Oil Palm Breeding
Genetics and Genomics

The oil palm is a remarkable crop, producing around 40% of the world?s vegetable oil from around 6% of the land devoted to oil crops. Conventional breeding has clearly been the major focus of genetic improvement in this crop. A mix of improved agronomy and management, coupled with breeding selection have quadrupled the oil yield of the crop since breeding began in earnest in the 1920s. However, as for all perennial crops with long breeding cycles, oil palm faces immense challenges in the coming years with increased pressure from population growth, climate change and the need to develop environmentally sustainable oil palm plantations.

In Oil Palm: Breeding, Genetics and Genomics, world leading organizations and individuals who have been at the forefront of developments in this crop, provide their insights and experiences of oil palm research, while examining the different challenges that face the future of the oil palm. The editors have all been involved in research and breeding of oil palm for many years and use their knowledge of the crop and their disciplinary expertise to provide context and to introduce the different research topics covered.

Contents

Preface......................................................................................................................vii

Acknowledgments......................................................................................................ix

Editors........................................................................................................................xi

Contributors............................................................................................................ xiii

Chapter 1 Introduction to the Oil Palm Crop........................................................1

Aik Chin Soh, Sean Mayes, and Jeremy Roberts

Chapter 2 The Plant and Crop................................................................................7

Aik Chin Soh, Sean Mayes, and Jeremy Roberts

Chapter 3 Genetic Resources............................................................................... 19

Aik Chin Soh, Sean Mayes, Jeremy Roberts, Nookiah

Rajanaidu, Amiruddin Mohd Din, Marjuni Marhalil, Abdullah

Norziha, Ong-Abdullah Meilina, Ahmad Malike Fadila,

Abu Bakar Nor Azwani, Libin Adelinna Anak, Yaakub Zulkifli,

Ahmad Kushairi Din, Edson Barcelos, and Philippe Amblard

Chapter 4 Plant Genetics...................................................................................... 57

Aik Chin Soh, Sean Mayes, and Jeremy Roberts

Chapter 5 Objective Traits...................................................................................85

Aik Chin Soh, Sean Mayes, Jeremy Roberts, Kees Breure,

Benoît Cochard, Bruno Nouy, Richard M. Cooper, Hubert de

Franqueville, Claude Louise, and Shenyang Chin

Chapter 6 Breeding Plans and Selection Methods............................................. 143

Aik Chin Soh, Sean Mayes, Jeremy Roberts, David Cros,

and Abdul Razak Purba

Chapter 7 Breeding Programs and Genetic Progress........................................ 165

Aik Chin Soh, Sean Mayes, Jeremy Roberts, Nicolas Philippe

Daniel Turnbull, Tristan Durand-Gasselin, Benoît Cochard,

Choo Kien Wong, Tatang Kusnadi, and Yayan Juhyana

Chapter 8 Clonal Propagation............................................................................ 191

Aik Chin Soh, Sean Mayes, Jeremy Roberts, Ong-Abdullah

Meilina, Siew Eng Ooi, Ahmad Tarmizi Hashim, Zamzuri

Ishak, Samsul Kamal Rosli, Wei Chee Wong, Chin Nee Choo,

Sau Yee Kok, Nuraziyan Azimi, and Norashikin Sarpan

Chapter 9 Molecular Genetics and Breeding.....................................................225

Aik Chin Soh, Sean Mayes, Jeremy Roberts, Maizura

Ithnin, Amiruddin Mohd Din, Umi Salamah Ramli, Abrizah

Othman, Yaakub Zulkifli, Suzana Mustafa, Leslie Eng Ti Low,

Ong-Abdullah Meilina, Rajinder Singh, Chee Keng Teh,

Qi Bin Kwong, Ail Ling Ong, Mohaimi Mohamed, Sukganah

Apparow, Fook Tim Chew, David Ross Appleton, Harikrishna

Kulaveerasingam, Huey Fang Teh, Katharina Mebus, Bee Keat

Neoh, Tony Eng Keong Ooi, Yick Ching Wong, David Cros,

Noorhariza Mohd Zaki, Maria Madon, Trude Schwarzacher,

and Pat Heslop-Harrison

Chapter 10 Elaeis oleifera × Elaeis guineensis Interspecific Hybrid

Improvement......................................................................................283

Aik Chin Soh, Sean Mayes, Jeremy Roberts, Edson Barcelos,

Philippe Amblard, Amancio Alvarado, Jeremy Henry, Ricardo

Escobar, Kandha Sritharan, Mohan Subramaniam, and

Xaviar Arulandoo

Chapter 11 Commercial Planting Material Production.......................................297

Sean Mayes, Jeremy Roberts, Choo Kien Wong, Chin Nee

Choo, Wei Chee Wong, Cheng Chua Tan, Abdul Razak Purba,

and Aik Chin Soh

Chapter 12 Field Experimentation....................................................................... 327

Aik Chin Soh, Sean Mayes, Jeremy Roberts, and Rob Verdooren

Chapter 13 Future Prospects................................................................................ 353

Aik Chin Soh, Sean Mayes, Jeremy Roberts, Tasren

Mahamooth, Denis Murphy, Sue Walker, Asha S. Karunaratne,

Erik Murchie, John Foulkes, Marcel de Raissac, Raphael

Perez, Denis Fabre, Kah Joo Goh, Chin Kooi Ong, and

Hereward Corley

Index....................................................................................................................... 425