The coconut tree has become an important crop in Brazilian Central Region. Profitability, high demand for coconut water and the grower needs for supplementary source of income are the main factors responsible for the increasing interest for cultivation of coconut tree. A total of 1.700 t of coconut was commercialized at CEASA-DF in 1994 mainly imported from other regions. Despite the importance of this crop, the average of national yield is very low due to the use of unselected genotypes and undefined production system.The Embrapa Cerrados Research Center has started a partnership work with Embrapa Tabuleiros Costeiros to evaluate the behavior of dwarf cultivars and hybrids regarding vegetative growth in Brasília, Federal District. This study was established in a randomized block design with four and two treatments of dwarf and hybrid genotypes and three replications for each study. The dwarf varieties were the following: Red-Dwarf-from-Malasia (RDM), Green-Dwarf-from-Jiquí (GDJ), Red-Dwarf-from-Cameroon (RDC), Red-Dwarf-from-Gramame (RDG); and the hybrids: Yellow-Dwarf-from-Gramame x Giant-from-Western-Africa (YDG x GWA), Red-Dwarf-from-Gramame x Brazilian-giant-from-Praia-do-Forte (RDG x BGPF). The following growth parameters were evaluated: trunk (stipe) circumference, number and length of leaves.The 'Green Dwarf of Jiqui' has shown the highet growth of the trunk circumference among the dwarf genotypes, but no difference has been found among hybrids.
Cocos nucifera; nursery; selection; production system; Brazilian Cerrados
