Potential oil palm genetic materials derived from introgression of germplasm (MPOB-Nigeria, MPOB-Zaire and MPOB-cameroon accessions) to advanced (AVROS) breeding population

Abstract

The narrow genetic base of current oil palm planting materials is the main obstacle in oil palm breeding and population improvements. However, genetic variability can be widened through introgression of advanced materials with selected oil palm germplasm. Thus, tenera performance was evaluated from 14 tenera x pisifera involving MPOB-Nigeria (MPOB-NGA), MPOB-Cameroon (MPOB-CMR) and MPOB-Zaire (MPOB-ZRE) crosses with Algemene Vereniging van Rubberplanters ter Oostkust van Sumatra (AVROS) progenies. Analysis of variance between groups showed significant differences in fresh fruit bunch (FFB) yield and its components, bunch quality components and most of the vegetative traits studied. Strong and positive correlations of FFB and oil to bunch (O/B) with oil yield (OY) suggested that oil yield can be improved by increasing FFB yield or O/B. Broad-sense heritability estimates varied from a low of 20.56% (FFB yield) to a high of 100% (shell to fruit ratio). Both PK 1858 (MPOB-ZRE x AVROS) and PK 1867 (MPOB-NGA x AVROS) progenies have been identified as potential sources of pisifera for selection due to their promising results in most of the desired traits.