Abstract
Coconut (Cosos nucifera) copra and oil palma (Ealeis guineensis) kernel are the traditional sources of lauric oils. Ealeis oeifera, Cuphea and Orbignya also have the potential to produce lauric oils. These are found in tropical and temperature regions of the world. Reports indicate that it is also possible to produce lauric acid in rapessed using transformation techniques.Oil palm has the advantage of producing bothe mesocarp and palm kernel oils. The latter has physical and chemical properties similar to coconut oil. Cultivation of the oil palm has been increasing for the past two decades in Malaysia. This, palm and palm kernel oils have become important sources of raw materiales for the oleochemical industry. At presente, mesocarp and mesocarp oil are emphasized in oil palm breeding at the expense of the kernel. Howeverm an economic analysis shows that breeding for the highest possible content of kernel in oil palm fruits yields the highest rate of return from the oil palm. The kenerel/bunch content of curent oil palm-planting material is 4-8%. The natural variation for kernel/bunch in oil palm germ plasm ranges from 6-12% at family mean levels. Over the past 20 years, PORIM has assembled the largest oil palm germ plasm collection in the world. Some of the palms collected in Africa give kernel/bunch (K/B)15%. The prospects ae bright to double the kernel content of future oil palm planting material. Kernel/bunch is highly heritable and maternally inherited.14 ref.Coconut (Cosos nucifera) copra and oil palma (Ealeis guineensis) kernel are the traditional sources of lauric oils. Ealeis oeifera, Cuphea and Orbignya also have the potential to produce lauric oils. These are found in tropical and temperature regions of the world. Reports indicate that it is also possible to produce lauric acid in rapessed using transformation techniques.Oil palm has the advantage of producing bothe mesocarp and palm kernel oils. The latter has physical and chemical properties similar to coconut oil. Cultivation of the oil palm has been increasing for the past two decades in Malaysia. This, palm and palm kernel oils have become important sources of raw materiales for the oleochemical industry. At presente, mesocarp and mesocarp oil are emphasized in oil palm breeding at the expense of the kernel. Howeverm an economic analysis shows that breeding for the highest possible content of kernel in oil palm fruits yields the highest rate of return from the oil palm. The kenerel/bunch content of curent oil palm-planting material is 4-8%. The natural variation for kernel/bunch in oil palm germ plasm ranges from 6-12% at family mean levels. Over the past 20 years, PORIM has assembled the largest oil palm germ plasm collection in the world. Some of the palms collected in Africa give kernel/bunch (K/B)15%. The prospects ae bright to double the kernel content of future oil palm planting material. Kernel/bunch is highly heritable and maternally inherited.