Frond Base Fracture and Dynamics of Palm Oil Inflorescence Applied With Different Nutrient Sources

Frond base fracture is an increasingly common phenomenon in oil palm plantations caused by various stress factors. This study aimed to determine the incidence of frond base fracture in the plantation where different nutrient sources were applied (palm oil mill effluent, oil palm EFB, and organic fertilizers) in relation to the dynamics of oil palm inflorescence. The incidence of frond base fracture and the production of male and female inflorescences were observed in 30 sample trees for each nutrient source. Observations were made three times with an interval monthly. To reveal the research objectives, it used descriptive analysis. The results showed that the routine application of POME increased the susceptibility of oil palms to fractured fronds and the sex ratio was higher other than that of EFB; the lowest incidence was found in the palm that was given inorganic fertilizers. frond base fracture trees produced fewer female inflorescence, although the number of male ones did not differ between frond base fracture palm and healthy ones.

Correlation and Path Analysis in Commercial Tenera Oil Palms Collected from Southern Thailand

Background: Tenera oil palm is widely planted as a commercial plantation crop throughout Southern Thailand. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the phenotypic correlation and the direct and indirect effects among bunch yields and vegetative characteristics in commercial tenera oil palms. Methods: The oil yield, fresh fruit bunch, bunch number, average bunch weight, leaf area, leaf dry weight and rachis length were recorded from six commercial tenera oil palm progenies. The data were recorded between January 2019 and June 2020 at The Chaipattana Foundation’s oil palm plantation in Trang Province, Thailand. Result: Results show that fresh fruit bunch, average bunch weight and rachis length positively correlated with oil yield (rp = 0.90**, 0.50* and 0.53, respectively), while bunch number and rachis length positively correlated with fresh fruit bunch (rp = 0.58* and 0.47*, respectively). The path analysis shows that bunch number significantly correlated with fresh fruit bunch (0.58*) and strongly directly affected it (1.11). The fresh fruit bunch significantly correlated with oil yield, (0.90**) and had a strong direct (2.08) and indirect effect (1.20). These results indicate that bunch number and fresh fruit bunch are useful variables for oil yield improvement in further breeding programs of oil palm.

Root length density (RLD) of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq) in a haplic Luvisol in Chiapas, Mexico

The tight relationship between root architecture and uptake capacity of soil water and minerals, is well established. Support roots, generally long-lived, perform support functions such as transportation and food storage. Absorbing roots, thin and short-lived, absorb nutrients and regulate plant metabolism. Roots distribution in the soil profile is crucial for plant development. It optimizes resource usage and ensures a prompt response to seasonal changes. This work aimed to study the vertical distribution of the root system of nine-year-old oil palms in a haplic Luvisol, low fertility, moderately acidic, with Nitrogen (N) and Potassium (K) deficiency, average content of Phosphorous (P), and medium to low Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC). Using the cylinder method, soil samples were collected every 10 cm and down to 150 cm of soil depth, from each cardinal side of three soil profiles. The results showed that oil palms had good root development. Most roots (73%) were found in the first 30 cm of soil, with a predominance of fine roots (78%). At 50 cm in depth, fine roots represented 88%, thin roots, 67% and medium roots, 94%. Further study should assess root length density at 15, 20, 25, and 30 years. Highlights - Haplic luvisols are optimal soils for oil palm cultivation due to their depth (> 150cm), over 50% base saturation, and pH of 5.5-6.6. - Root length density (RLD) decreased as soil depth increased. Although most oil palm roots are found in surface horizons, roots can still be found at depths of up to 1.5-5 m. - The highest number of oil palm roots (73%) was found in the first 30 cm, with 78% of fine roots. - Fine roots were distributed throughout the entire soil profile, evidencing high nutrient-absorption and metabolic activities.

Agronomical Performances of Angolan Natural Oil Palm Accessions and Interests for Oil Palm Selection in Côte d’Ivoire

In Côte d’Ivoire, Deli populations, descendants of four oil palms, constituted Group A of the recurrent reciprocal selection. Their genetic base was narrow, an obstacle to long-term genetic progress. Therefore, Angolan oil palm accessions were acquired to broaden Group A’s genetic base. Angola selfed and Deli × Angola progenies were tested via Angola selfed × La Mé and (Deli × Angola) × La Mé intergroup hybrids for bunch and oil production, height growth, and tolerance to Fusarium in two progeny trials; one in La Mé (Côte d’Ivoire) and the other one in Bangun Bandar (Indonesia). On average, bunch yield (183 kg/palm/year) and oil yield (5.34 t/ha) were close to those of the control. The best 5 hybrids represented 104-112% of the control all traits put together. In addition, Angolan origin has transmitted tolerance to Fusarium to its progenies (Fusarium index = 80-90). [(Deli × Angola)’s LM 5448 T] × La Mé hybrids yielded 241.4 kg/palm/year of bunch and 7.30 t/ha of palm oil. Their mean height was comparable to that of the control and the Fusarium index low (82). Therefore, LM 5448 T was selected for further crop improvements. The modalities of its use were proposed.

