Morphological Variability of 23 Kola Genotypes [Cola nitida (Vent.) Schott & Endl.] from Côte d'Ivoire and Nigeria

Twenty-three (23) kola genotypes from Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria were assessed for their morphological traits. The objective of this study was to identify potentially promising genotypes for kola productivity improvement. This study highlighted the significant variations in phenotypic traits between the two origins, except for nuts length. Genotypes from Côte d’Ivoire produced large follicles with more nuts. Those from Nigeria have large leaves, thick cortex, and large but few nuts. Correlation analyses revealed complex relationships among these characteristics, potentially influencing yield. Furthermore, the classification of genotypes into clusters highlighted notable differences in terms of fruit weight and nut size. Cluster 2 (CIV-313, CIV-322, NIG-330, NIG-341, and NIG-352) stands out as the most interesting, showing the highest values for these traits. These findings could be valuable in productivity and quality improvement programs for kola nuts, by incorporating specific characteristics of each genotype to meet agronomic goals.