TYPES OF ROOTS IN COCONUT

TYPES OF ROOTS IN COCONUT

         The coconut tree (Cocos nucifera) is a member of the family Arecaceae and the only species of the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the whole coconut palm or the seed, or the fruit, which is botanically a drupe, not a nut. The term coconut is derived from the Portuguese and Spanish word coco meaning "head" or "skull", from the three indentations on the coconut shell that resemble facial features.

        Coconut palm has neither a tap root nor root hairs, but has a fibrous root system which is a deviation from other trees. The roots continually produced from the base of the trunk, which is the swollen part termed as “bole”. The root system consists of an abundance of thin roots that grow outward from the plant near the surface. Only a few of the roots penetrate deep into the soil for stability or anchorage of the plant. This type of root system is known as fibrous or adventitious root system. Coconut palms continue to produce roots from the base of the stem throughout their lives. The number of roots produced depends on the age of the tree and the environment, with more than 3,600 roots possible on a tree that is 60 to 70 years old. Roots are usually less than about 3 inches in diameter. The roots, having no cambium, are noticeably uniform in thickness.

There are three types of root in a coconut plant which can be clearly identified during different stages of the plant growth based on the surface colour of the root. They are as follows:

Creamy white root: 

        It is generally produced by a seedling plant and seen on the upper soil layer and they helps in aeration.

Light brown roots:

       The absorbing roots are light brown in colour. These roots mainly help in absorption of mineral and water from the soil. The epidermis in light brown root is a single layer of thin-walled cells that gradually thicken and become impervious with age.

Dirty brown or red roots: 

       In old roots, the epidermis disintegrates and exposes the hard hypodermis which is generally red in colour. These dirty brown or red roots help in anchorage of the coconut palm.