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Due to the narrow genetic base of both Deli and AVROS populations used in Malaysian commercial planting materials, exotic germplasm from Nigeria has been introduced into existing breeding populations. This study was conducted to select the best families from 38 dura × pisifera (D × P) families for the development of new high-yielding planting materials. The families were planted at the MPOB Research Station Hulu Paka, Terengganu, Malaysia, in 2007, in a randomised complete block design with three replications. Bunch yield recording, bunch quality components estimations, and vegetative measurements were analysed using analysis of variance, followed by comparisons between family means, heritability estimates, and cluster analysis. Highly significant genetic variation was observed for all traits among the 38 D × P families. Families PK 4044, ECP HP 496, ECP HP 500, and ECP HP 502 exhibited excellent yield-related traits such as fresh fruit bunch (FFB) yield, bunch number (BNO), oil yield (OY), total economic product (TEP), and total oil content (TOT). Although the broad-sense heritability estimates were low for FFB yield (15.8%), moderate for TEP (53.8%) and TOT (55.2%), the estimates were high for BNO (80.9%) and OY (62.7%). The families clustered into three main clusters with several sub-clusters, whereby the high-yielding four families (PK 4044, ECP HP 496, ECP HP 500, and ECP HP 502) were clustered together. Using these families as commercial planting materials may potentially increase the national oil yield, which has stagnated for a few decades, and subsequently contribute to the advancement of the oil palm industry in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activated carbon (AC) is becoming the limelight due to its widespread application as an adsorbent for wastewater treatment, gases, and catalysis. However, its high consumption and price have drawn more attention to the sustainable use of natural resources as precursor for AC production. This study focuses on synthesising AC from two types of oil palm trunk (OPT) fibres, a significant agricultural waste products produced by Malaysia's thriving palm oil industries. The BET surface area of about 2057.9 m2 g−1 was achieved by chemical activation with phosphoric acid (H3PO4). The efficiency of the synthesised AC was critically analysed based on the adsorption experiments with methylene blue (MB) by varying several parameters (dosage of adsorbent, pH, initial dye concentration, and temperature of the solution) to elucidate the adsorption mechanism(s). A maximum adsorption capacity of 320.4 mg g−1 at 50 °C was achieved, and the Temkin (r2 = 0.98, 0.95, 0.95) and Langmuir (r2 = 0.94, 0.93, 0.95) isotherm models fitted the adsorption process better than the Freundlich (r2 = 0.95, 0.90, 0.86) model. Besides, the pseudo-second-order model (r2 > 0.90) best described the adsorption process, favouring chemisorption over physisorption. Thermodynamics showed MB adsorption on AC was spontaneous except at the highest dye concentration. It was exothermic at lower dye concentrations (50 and 100 mg L−1) and endothermic at higher ones (300, 500, and 700 mg L−1). In a nutshell, this study reveals that OPT fibre is a promising precursor for synthesising highly porous AC for the adsorption of MB dye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study identified a set of species-specific SNPs (ssSNPs) distinguishing between American populations of Elaeis oleifera and African populations of Elaeis guineensis. These ssSNPs exhibited the expected proportions of E. oleifera and E. guineensis alleles in the first generation of E. oleifera and E. guineensis hybrids (OxGF1) as well as in backcross 1 (BC1) and backcross 2 (BC2) populations. Application of the ssSNPs across 12 natural Elaeis hybrids identified in the E. oleifera germplasm collection previously assembled from South and Central America revealed allelic proportions similar to OxGF1 and backcrosses (BC). Inbreeding coefficients (Fis) in the 12 natural hybrids were within the range usually found in OxGF1 and backcross hybrids, below the pure, wild oleiferas. In addition, phenotypic evaluation (pollen shape and leaf planation) of selected natural hybrids identified using ssSNPs confirmed that the observed morphology was generally similar to laboratory-bred OxGF1 and backcross populations. Introduction of E. guineensis for commercial purposes into the American oil palm collection is an active component of the hybrid breeding program and could have inadvertently resulted in natural hybrids in the germplasm collection. We also identified forty-four palms with high sequence polymorphism to be shortlisted for conservation, which can cumulatively preserve 90% of the diversity present in the E. oleifera germplasm collection. • Identification of species-specific SNPs (ssSNPs) distinguishing Elaeis oleifera and Elaeis guineensis. • The ssSNPs exhibited expected proportions of E. oleifera and E. guineensis alleles in hybrids and backcross populations. • The ssSNPs revealed allelic proportions similar to bred hybrid and backcross across 12 natural Elaeis