Anitha Pedapati

Harvesting is a serious issue in oil palm plantations after 15–20 years owing to the increased height of the trees (>9 m). The slow vertical growth of the oil palm dura genotypes is desired for increasing the D × P progenies’ productivity and economic life span upto ten years. A reduced height increment has a long-term impact on harvesting costs. The current study assessed 308 genotypes generated from African germplasm. Over a three year period, the biometric properties of eleven D × D crosses were evaluated in order to quantify genetic parameters and phenotypic correlations, and principal component analysis was performed for genetic attributes of the better-performing dwarf progenies in terms of yield. The evaluated genotypes have a highly significant influence (p < 0.01) on the majority of characteristics. The progenies yielded between 165 and 208 kg of fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) per palm every year. The height increment (HI) varied between 17% and 19%, with an overall average of 18%. Genotypes G8, G300, and G221 had the lowest yearly height increments, measuring 28.98, 29.19, and 30.87 cm, respectively. The outcome of the present study shows that they are slow-height-increment genotypes with a high FFB yield (>25 T/Ha). The creation of dura parents with a slow height increment in combination with a high bunch weight helps for prolonging the productive life of the palm to more than 35 years, adding value to obtain distinct oil palm varieties. Overall, this targeted breeding effort towards developing dwarf oil palm hybrids reflects a strategic approach to addressing specific challenges in oil palm cultivation, ultimately helping to promote the oil palm sector globally.

The study was carried out during 2021, 2022 and 2023 at ICAR-Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research, Pedavegi, Eluru, Andhra Pradesh with aim to improve characterization and utilization of oil palm genotypes developed from African mother palms (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.). The clustering pattern, variability, correlation, principal component analysis and path analysis of 143 genotypes were done with the support of bunch parameters to better know the variations among them. Genotypic correlations among factors impacting oil yield describe the true link by excluding any environmental impacts. It has been noted that dura genotypes exhibit a wide range of variability in terms of yield and bunch components, which can be exploited and expanded for oil palm breeding lines development. Six oil palm dura genotypes (G9, G44, G119, G77, G142, and G124) have been identified as superior for commercial production of D × P hybrid oil palm planting materials due to their high oil to bunch percentage (OB) (>20%). Genotype G77 identified as the best performer in terms of high OB (26%), weight of oil (2%) and mesocarp-to-fruit ratio (83.20%). It is concluded that mesocarp-to-fruit ratio, oil to wet mesocarp, fruit to bunch ratio, bunch weight, total number of fruits and weight of oil are the best traits for selection and utilization to improve the existing oil palm germplasm. Further, use of these selected materials for commercial production could boost oil yield compared to the presently cultivated oil palm genotypes.

Harvesting is a serious issue in oil palm plantations after 15-20 years owing to the increased height of the trees (>20 feet). The slow vertical growth of the oil palm dura genotypes is desired for increasing the DxP progenies productivity and economic life span upto ten years. Reduced height increment has a long-term impact on harvesting costs. The current study assessed 308 genotypes generated from African germplasm. Over a three year period, the biometric properties of eleven DxD crosses were evaluated in order to quantify genetic parameters, phenotypic correlations, and principal component analysis for genetic attributes of the better performing dwarf progenies in terms of yield. The evaluated genotypes have a highly significant influence (p < 0.01) on the majority of characteristics. The progenies yielded between 165 and 208 kg of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) per palm every year. The Height increment (HI) varied between 17% and 19%, with an overall average of 18%. Genotypes G8, G300, and G221 had the lowest yearly height increments, measuring 28.98, 29.19, and 30.87 cm, respectively. The outcome of the present study shows that they are slow height increment genotypes with a high FFB yield (> 25 T/Ha). The creation of dura parents with slow height increment in combination with a high bunch weight helps for prolonging the productive life of the palm to more than 35 years, adding value to obtaining distinct oil palm varieties. Overall, this targeted breeding effort towards developing dwarf oil palm hybrids reflects a strategic approach to addressing specific challenges in oil palm cultivation, ultimately helping to promote the oil palm sector globally.