Kasaragod (Kerala): A proverbial saying in Kerala says that a coconut tree would never betray. However, there is a coconut tree in the Kasaragod district of Kerala that seems to go against the saying.
Muhammed Kunji, farmer of Haddad Nagar, at Mangad Aramanganam in Kasaragod of Kerala has grown a coconut tree by providing adequate water and manure which has borne a coconut sapling on the top instead of the coconuts.
Now even the researchers are amazed at how the coconut tree bears coconut saplings instead of coconuts. One can see twelve coconut saplings sprouting from the top of the coconut tree grown here.
Muhammed Kunji also has no answer to why or how this has happened.
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According to Kunji, "This tree was planted from a sapling from my own grove 6 years ago. Most other coconut trees which were planted along with this has started bearing coconuts. However, this coconut tree has not produced coconuts at all despite having blooms."
"The first coconut blooms appeared on the tree about two years ago. When one of those sprouted as a sapling, I did not bother much. But, thereafter when each flower bunch started producing saplings, I was perplexed," says Kunji.
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The sapling-bearing coconut tree stands about 10 feet tall right in the front yard of Muhammed Kunji’s house. Some saplings on the top of this coconut tree are 2 years old.
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According to experts, the genetic modification and changes in the somatic cells may have led to this strange phenomenon. Whatever the reason, Muhammed Kunji’s coconut tree continues to bear saplings instead of coconuts.