hybrids. • The natural hybrids possess pollen morphology, leaf planation and genetic composition similar to bred hybrid and backcross. • Conserving forty-four palms with high sequence polymorphism will capture 90% of the diversity in the E. oleifera germplasm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Oil palm breeding involves crossing dura and pisifera palms to produce tenera progeny with greatly improved oil yield. Oil yield is controlled by variant alleles of a type II MADS‐box gene, SHELL, that impact the presence and thickness of the endocarp, or shell, surrounding the fruit kernel.We identified six novel SHELL alleles in noncommercial African germplasm populations from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board. These populations provide extensive diversity to harness genetic, mechanistic and phenotypic variation associated with oil yield in a globally critical crop. We investigated phenotypes in heteroallelic combinations, as well as SHELL heterodimerization and subcellular localization by yeast two‐hybrid, bimolecular fluorescence complementation and gene expression analyses.Four novel SHELL alleles were associated with fruit form phenotype. Candidate heterodimerization partners were identified, and interactions with EgSEP3 and subcellular localization were SHELL allele‐specific.Our findings reveal allele‐specific mechanisms by which variant SHELL alleles impact yield, as well as speculative insights into the potential role of SHELL in single‐gene oil yield heterosis. Future field trials for combinability and introgression may further optimize yield and improve sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pyrolysis of oil palm mesocarp fiber (OPMF) was catalyzed with a steel slag-derived zeolite (FAU-SL) in a slow-heating fixed-bed reactor at 450 °C, 550 °C, and 600 °C. The catalytic pyrolysis of OPMF produced a maximum yield of 47 wt% bio-oil at 550 °C, and the crude pyrolysis vapor (CPV) of this process yielded crude pyrolysis oil with broad distribution of bulky oxygenated organic compounds. The bio-oil composition produced at 550 °C contained mainly light and stable acid-rich carbonyls at a relative abundance of 48.02% peak area and phenolic compounds at 12.03% peak area. The FAU-SL high mesoporosity and strong surface acidity caused the conversion of the bulky CPV molecules into mostly light acid-rich carbonyls and aromatics through secondary reactions. The secondary reactions mechanisms facilitated by FAU-SL reduced the distribution of the organic compounds in the bio-oil to mostly acid-rich carbonyls and aromatic in contrast to other common zeolite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil palm mesocarp fiber (OPMF) and palm frond (PF) were respectively devolatilized by pyrolysis to OPMF-oil and PF-oil bio-oils and biochars, OPMF-char and PF-char in a slow-heating fixed-bed reactor. In particular, the OPMF-oil and PF-oil were produced to a maximum yield of 48 wt% and 47 wt% bio-oils at 550 °C and 600 °C, respectively. The high heating values (HHVs) of OPMF-oil and PF-oil were respectively found to be 23 MJ/kg and 21 MJ/kg, whereas 24.84 MJ/kg and 24.15 MJ/kg were for the corresponding biochar. The HHVs of the bio-oils and biochars are associated with low O/C ratios to be higher than those of the corresponding biomass. The Fourier transform infrared spectra and peak area ratios highlighted the effect of pyrolysis temperatures on the bio-oil compositions. The bio-oils are pervaded with numerous oxygenated carbonyl and aromatic compounds as suitable feedstocks for renewable fuels and chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The commercial oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) produces a mesocarp oil (commonly called 'palm oil') with approximately equal proportions of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids (FAs). An increase in unsaturated FAs content or iodine value (IV) as a measure of the degree of unsaturation would help to open up new markets for the oil. One way to manipulate the fatty acid composition (FAC) in palm oil is through introgression of favourable alleles from the American oil palm, E. oleifera, which has a more unsaturated oil. Results: In this study, a segregating E. oleifera x E. guineensis (OxG) hybrid population for FAC is used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) linked to IV and various FAs. QTL analysis revealed 10 major and two putative QTLs for IV and six FAs, C14:0, C16:0, C16:1, C18:0, C18:1 and C18:2 distributed across six linkage groups (LGs), OT1, T2, T3, OT4, OT6 and T9. The major QTLs for IV and C16:0 on LGOT1 explained 60.0 - 69.0 % of the phenotypic trait variation and were validated in two independent BC2 populations. The genomic interval contains several key structural genes in the FA and oil biosynthesis pathways such as PATE/FATB, HIBCH, BASS2, LACS4 and DGAT1 and also a relevant transcription factor (TF), WRI1. The literature suggests that some of these genes can exhibit pleiotropic effects in the regulatory networks of these traits. Using the whole genome sequence data, markers tightly linked to the candidate genes were also