AND SEED SIZE ON TUBERS OF PALMYRAH (Borassus flabellifer L.) PALM

Abstract

The seedling vigour in the dioecious palmyrah palm is determined by many factors beginning from pollination. The fruit that abscise from the palm forms the source of seed for propagating the palm. The effect of the habitat of palms growing in five localities in Jaffna (The North of Sri Lanka) on tuber was compared. Length and weight of tubers revealed that the Delft seeds tuberized comparatively better than the remaining sources tested. The percentage tuberization in Delft seeds was also found to be higher compared to the other sources. Considering the seed size, where the external length and breadth of the seeds were measured and multiplied, there was no significant variation in seed size of Delft, Kayts and Mamunai. Seeds from Delft and Kayts produced better tubers compared to the seeds of Ariyalai, Mamunai and Punnalaikadduvan.