Inflorescence and flower development in Thai aromatic coconut

Abstract

Basic information on the inflorescence and flower development of Thai aromatic dwarf coconut was developed. Histology of inflorescences of the Thai dwarf aromatic coconut, ‘Nam Hom’, was compared to that of a typical tall-type coconut. Both types had the same stages of inflorescence and flower development. ‘Nam Hom’ had the same or greater number of inflorescences than did the tall type at any of the developmental stages. During two years of reproductive development, floral morphogenesis took about one year, while sex determination occurred in 3-4 months before spadix opening. Despite the difference in number of bunches per year observed in the two coconut types, their inflorescence and flower development were not different in the length of time and in the time of occurrence.