developed. Clustering trait values according to the allelic forms of these candidate markers revealed significant differences in the IV and FAs of the palms in the mapping and validation crosses. Conclusions: The candidate gene approach described and exploited here is useful to identify the potential causal genes linked to FAC and can be adopted for marker-assisted selection (MAS) in oil palm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Somaclonal variation arises in plants and animals when differentiated somatic cells are induced into a pluripotent state, but the resulting clones differ from each other and from their parents. In agriculture, somaclonal variation has hindered the micropropagation of elite hybrids and genetically modified crops, but the mechanism responsible remains unknown. The oil palm fruit 'mantled' abnormality is a somaclonal variant arising from tissue culture that drastically reduces yield, and has largely halted efforts to clone elite hybrids for oil production. Widely regarded as an epigenetic phenomenon, 'mantling' has defied explanation, but here we identify the MANTLED locus using epigenome-wide association studies of the African oil palm Elaeis guineensis. DNA hypomethylation of a LINE retrotransposon related to rice Karma, in the intron of the homeotic gene DEFICIENS, is common to all mantled clones and is associated with alternative splicing and premature termination. Dense methylation near the Karma splice site (termed the Good Karma epiallele) predicts normal fruit set, whereas hypomethylation (the Bad Karma epiallele) predicts homeotic transformation, parthenocarpy and marked loss of yield. Loss of Karma methylation and of small RNA in tissue culture contributes to the origin of mantled, while restoration in spontaneous revertants accounts for non-Mendelian inheritance. The ability to predict and cull mantling at the plantlet stage will facilitate the introduction of higher performing clones and optimize environmentally sensitive land resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key event in the domestication and breeding of the oil palm Elaeis guineensis was loss of the thick coconut-like shell surrounding the kernel. Modern E. guineensis has three fruit forms, dura (thick-shelled), pisifera (shell-less) and tenera (thin-shelled), a hybrid between dura and pisifera. The pisifera palm is usually female-sterile. The tenera palm yields far more oil than dura, and is the basis for commercial palm oil production in all of southeast Asia. Here we describe the mapping and identification of the SHELL gene responsible for the different fruit forms. Using homozygosity mapping by sequencing, we found two independent mutations in the DNA-binding domain of a homologue of the MADS-box gene SEEDSTICK (STK, also known as AGAMOUS-LIKE 11), which controls ovule identity and seed development in Arabidopsis. The SHELL gene is responsible for the tenera phenotype in both cultivated and wild palms from sub-Saharan Africa, and our findings provide a genetic explanation for the single gene hybrid vigour (or heterosis) attributed to SHELL, via heterodimerization. This gene mutation explains the single most important economic trait in oil palm, and has implications for the competing interests of global edible oil production, biofuels and rainforest conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated oil palm inflorescence sex ratio (ISR) and fruit set (FS) yield among 24 dura × pisifera biparental progenies on fibric peat soil, hybridized from ten genetic origins. Three-month intervals of data collection on ISR and "S-shape" procedure for FS determination were carried out in an independent complete randomized design for one year. Based on the assessment of individual progenies, analysis of variance revealed the existence of genetic heterogeneity. Five of the progenies had the highest ISR above 90%. However, 20.83% of the progenies (PK4841, PK4674, ECPHP415, ECPHP550, and PK4118) had the best normal range of ISR, indicating FS declined being influenced by ISR. Therefore, only 12.50% of the progenies (PK4674, PK4465, and PK4482) were above 60% FS critical level. Correlation analysis verified that ISR depends on the female flower and progeny PK4674 (65.78%) and PK4465 (62.62%) had the best FS and fruit to bunch. Among the parental origins, Deli Serdang × Cameroon was statistically the best for male flower production at 29.40% and ISR at 72.22%. The highest FS was recorded in Deli Banting × AVROS (54.00%) and Angola × AVROS (53.78%). However, molecular research, such as microsatellite molecular markers if concurrently used as a selection criterion with the present conventional study, could present further details to complement the present findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to determine the potential of biochemical and structural features of Elaeis guineensis Jacq. oil palm mesocarp lipases, the LIP2 gene was isolated, expressed, purified and characterized through the Escherichia coli microbial recombinant system. Gene analysis of LIP2 revealed that it is composed of 1584 base pairs which are encoded in 528 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of