OIL PALM (Elaeis guineensis) GERMPLASM IN ANGOLA: Second Prospection Marhalil,M* and Rajanaidu, N.* *Advanced Biotechnology and Breeding Centre (ABBC), Malaysian Palm Oil Board, 6, Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi, 43000, Kajang, Selangor Introduction The narrow oil palm genetic base is a major obstacle to rapid selection progress. Provided initial impetus for the germplasm collection in West Africa for Elaeis guineensis and South America for Elaies oleifera. The first collection was in Nigeria (1973) by Dr. N. T. Arasu, Mr. C.O. Obasola (Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research) and Dr. N. Rajanaidu. The expedition in other countries continued to collect extensive germplasm of E.guineensis, E. oleifera and economic palms. 1
Angolan first collection was in 1991. It had: high FFB and oil yields (> 250 kg/p/yr) large fruit dura ( 30g ) long stalk ( >30cm) * Expect interesting genotypes in unexplored parts of Angola. In 2008, Malaysia-Indonesia Bilateral Cooperation in Commodities, agreed to conduct an expedition in Angola jointly by MPOB, DGE and INCA. The objectives: broaden the genetic base ensure conservation of wide range of oil palm genetic resources collect and discover the potential of Angolan genotypes in unexplored areas 2
Team Members Dr. N. Rajanaidu Senior Research Fellow (SRF) Malaysian Palm Oil Board 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia Mr. Marhalil Marjuni Research Officer MPOB Research Station 86009 Kluang, Johor, Malaysia Dr. Ir. Moh. Reza Tirtawinata Kepala Div. Peng. Proyek Khusus PT. Mekar Unggul Sari Bogor 16820, Indonesia Mr. Hairinsyah, MSi Manager Dami Mas Seed Estate 22 Jakarta 10350, Indonesia Mr. Zulhermana Breeding and Seed Researcher PT Sampoerna Agro Tbk. Sumatera Selatan, Indonesia Methodology of Collection A sampling method devised based on rainfall pattern, soil types and density of palm groves. Five to ten palms per site and number of sites visited depends on the density of palm groves. Teams of collectors were divided to two different routes (Northern Angola and Southern Angola). 3
The routes to be covered for the collection as in Figure 1 and 2. Team 1 (Northern Angola) Base 1- Caxito (Bengo Province) Pango Aluquiem Quibaxe Base 2- Uige (Uige Province) Quitexe Songo Bembe Base 3- N dalatando (Kwanza Norte Province) Samba Caju Cazongo Golungo Alto Figure 1: Routes of Germplasm Collection for Team 1 in Angola July 2010 4
Team 2 (Southern Angola) Base 1- Calulu Dondo Tabangu Base 2- Gabela Assango Quilenda Gabela Salinas Base 3- Sumbe Sumbe Canjala Figure 2: Routes of Germplasm Collection for Team 2 in Angola July 2010 5
Bunch is harvested from each sampled palm and the fruits from each bunch are kept separately in labeled bags. All activities done manually (Figure 3 and 4). Number of bunches sampled per site ranged from one to nine. A total of 127 bunches from 32 sites collected. Figure 3: Fruits separation by local Figure 4: Depericarping oil palm fruits manually 6
Observation and Discussion From this expedition, we collected samples in 32 sites in Angola and natural palms groves with high variation was observed. Some accessions had bunch weight of 80 kg and some had compact traits (short trunk; short rachis length). Overall, a total of 127 accessions were sampled which yielded 24000 seeds. Observation on several important traits; Bunch Weight mean bunch weight of duras is 23.5 kg and teneras is 21.8 kg. range for bunch weight of duras is 8 to 72.5 kg and teneras is 9 to 45.5 kg. the highest dura bunch weight was 72.5 kg in Kuanza Sul (AGO 092 (Site 2803) - Figure 5. 7
Figure 5: Sample No. AGO 092 with bunch weight of 72.5kg in site 28 (Gabela) Bunches in the southern Angola seem slightly heavier compared to the northern Angola with mean of 25.7kg and 22.8kg, respectively (Figure 6). Bunch Weight (Dura) 30.00 25.00 20.00 a b (kg) 15.00 10.00 5.00 0.00 CABINDA BENGO KWANZA NORTE UIGE KWANZA SUL BWT 18.85 23.09 22.96 22.43 25.71 Notes: a-northern Angola b- Soutern Angola Figure 6: Histogram of bunch weight (BWT) 8
Fruit Quality mean fruit weight of duras and teneras are 14.1g and 10.8g. range for fruit weight of duras is 7.4g to 24.4g while for teneras is 4.9 g to 16.6 g. Figure 7a: High Mean Fruit Weight of Accession AGO 048 from site 13 (S. Caju) with 22g Figure 7: Dura Fruit Characteristic of Angola for Mean Fruit Weight Figure 7b: Low Mean Fruit Weight of Accession AGO 006 from site 2 (Cabinda) with 7.4g Figure 7c: Normal Mean Fruit Weight of Accession AGO 045 from site 16 (Bembe) with 14.2g 9
Vegetative Traits Frond length 20% accessions had frond length less than 4.5m. AGO 013 had a very short rachis length of 2.96m and height of 6m for a 15 years old palm (Figure 8). Stalk length Some accessions also had stalk length more than 30cm (Figure 9). Overall, the stalk length was moderate. Figure 8a and 8b: Sample No. AGO 013 with rachis length of 2.69m in site 04 (Cabinda) 10
Figure 9: Stalk Characteristic of Angola Germplasm Accession with long stalk (> 30cm) from site 01 (Cabinda) and site 14 (Ndalatandu) Current Status All accessions germinated (63% germination rate) with 10,668 germinated seeds already been sown in the pre nursery. 11
Figure 10: Seedlings in the screen house 1 MPOB Kluang Figure 11: Seedlings in the screen house 2 MPOB Kluang 12
Conclusion Angolan germplasm collected in 2010 had good potential traits for breeding. Several characteristic such as compactness for frond length, long stalk and high mesocarp which have been observed during the expedition will be further evaluated and utilized to generate high value planting material. Acknowledgements We wish to thank the Director-General, Deputy Director-General 1, Director of Biological Research, Head of Advanced Biotechnology and Breeding Centre (ABBC) of MPOB for the permission, funds, suggestions and comments for the success of the mission. We are very grateful to the staff of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board for their assistance in making arrangements for the expedition. We would also like to acknowledge the warm hospitality and cooperation from officers, agencies and individuals in Malaysia, Indonesia and Angola in making the mission a success. 13
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