Assessment of Oil Palm Pollinating Weevil (<i>Elaeidobius kamerunicus</i>) Population Density in Biparental <i>dura</i> × <i>pisifera</i> Hybrids on Deep Peat-Soil in Perak State, Malaysia
Senesie Swaray,
Mohd Y. Rafii,
Mohd Din Amiruddin,
Mohd Firdaus Ismail,
Syari Jamian,
Momodu Jalloh,
Yusuff Oladosu,
Mohd Mustakim Mohamad,
Marhalil Marjuni,
Olalekan Kazeem Kolapo,
Samuel Chibuike Chukwu
Affiliations
Senesie Swaray
Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang 43400 UPM, Selangor, Malaysia
Mohd Y. Rafii
Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang 43400 UPM, Selangor, Malaysia
Mohd Din Amiruddin
Advanced Biotechnology and Breeding Centre, Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), 6 Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi, Kajang 43000, Selangor, Malaysia
Mohd Firdaus Ismail
Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang 43400 UPM, Selangor, Malaysia
Syari Jamian
Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400 UPM, Selangor, Malaysia
Momodu Jalloh
Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang 43400 UPM, Selangor, Malaysia
Yusuff Oladosu
Laboratory of Climate-Smart Food Crop Production, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400 UPM, Selangor, Malaysia
Mohd Mustakim Mohamad
Advanced Biotechnology and Breeding Centre, Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), 6 Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi, Kajang 43000, Selangor, Malaysia
Marhalil Marjuni
Advanced Biotechnology and Breeding Centre, Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), 6 Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi, Kajang 43000, Selangor, Malaysia
Olalekan Kazeem Kolapo
Laboratory of Climate-Smart Food Crop Production, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400 UPM, Selangor, Malaysia
Samuel Chibuike Chukwu
Laboratory of Climate-Smart Food Crop Production, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400 UPM, Selangor, Malaysia
This study was conducted to assess the Elaeidobius kamerunicus (EK) population density among the biparental dura × pisifera hybrids’ palms on deep peat-soil. Twenty-four hybrids derived from 10 genetic sources were used. Variance analysis showed that the EK population density varies between different oil palm hybrids, with a more noticeable variation of a low population mean in the male weevil across the hybrids. The highest weevil population mean/spikelet was attained on the third day of anthesis. The maximum monthly population of EK/spikelet (12.81 ± 0.23) and population density of EK (1846.49 ± 60.69) were recorded in January. Accordingly, 41.67% of the hybrids recorded an EK population density greater than the trial means of 973.68 weevils. Hybrid ECPHP550 had the highest mean of EK/spikelet (10.25 ± 0.11) and the highest population density of EK/palm (1241.39 ± 73.74). The parental mean population was 963.24 weevils and parent Deli-Banting × AVROS recorded the highest EK population density (1173.01). The overall results showed a notable disparity in the EK population among the biparental hybrids. Parental Deli-Banting × AVROS and hybrid ECPHP550 could be more useful to optimize the weevil population for pollination improvements in palm plantations. However, we suggest that volatile production should be included as a desirable trait in oil palm selective breeding.
