Abstract
In DxP seed production for commercial planting, the male parent may be from various origins, but the female parent is mainly the Deli dura. The process of selecting the parents is tedious and it involves around 1O years of assessing the performance of the progenies. Since the introduction of the pollinating weevils; problems with dura contamination is opined to be due to inadequate control measures. However, steps have since been taken to overcome it. Cloning of oil palms has remained a research project because of the problem with fruit mantling, but the use of ramets for bi-clonal seed production holds promise. It is perhaps possible to consider open-pollination in isolated gardens. With current DxP materials, average yields of above 28 tonnes per hectare has been achieved at 6 years from field planting on commercial scale and 30+ tonnes ffb per hectare per annum is not unusual. The use of high quality seedlings is considered a prerequisite for high yields. Traits being bred for, include low height increment, higher I.V. oil, higher content of carotenes and tocols in the oil. The inoculation technique being developed should enable plant breeders to screen for resistance to ganoderma. Generic engineering technology is necessary for future progress. As such, efforts in developing this technology should be encouraged.In DxP seed production for commercial planting, the male parent may be from various origins, but the female parent is mainly the Deli dura. The process of selecting the parents is tedious and it involves around 1O years of assessing the performance of the progenies. Since the introduction of the pollinating weevils; problems with dura contamination is opined to be due to inadequate control measures. However, steps have since been taken to overcome it. Cloning of oil palms has remained a research project because of the problem with fruit mantling, but the use of ramets for bi-clonal seed production holds promise. It is perhaps possible to consider open-pollination in isolated gardens. With current DxP materials, average yields of above 28 tonnes per hectare has been achieved at 6 years from field planting on commercial scale and 30+ tonnes ffb per hectare per annum is not unusual. The use of high quality seedlings is considered a prerequisite for high yields. Traits being bred for, include low height increment, higher I.V. oil, higher content of carotenes and tocols in the oil. The inoculation technique being developed should enable plant breeders to screen for resistance to ganoderma. Generic engineering technology is necessary for future progress. As such, efforts in developing this technology should be encouraged.