Distribution of polyprenol and dolichol in oil palms from Pisifera parents and mature plants from tissue culture propagation

Kartika EBA, Siregar LAM, Basyuni M. 2021. Distribution of polyprenol and dolichol in oil palms from Pisifera parents and mature plants from tissue culture propagation. Biodiversitas 22: 3423-3436. Oil palm tissue culture is carried out through indirect embryogenesis, which causes somaclonal diversity to occur at the in vitro propagation stage, especially in the callus growth phase. In the cells of all living organisms can be found a group of polyisoprenoid compounds. This study aims to determine variations in oil palm plants resulting from tissue culture based on the presence of polyisoprenoid compounds. Oil palm leaf samples (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) were collected from the plantation of PT. Socfin Indonesia, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Sample extraction, saponification, isolation of polyisoprenoid compounds, and two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography analysis were carried out to obtain data related to total lipids, polyprenol and dolichol profile, and Carbon (C) chain length polyprenol and dolichol from oil palm leaves of Pisifera parents and their propagated derivatives by indirect embryogenesis. The results showed that the amount of polyisoprenoid mother S24 was 2.41 mg/g higher than that of the parentS8 at 2.17 mg/g dry weight. Total polyisoprenoid fromS8 plants in vitro ranged from 0.71 - 8.53 mg/g dry weight, with the lowest total polyisoprenoid found atS894/22 and the highest was found atS893/2. While for total polyisoprenoid from plant tissue culture of Pisifera S24 ranged from 0.73 - 8.05 mg/g dry weight, with the lowest total polyisoprenoid found at S24H14 and the highest was found at S24H16. The parent plants of Pisifera S8 and S24, as well as plants resulting from tissue culture, were categorized as having lipid pattern type II, which showed a balanced distribution of polyprenol with dolichol. The longest carbon chain was found in vitro plantsS8 93/4 ranged from C50-C110, while the shortest was found in plants produced in vitro S24H7 starting from C45-C55. There were variations in the carbon chain length of polyprenol and dolichol in the leaf samples derived from in vitro propagation of the Pisifera S8 and S24 parents.

Ganoderma boninense (basal stem rot of oil palm).

Darmono (1998) described disease incidence of 51% in some areas of Sumatra, Indonesia. More recent estimation of disease is provided for Malaysia and Sumatra in Paterson (2019, a, b). Basal stem rot (BSR) infection of oil palms in Thailand remains low (Likhitekaraj and Tummakate, 2000): Pornsuriya et al. (2013) indicated that levels were at 1.53%, although they state that the disease was experienced widely in southern plantations. The BSR levels may be influenced by being contiguous with peninsular Malaysia where the disease levels are high (Paterson, 2019b). A scenario of 10% infection currently is a reasonable scenario for Thailand. Papua New Guinea has an important palm oil industry (Corley and Tinker, 2015). The level of BSR in Papua New Guinea is not as high as in some other areas of South-East Asia although 50% has been recorded (Pilotti, 2005; Pilotti et al., 2018). An average of 25% infection is a plausible scenario for this country as the initial level is lower than that used for Malaysia and Sumatra, Indonesia. The Philippines has an oil palm industry at a lower level than that of Thailand (Corley and Tinker, 2015). BSR will be low as the plantations have not been established recently (Woods, 2015) and distances between plantations will be high. Equally, there are no reports of infection by BSR in the literature. Hence a low level of BSR can be expected. BSR of oil palms has been recorded widely throughout the tropics and is considered as a serious disease in Africa and South America.

