Oil palm (Elaeis Guineensis)

Abstract

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) breeding is described with respect to modern challenges facing the oil palm industry. Elaeis guineensis is native to Africa, but now rings the globe as a tropical commodity oil crop. A brief history of the development of the oil palm crop is given to provide a perspective on problems, challenges and breeding opportunities. Basic information is given on oil palm biology, especially reproductive biology and genetics as these are fundamental in determining the breeding methods that can be applied and developed. Since conventional breeding is constrained by the availability of genetic variation, a section is provided on germplasm collection and gene conservation. Current target traits for oil palm, and their underlying genetic controls are listed along with methods for their selection (phenotypic nursery and field trials and genotypic laboratory screens). Basic techniques in crossing (pollen collection, female bunch isolation, pollination, harvesting and seed germination) are illustrated New developments in breeding such as the potential for F1 hybrids, wide hybridisation (e.g. with the related S. American species, E. oleifera), the use of genomic selection (exploiting genome sequence data) and advances in tissue culture are described. A forward vision discusses the potential to exploit emerging biotechnologies for crop improvement including novel traits for mechanical harvesting and specialty oil production.