around 57 kDa. LIP2 has distinctive lipolytic properties in terms of α/β fold and the catalytic triad for lipase. The LIP2 lipase was successfully expressed and purified from E. coli Rosetta (DE3) via affinity chromatography. The optimal temperature and pH for the lipase activity was 30 °C and a pH of 9, respectively. Stability was profoundly increased with the addition of metal ions (Ca2+, Mg2+, Mn+, and Ni+), along with organic solvents (ethanol and octanol). pNP myristate was the most suitable among all pNP esters. In biophysical characterization analysis, LIP2 has a thermal denaturing point at 66 °C, which mostly consists of random patterns (39.8%) followed by α-helix (30.3%), turns (23.8%) and β-sheet (6.2%). From the successful purification and characterization, the potential of oil palm mesocarp lipase was able to be further explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Genetic variability study is essential in oil palm breeding program. • Significant differences were found between and within the MPOB-Senegal germplasm. • Three families were identified having high kernel content. • Five families were identified having smaller petiole and shorter rachis length. Understanding genetic structure of different vegetative, yield and yield component traits play a major role in oil palm breeding program. Based on this background, this study was carried out to evaluate the genetic diversity and heritability among 26 families of MPOB-Senegal oil palm germplasm using multivariate analysis to identify superior palms for future oil palm breeding program. To achieve this objective, data on yield components, bunch quality and vegetative traits were collected for eight consecutive years. The analysis of variance showed a significant variability among the families for most of the traits evaluated. The mean nut weight and rachis length showed high broad sense heritability value of 62.15% and 61.06% while the rest of the traits ranged from moderate to low. The evaluated families were grouped into six major clusters at the coefficient of 0.72 based on morphological traits with the aid of unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) dendrogram. This findings revealed that MPOB-Senegal germplasm exhibited important economic traits which are vital in oil palm improvement programs. Based on the results, the three families SEN02.05, SEN05.02 and SEN06.01 were identified as prospective families for high kernel content which could be the most essential sources of lauric acids for oleochemical industry. The information obtained from this study would be more useful if integrated with molecular study to have a comprehensive genetic variation pattern of MPOB-Senegal oil palm germplasm which could then be utilized in the development of core collection to preserve the widest genetic diversity with minimum family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Oil palm is Malaysia’s major agriculture product and it covers approximately 5 million hectares of Malaysia’s land. Limited land resources have been an important factor that motivated the need to increase oil extraction rate (OER). OER of oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB) depends highly on their maturity stage. The ripe oil palm FFB will produce high OER while the under ripe and over ripe oil palm FFB will produce less oil. Thus, this paper presents a method of classification between oil palm FFB into ripe, under-ripe and over-ripe categories. This research was done at an oil palm plantation in peninsular Malaysia. A total of two-hundred and ten oil palm FFB that consist of seventy bunches for each category of under-ripe, ripe and over-ripe had been used. Each bunch was scanned ten times randomly with a hand-held multi-parameter fluorescence sensor called Multiplex®3. The parameter measured was the Blue-to-Red Fluorescence Ratio (BRR_FRF) obtained from blue-green (447nm) and far-red (685nm) emission signal by using ultraviolet (UV) light emitting diode as excitation light source. The novel contribution of this research is to prove that the oil palm FFB maturity can be determined using the Blue-to-Red Fluorescence ratio index. This is based to our finding of a significant difference among the three categories of ripeness based on the parameter. Classification and Regression Tree (C&RT) method was proposed in this paper. Hundred-fifty samples were used to develop the model by trained it using C&RT method and the remaining sixty samples for the test component. By using the C&RT method, the results show the best accuracy of overall testing classification is 90%. This research will be useful for future development of non-destructive, automatic and real time oil palm FFB grading system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Non-destructive and real-time oil palm fresh fruit bunch (FFB) grading systems are of major exploratory concern for researchers in the oil palm industry. The objective is to reduce time, labour, costs, and most importantly, to increase the oil extraction rate, in order to achieve a good quality of palm oil at a more acceptable price. This research investigates the potential