Breeding of Areca nut

20.1 Introduction
Arecanut (or betel palm) is chewed as narcotic either alone or more
commonly along with betel leaf. Its nut has medicinal and pharmaceutical
properties. About 1/10th of world population has a habit of betel chewing. Nut
contains polyphenol (11-18 %) which includes flavonols like catechin, epicatechin,
leucocyanidin, fat (9-15%), polysaccharides (17-25%), fiber and protein (6-7.5%)
and some minerals like calcium, phosphorous and iron.

20.2 Origin
Many reports suggested that this crop has been originated from the
Philippines, Malay, Indonesia, Cochin, China and Malaya peninsula where this has
been widely used for religious purpose.
20.3 Taxonomy and Classification
The taxonomic position of arecanut as per Hutchinson is:
Phylum : Angiospermae
Sub phylum : Monocotyledones
Division : Corolliferae
Order : Palmales or Arecales
Family : Palmae or Arecaceae
Genus : Areca
Species : catechu
Bionomical name: Areca catechu L.
 Areca is given the status of a monospecific genus. The genus expanded
rapidly from its mono-specific status and at present contains about 76 species.
Areca catechu is the only cultivated species. Its chromosome number is 2n=32.
20.4 Morphology
Habit: A graceful, erect and unbranched palm; height depends on cultivars and
ornamental conditions.
Root: Adventitious root system, typical of monocots produced from base bole.
Primary root branch to give secondary and tertiary roots. Maximum concentration
of roots is within a radius of 1 m from base and usually in the top 60cm of soil.
Root hairs are absent.
Stems: Stem becomes visible when palm is 3 years old. Girth of stem depends
upon genetic variation and soil conditions. Mature stem is single, cylindrical, 30m
tall and 25-40 cm in diameter. It is green when young becoming greyish brown
with age and ringed with leaf scars. Intermodal distance reduces with age and stem
becomes thinner under unfavorable conditions.
Leaf: Leaves are borne in terminal crown about 2.5 m in diameter with phyllotaxy
2/5. Adult leaves are paripinnate with long smooth sheathing base completely
encircling stem. 1 year old seedling has 4-5 leaves, which increases to 8-12 in adult
palm. Life of an unfurled leaf is 2 years. Six new leaves are produced per year.
Inflorescence: Flowering begins when 4-6 years old. First inflorescence appears at
10th node at a height of 1.5-2m from ground, produced in axil of every leaf, leaf
sheath closely covering it until opening, usually 3-4 inflorescences per year.
Inflorescence is a spadix, male and female flowers on the same spadix
(monoecious),boat shaped spathe enclosing the spadix, spadix branched to
secondary (12-16) and tertiary rachis bearing female flowers (up to 600) on
thickened bases and male flowers (15,000- 50,000) arranged in pairs of two rows
along upper part of thin branches.
Flower:
Male flowers: Sessile, creamy white, triangular.
Perianth: 6 tepals arranged in two whorls, imbricate aestivation.
Androecium: 6 stamens
Female flowers: Sessile, cream colored turning to green
Perianth: 6 tepals arranged in two whorls.
Gynoecium: Bicarpellary, syncarpous, unilocular, single ovule in basal
placentation, dome shaped trifid stigma formed by 3 stiff stylar projections.
Fruit:Ovoid drupe with fibrous pericarp, orange red to scarlet in color when ripe,
size and shape variable, 100-125 fruits/spadix.
Seed: Ruminate endosperm
20.5 Floral Biology
Male flowers open on same day or a few days after spathe burst open
exposing spadix. Individual flowers start opening from tip downwards. Anther
dehisces simultaneously with opening of flowers. Male lowers drop off either on
the same day or the following morning. After male flowers are shed, clear nectar
oozes out from point of attachment of male flowers. Male phase in arecanut lasts
for 25-46 days.
Female flowers buds at the time of opening of spathe are cream coloured
which turns to green. They start opening after all male flowers are shed. Anthesis
is from 2AM to 10AM. Female phase extends for 3-10 days. Maximum receptivity
is between 2nd and 4th day of opening. Middle aged palms have higher stigmatic
receptivity than young and old palms.
20.6 Pollination
General mode of pollination is cross-pollination. Overlapping of male and
female phases leads to self-pollination. Wind is the main agents of pollination and
pollen is carried up to 1-2km.
20.7 Emasculation and Crossing Techniques
Remove portion of rachillae bearing male flowers soon after the
inflorescence frees itself from spathe. Cover the inflorescence with female flowers
with a cloth bag. Anther from desired male parent is rubbed against receptive
stigma or pollen is dusted on the stigmatic surface. The bag is replaced
immediately after pollination and the process is repeated till all the female flowers
in the inflorescence open.
20.8 Breeding objectives
 To develop cultivars with high yield.
 To breed cultivars with regular bearing.
 To develop cultivars with large sized fruits, more number of nuts/bunch.
 To develop cultivars with good quality.
 To develop cultivars with more number of female flowers and high
percentage of seed set.
 To breed dwarf cultivars.
 To develop cultivars with tolerance to yellow leaf disease.

20.9 Hybridization
20.9.1 Selection
In arecanut, improved cultivars have been evolved through introduction of
indigenous and exotic types and refinement of selection procedure for mother
palm, seed nut and seedling. This has resulted in the development of many
improved cultivars. e.g. Mangala, Sumangala, Sreemangala, Mohitnagar etc.
20.9.2 Hybridization
Hybridization programme in arecanut was started in early 1970s at the
CPCRI Regional Station, Vittal. Inter-varietal hybridization carried out among
Mangala, Sumangala, Sreemangala, Mohitnagar, Thirthahalli, Sreevardhan and
Hirehalli Dwarf and evaluation of seedlings with respect to their performance
led to the identification of two hybrids, namely, VTLAH-1 and VTLAH-2.
In interspecific hybridization between Areca catechu and Areca triandra, the
hybrid expressed hybrid vigor for number of female flowers, length of spadix
and girth of stem but showed high sterility.
20.10 CULTIVARS
Mangala (VTL3): An introduction from South China, semi-tall, early bearing,
more female flowers/inflorescence, high nut set, average yield 8.25 kg of ripe
nuts/palm/year.
Sumangala (VTL11): An introduction from Indonesia, tall, nuts deep yellow to
orange, average yield 12.93 kg ripe nuts/palm/year at the age of 10 years.
Sreemangala (VTL 17) : An introduction from Singapore; tall, ripe nuts deep
yellow colour, average yield 12.82 kg/palm/year.
Mohitnagar: An indigenous cultivar from West Bengal, known for uniformity,
wide adaptability, high yield of 15kg/palm/year.
SAS-1: A selection from Sirsi (Karnataka) area, tall, regular bearing, branch
compact, average yield 18 kg/palm/years; suitable for tender as well as ripe nut
processing.
VTLAH-1 (Vittal Arecanut Hybrid1):Hybrid between Hirehalli Dwarf ×
Sumangala; dwarf, sturdy stem, super imposed nodes, reduced canopy size,
well spread leaves, partial drooping crown, medium size, oval to round and
yellow orange colored nuts, high recovering of chali (26-45%), average chali
yield 2.55 kg/palm/year.
VTLAH-2 (Vittal Arecanut Hybrid 2): Hybrid between Hirehalli Dwarf ×
Mohitnagar; dwarf, reduced canopy, early yield stabilization, oval, medium,
orange nut, average yield (chali/palm/year) 2.64kg.