Bunch yield of interspecific hybrids of American oil palm with oil palm in the juvenile phase

Abstract

To identify superior genotypes, 42 progenies of interspecific hybrids between American oil palm and oil palm were evaluated in an area with incidence of bud rot. The following variables were assessed: total bunch yield (TBY), number of bunches (NB) and mean bunch weight (MBW) from the third to the sixth year of cultivation and estimates of genetic parameters obtained by REML/BLUP procedures. High heritability values of the evaluated traits were observed. The gain estimates for TBY were 14.49% for the selection of the five best progenies and 33.36% for the selection of the five best trees, considering multiplication by cloning. A medium correlation was observed between TBY and NB (r2 = 0.33±0.021), a high correlation between TBY and MBW (r2 = 0.53±0.019) and a negative high correlation between NB and MBW (r2 = –0.60±0.018). The results indicate a high expectation of gains with selection for TBY.

Keywords

• Elaeis guineensis
• Elaeis oleifera
• oil palm breeding
• yield potential
• REML/BLUP