Fruit and Seed Characteristics of Some Accession of Cola Lepidota in Agroforestry System in South–Eastern Nigeria

The studies were conducted to evaluate fruits and seed characteristics among some accessions of Cola lepidota. Seven accessions were collected from two States in South Eastern Nigeria. Ten pods were collected from each accessions to evaluate the variation in their pod length, seed length, seed circumference, pod width, seed weight, aril weight, pulp weight and number of seeds per pod. The similar pod length of AC5 (12.33cm) and AC6 (14.67cm) and their respective seed length (8.70cm) and (10.33cm) were significantly (p<0.001) the longest. There was no significant variation among pod weight, pod circumference, seed weight, seed circumference, number of seeds per pod and aril weight. The result of the cluster plot analysis grouped AC1, AC4 and AC7 as cluster 1, AC3 and AC2 as cluster 2 and AC5 and AC6 as cluster 3. Pod weight and seed weight had a significant and strong positive interaction with other fruit and seed morphological traits respectively. Significant and strong positive correlation was found between seed length and pod length (r = 0.941**). The study revealed the existence of morphological variation in fruits and seeds of Cola lepidota in agroforestry system in south eastern Nigeria. The results from the study could serve as basis for genetic improvement of the species.