Articles
LARGE SCALE PROPAGATION OF OIL PALM CLONES – EXPERIENCES TODATE
Production rates at callus induction and differentiation (CI-CD) using pinnal segments from young spear leaves as explants and embryoid proliferation and germination (EPG) stages are low, unpredictable, and variable.
All the 24 six year old ortets cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) media incorporated with 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 
-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) gave rise to 20% calluses at 12 months from inoculation. 83% of the palms gave 3% embryogenesis.
The embryoids were subcultured on MS media + NAA at reduced concentration to obviate the occurrence of somaclonal variation.
Fifty three percent of the embryoid lines continued to proliferate, 17% died off after 3–4 subcultures; and 30% would “shoot to death” after 6–7 subcultures at 2-monthly intervals.
Rates of EPG varied among the embryoid lines within and between clones.
Embryoid proliferation (EP) predominated over embryoid germination (EG) at subculture 1–4, with 5–10% of the polyembryogenic cultures (PEC) sprouting shoots.
Percentage of PEC forming shoots increased with increase in subculture number.
For large scale production of OP clones, a continuous supply of embryoids for shoot production is critical.
EPG rates were affected by various factors.
Cotton wool promoted both EP and EG; EG rates were higher on gelrite than on agar; and monthly subculture inhibited’ EG while 4 monthly intervals favored EG.
Between 1991 to 1995, about 150,000 ramets have been field planted for evaluation of clonal performance and lab protocols for clonal fidelity.
Floral census of the 52,000 ramets at the fruiting stage showed 3.3% with mantled fruit bunches.
Out of 71 clones, 38 showed the mantled fruit problem.
Fruit mantling occurred sporadically within the embryoid lines of a clone and among clones.
So far, they could not be detected in the lab and nursery.