Evaluating Coconut Fruit Components for Processing Potential: A Study of Recommended Cultivars in Sri Lanka

The study evaluated the processing potential of fruit component of recommended coconut cultivars in Sri Lanka, namely, CRIC 60, CRIC 65, CRISL 98, CRISL 2004, CRISL 2012, CRISL 2013, and CRISL 2020. Mature nuts were collected from six palms of each variety at the Raddegoda Estate, Kurunegala, Intermediate zone. Measurement included weights of the fresh nuts (FNW), de-husked nuts (DNW), husk (HW), shell (SW), kernel (KW), and nut water (WW). The proportion of each component relative to FNW was calculated. Kernel subjected to dry matter (DM) and crude fat (CF) content analyses. Then coconut milk (CM) was extracted and yield was measured. The quality of the coconut milk was assessed by measuring total solids (TS) content. Data were analyzed using a CRD design with one-way ANOVA, under the GLM and mean were compared using Tukey’s test at α=0.05. The highest FNW, DNW, SW, and KW were observed in CRIC98. The proportion of husk, shell, kernel, and nut water components relative to the fresh weight did not reveal any consistent pattern among the cultivars. There was no significant difference for the DM% and CF%. CRISL 98 stands out with the highest CM yield per nut. However, CM per unit fresh kernel weight and TS% in CM were not significantly different among cultivars.