of flavonoids and anthocyanins as a predictor to classify the degree of oil palm FFB ripeness. This paper also discusses the relationship between these predictors and the ripeness categories period. One hundred and eighty oil palm FFB samples were collected from a private plantation in Malaysia, according to three maturity categories i.e., ripe, under-ripe, and over-ripe. Each sample was randomly scanned 10 times, both front and back using a hand-held Multiplex®3 multi-parameter fluorescence sensor. The results show that flavonoid and anthocyanin content decreased from immature to over mature oil palm FFBs. Overall, the relationship using Pearson''s correlation between flavonoids and anthocyanins was r 2 =0.84 and the most outstanding relationship accuracy was at the over-ripe stage, at 90%. Statistical analysis using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and pair-wise testing proved that both predictors gave significance difference between under-ripe, ripe, and over-ripe maturity categories. This shows that both predictors can be good indicators to classify oil palm FFB. Classification analysis was performed by using both predictors together and separately through several methods. The highest overall classification accuracy was 87.7% using a Stochastic Gradient Boosting Trees model and with both predictors. The other classification methods used either independent or both predictors together and gave various results ranging from 50 to 85% accuracy. This research proves that flavonoids and anthocyanins can be used as predictors of oil palm maturity classification. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract Background Molecular breeding has opened new avenues for crop improvement with the potential for faster progress. As oil palm is the major producer of vegetable oil in the world, its improvement, such as developing compact planting materials and altering its oils’ fatty acid composition for wider application, is important. Results This study sought to identify the QTLs associated with fatty acid composition and vegetative traits for compactness in the crop. It integrated two interspecific backcross two (BC2) mapping populations to improve the genetic resolution and evaluate the consistency of the QTLs identified. A total 1963 markers (1814 SNPs and 149 SSRs) spanning a total map length of 1793 cM were integrated into a consensus map. For the first time, some QTLs associated with vegetative parameters and carotene content were identified in interspecific hybrids, apart from those associated with fatty acid composition. The analysis identified 8, 3 and 8 genomic loci significantly associated with fatty acids, carotene content and compactness, respectively. Conclusions Major genomic region influencing the traits for compactness and fatty acid composition was identified in the same chromosomal region in the two populations using two methods for QTL detection. Several significant loci influencing compactness, carotene content and FAC were common to both populations, while others were specific to particular genetic backgrounds. It is hoped that the QTLs identified will be useful tools for marker-assisted selection and accelerate the identification of desirable genotypes for breeding.

Basal stem rot (BSR) disease caused by Ganoderma boninense has remained as one of the major obstacles in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) plantation. BSR is a destructive disease, which contributes to significant yield losses and impacts to the oil palm industry. However, to date, there is still no effective control of the disease. Metabolite fingerprinting is an established non-targeted screening approach to classify samples based on metabolite patterns that change in response to G. boninense infection in oil palm. This study aimed to compare the metabolic profiles of natural Ganoderma -infected and healthy control oil palm root samples using liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (LC-Q/TOF-MS) combined with multivariate data analysis (MVDA) and to identify potential metabolic pathway(s) involved in response to BSR. MVDA revealed differential metabolites from oil palm root associated with natural Ganoderma -infected vs. healthy oil palms. A systematic metabolic pathway analysis of differential metabolites discovered the significant involvement of amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism and biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites in response to BSR disease. Unravelling the metabolic mechanisms involved during pathogen attack provides new knowledge and fill gaps in the information related to the oil palm- Ganoderma pathosystem. • Root metabolite fingerprinting revealed differential metabolites associated with Ganoderma -infected vs. healthy oil palms. • Involvement of amino acid, carbohydrate and secondary metabolite metabolism were observed in response to BSR disease. • The metabolism involved during pathogen attack provides new knowledge related to the oil palm- Ganoderma pathosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteome data was obtained from the fruit mesocarps of the two oil palm species, namely, the