Identification and evaluation of bunch components of Nigerian source oil palms (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) from Hut Bay, Little Andaman Island, India

Aim: The present study was carried out with an aim to select promising individual oil palms from Nigerian source population at Hut Bay, Little Andaman Island for utilization in breeding programme, enrich germplasm assemblage and conservation in the field gene bank. Methodology: The Nigerian source oil palm were subjected to fruit cut testing and evaluated for eleven bunch quality components of horticultural importance at Oil Palm Research Centre, Palode in Kerala. Results: The maximum standard deviation was observed for total number of fruits followed by total number of spikelet and percentage of shell/fruit, whereas highest CV % was recorded for bunch weight followed by oil to bunch %, single fruit weight and single nut weight. The four identified palms had maximum values of bunch components viz, total number of spikelet, single fruit weight, total number of fruits, mesocarp tofruit and oil to bunch with 262, 15.79g, 2246, 73.79 % and 37.3 %, respectively. Principal Component Analysis of bunch components revealed that the first three principal components accounted for 79.1% of the variability observed with Eigen value more than one. The most important bunch components that contributed more to the diversity of the oil palms are fruit to bunch, single nut weight, single kernel weight, bunch weight, total number of spikelets, total number of fruits and shell thickness. Interpretation: The significant genetic diversity observed among the individual palms of Nigerian source suggests that these palms are best donors of new genes for oil palm improvement as well as widening the genetic base.

Elaeis guineensis (African oil palm).

E. guineensis, the oil palm or African oil palm, is native to equatorial Africa, although the only other species in the genus (E. oleifera) is indigenous to South and Central America. E. guineensis, however, is the major economic species: fruits of E. oleifera have a much lower oil content and are used only locally (Westphal and Jansen, 1989). However, E. guineensis was introduced into South America during the time of the slave trade, and naturalized groves are reported in coastal areas of Brazil near Bélem. In the mid-1800s it was introduced to South-East Asia via the Botanic Gardens in Bogor, Indonesia. The first oil-palm estates in Sumatra (since 1911) and Malaysia (since 1917) used plant material from second- and third-generation descendants of the original Bogor palms, from which one of the breeding populations, the Deli Dura, is derived (Westphal and Jansen, 1989). After soyabean, E. guineensis is the second most important crop worldwide for the supply of edible vegetable oil. Palm oil kernel, for example, is a major agricultural export from Malaysia, and South-East Asia is the main area of production.E. guineensis yields two types of oil: palm oil from the fleshy mesocarp, and palm-kernel oil from the kernel, in a volume ratio 10:1. Most palm oil is used in food preparation (margarines, and industrial frying oils used to prepare snack foods, etc.). Palm-kernel oil is similar in composition and properties to coconut oil, and is used in confectionery, where its higher melting point is particularly useful. It is also used in the manufacture of lubricants, plastics, cosmetics and soaps. The oil palm is a monoecious, erect, single-stemmed tree usually 20-30 m high. The root system is shallow and adventitious, forming a dense mat in the top 35 cm of the soil. The main stem is cylindrical, up to 75 cm diameter. E. guineensis palm fronds are not as suitable for thatching as other palm species, as the leaflets attach to the rachis at two angles. The oil palm is indigenous to the lowland humid tropics, and thrives on a good moisture supply and relatively open conditions. It can tolerate fluctuating water-tables with periods of standing water, although continuously flooded conditions are unsuitable. Sites often selected as suitable for oil palm are swamps, riverbanks, or sites considered too moist for tropical rain forest trees. Rainfall is often the major factor limiting production in plantations: highest yields occur where rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year, with an optimum of 150 mm per month (Westphal and Jansen, 1989). Oil palms can grow on a variety of soil types, from sandy soils to lateritic red and yellow podzols, young volcanic soils, alluvial clays and peat soils; water-holding capacity appears to be the most important soil criterion. It is a demanding crop in terms of soil nutrients. The oil palm also has potential for incorporation into agroforestry practices. Traditional oil palm management in some areas of West Africa often incorporated both pure oil palm groves (perhaps selectively retained), scattered oil palms within temporary fields, and unexploited oil palms in mixed forest (Gupta, 1993). Harvesting of fruits usually starts about 2½ years after field planting; bunches ripen throughout the year and so harvesting usually takes place at intervals of 2 to 3 weeks in any particular area. Because oil palm is so responsive to environmental conditions, yields may vary greatly. However, over the lifetime of a palm tree, yields generally rise to a maximum in the first 6-8 years (after field planting), and will subsequently decline slowly. In Malaysia and Sumatra, well-managed plantations yield between 24 and 32 tonnes/hectare of fruit bunches; the oil yield from this will be between 4.8 and 7 tonnes/hectare. Oil palm plantations are often regarded as a better use of the land than annual food crops in humid tropical areas where soils are prone to leaching: the plantations provide continuous ground cover, and the palm canopy helps protect against soil erosion. Oil palm stems are increasingly used as a raw material for paper and composite board production. This area has big prospects in wood-based industries. It is recommended that more research is undertaken into the properties and utilization. Propagation techniques, the management of pests and diseases, and genetic resources are other areas in which studies could usefully be undertaken.