Oil palm breeding progress in Central American
Publicación:
Revista Palmas; Vol. 31 Núm. especial, (2010); 126-143
0121-2923
Revista Palmas; Vol. 31 Núm. especial, (2010); 126-143
0121-2923
Abstract
Oil palm breeding in Central America is linked to the history of the United Fruit Company, responsible for the introduction and spread of oil palm in tropical America in the late thirties. The experience gained in the first commercial plantation projects in Central America led to exchange of Germoplasm of different origins, with renowned institutions in Asia and Africa. Several stocks Dura and Tenera / Pisifera were introduced since 1970 in Costa Rica, and samples of the Deli Dura population, sources of AVROS and Ekona pollen and compact populations of DxP progeny were planted in Honduras. These formed the basis for breeding programs and seed production in Central America. In Costa Rica, the ASD breeding program has been focused on three areas: the development of E. guineensis varieties, the selection of oleifera palms to produce interspecific hybrids, and the development of composite planting materials by mixing E. guineensis and E. oleifera genes. This work has allowed for the development of over 10 different varieties, now occupying about 1.2 million hectares in the main oil palm growing regions of the world. Perhaps the most outstanding achievement of the ASD program has been the consolidation of high density varieties and clones, as an alternative to increase production per hectare. El mejoramiento genético de la palma aceitera en Centroamérica está ligado a la historia de la empresa United Fruit Company, responsable de su introducción y diseminación en América tropical, a finales de la década del treinta. La experiencia generada en las primeras plantaciones comerciales en Centroamérica motivó proyectos de intercambio de germoplasma de origen diverso, con instituciones de renombre en Asia y África. Varias poblaciones Dura y Ténera/Pisífera se introdujeron desde 1970 en Costa Rica, y muestras de la población Deli Dura, fuentes de polen AVROS y Ekona y progenies DxP de la población compacta, se sembraron en Honduras. Estas constituyeron la base de los programas de mejoramiento genético y producción de semillas en Centroamérica. En Costa Rica, el programa de mejoramiento genético de ASD se ha concentrado en tres áreas: el desarrollo de variedades E. guineensis, la selección de palmas oleífera para la producción de híbridos interespecíficos y el desarrollo de materiales compuestos o mezclas de genes de E. guineensis y E. oleífera. Esta labor ha permitido desarrollar más de 10 variedades distintas, con las cuales se han sembrado 1,2 millones de hectáreas en las principales regiones palmeras del mundo. Quizás el logro más sobresaliente del programa de ASD ha sido la consolidación de variedades y clones de alta densidad, como una alternativa para incrementar la producción por hectárea.
Oil palm breeding in Central America is linked to the history of the United Fruit Company, responsible for the introduction and spread of oil palm in tropical America in the late thirties. The experience gained in the first commercial plantation projects in Central America led to exchange of Germoplasm of different origins, with renowned institutions in Asia and Africa. Several stocks Dura and Tenera / Pisifera were introduced since 1970 in Costa Rica, and samples of the Deli Dura population, sources of AVROS and Ekona pollen and compact populations of DxP progeny were planted in Honduras. These formed the basis for breeding programs and seed production in Central America. In Costa Rica, the ASD breeding program has been focused on three areas: the development of E. guineensis varieties, the selection of oleifera palms to produce interspecific hybrids, and the development of composite planting materials by mixing E. guineensis and E. oleifera genes. This work has allowed for the development of over 10 different varieties, now occupying about 1.2 million hectares in the main oil palm growing regions of the world. Perhaps the most outstanding achievement of the ASD program has been the consolidation of high density varieties and clones, as an alternative to increase production per hectare.
Palabras clave:
palma de aceite
elaeis guineensis
mejora genética
hibridación
mejoramiento de plantaciones
América Central
palma de aceite
elaeis guineensis
mejora genética
hibridación
mejoramiento de plantaciones
América Central