African Elaeis guineensis (commercial tenera or commonly known as D x P and MPOB-Nigerian tenera) and the South American Elaeis oleifera. Total proteins were extracted from randomly selected fruitlets and subjected to proteomics characterisation by means of liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Number of proteins identified, the grouping of the biological replicates from five developmental weeks after anthesis, and the localisation of gene corresponded to the detected proteins on the oil palm chromosomes, were presented. A total of 4,116, 4,210 and 4,081 proteins were found in commercial tenera and MPOB Nigerian tenera for Elaeis guineensis; and Elaeis oleifera, respectively. Principal component analysis showed two distinct clusters that corresponded to Elaeis guineensis and Elaeis oleifera. Collectively, genes that corresponded to the identified proteins were found to be located in all 16 oil palm chromosomes. A total of 59 proteins from Elaeis guineensis and Elaeis oleifera were down-regulated for >5-fold change during the peak of lipid biosynthesis compared to the onset. The same comparative analysis revealed that 66 proteins were up-regulated for >5-fold change. About 60.0% of the observed proteins were involved in catalytic activity while 28.5% were associated with redox reaction. Based on same datasets, the tricarboxylic acid cycle and 5-hydroxytryptamine degradation pathways were found to be enriched the most (>36-fold change). These data can be used to support the oil palm gene model validation and lipid metabolism research, particularly in the areas of oil yield and quality. The tabulated protein lists of identified proteins and their expression changes from these varieties were provided as supplementary files. Raw MSF and mzid files for all the oil palm species were deposited in the ProteomeXchange (PXD017436).

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.

This study was carried out to evaluate the performance of pisifera (male parent) palms, their general combining ability, and to identify suitable pisifera palms for large scale production of oil palm planting materials. Twenty-four (24) Deli dura palms were nested into 10 Nigerian pisifera male parent palms to produce 1056 tenera (D × P) palms. Tenera palms were planted in two replicates with 16 palms/progeny/replicate. Data collection on yield and yield component traits carried out consecutively for six years. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by the mean comparison and general combining ability were carried out. These were done to know the performance of each of the pisifera parent palms. Additionally, multivariate analysis in form of cluster analysis was done using the quantitative traits. ANOVA showed significant variability among the pisifera palms based on the traits. Fresh fruit bunch (FFB) of each pisifera palm ranged from 173.80 to 211.46 kg/palm/year (kg/p/yr) with a trial mean of 191.92 kg/p/yr, while the oil yield (OY) ranged from 60.24 to 44.06 kg/p/yr with a trial mean of 53.72 kg/p/yr. Based on their mean comparison and the general combining ability, four palms (P01, P03, P09 and P06) have been ranked to be high yielding and good general combiner for FFB and oil yield. While palm P04, P06 and P09 were found to be good combiners for palm height. From these result, four pisifera palms (P01, P03, P09 and P06) have been identified to be high yielding (in terms of FFB and OY), dwarf height and suitable as pollen sources for commercial production of D × P planting materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• RAD sequencing of E. oleifera and E. guineensis. • GWAS analysis detected SNPs associated with fatty acid composition and yield traits. • Potential use of E. oleifera in developing sustainable oil palm. • Individual palms with a cumulative 90 % of variation, identified for conservation. Existing Elaeis guineensis cultivars lack sufficient genetic diversity due to extensive breeding. Harnessing variation in wild crop relatives is necessary to expand the breadth of agronomically valuable traits. Using RAD sequencing, we examine the natural diversity of wild American oil palm populations (Elaeis oleifera) , a sister species of the cultivated Elaeis guineensis oil palm. We genotyped 192 wild E. oleifera palms collected from seven Latin American countries along with four cultivated E. guineensis palms. Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia palms are panmictic and genetically similar. Genomic patterns of diversity suggest that these populations likely originated from the Amazon Basin. Despite evidence of a genetic bottleneck and high inbreeding observed in these populations, there is considerable genetic and phenotypic variation for agronomically valuable traits. Genome-wide association revealed several candidate genes associated with fatty acid composition along with vegetative and yield-related traits. These observations provide valuable insight into the geographic distribution of diversity, phenotypic variation and its genetic architecture that will guide choices of wild genotypes for crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]