Oil palm is the world's most important oil crop and crossing is used extensively in the production of commercial seed, breeding and genetic studies. This book illustrates crossing techniques to maximise success and safeguard purity, enabling the production of high quality seeds to grow-on as planting material and in breeding superior cultivars. Presenting sound practices based on scientific innovation in plant breeding, this guide provides techniques integrated with expertise and application of sustainable aspects of agronomy and crop protection, alongside information and imaging technology. Promoting green, eco-friendly agriculture, this book covers: biology and genetics, germplasm, target traits and commercial crossing; health and safety considerations in the field and laboratory; pollen collection and storage, pollen viability testing, and pollination; isolation of the female inflorescence; and commercial tenera production. Based on experience and protocols, this is an invaluable manual for students and researchers in agriculture, plant breeders, growers and end users interested in the practicalities of oil palm crossing for breeding and commercial seed production

This is a practical guide to mutation breeding in oil palm, representing completely novel work supported by the Plant Breeding and Genetics Section of the Joint FAO/IAEA Division (Vienna, Austria). Oil palm is the top oil crop and the only major crop and only oil crop not to have been improved by plant mutation breeding. The manual is hands-on, providing step-by-step illustrated methods in mutation induction, mutation detection and mutant line development for oil palm improvement. Presenting sound practices based on scientific innovation and knowledge, this guide provides techniques integrated with expertise and is authored by practitioners actively engaged in oil palm seed production and breeding. Promoting green, eco-friendly agriculture, this book features coverage of: Radio-sensitivity testing Challenges and opportunities for mutation breeding Protocol for developing mutant generations for mutant screening Services in irradiation treatments The only available resource containing protocols and guidelines on how oil palm can be manipulated for mutation breeding, this book is essential reading for oil palm breeders, seed producers and plantation companies, oil palm traders, students and research institutes across the world. It provides a resource for training, a knowledge base for people new to oil palm and a reference guide for managers, to ensure best practices in maximising sustainability and production of this important crop. .

This is a hands-on, practical guide to describe physical bunch and oil analysis of oil palm. Bunch and oil analysis laboratories are set up at oil mills to assess production, yield potential of plantations and oil extraction rates relative to targets. The higher the oil yields produced by the planting material, the less land that is needed to achieve a specific level of production, hence helping in the sustainability of the crop. Practical, illustrated steps are given in determining bunch and oil characteristics of oil palm. Promoting green, eco-friendly agriculture, this book covers: An introduction to bunch and oil analysis Health and safety considerations Bunch sampling Physical bunch analysis of stalks, spikelets, fruits and nuts Fruit sampling Nut analysis and measurements of components Oil analysis, oil extraction and measurement Calculation of bunch components and reporting. This is an invaluable manual for oil palm mill managers, oil palm plantation managers, palm oil producers, oil palm breeders, agronomists, oil chemists, oil palm seed producing companies and research institutes across the world (especially tropical zones). It is useful for those starting a career in oil palm production, as a reference guide for managers and for training purposes.

This is a hands-on, practical guide to describe field trials in oil palm breeding. Such trials are essential in almost all breeding programmes to select and verify the real expression of different target traits. In oil palm these include yield, tolerance to pests and diseases, oil quality and adaptability to the environment. Breeding success is dependent upon the genetic resources available and the effectiveness of screening amongst these for the desired traits. Many of these screens can now be carried out in the laboratory, particularly with DNA technologies. However, field trialing remains the "acid test" of commercial performance, with location and statistical design being key. Land preparation and the provision of good quality planting material, usually produced from deliberate cross-pollinations, underly the foundations of these trials. This book covers: Pre-trialing considerations and activities Land preparation Material preparation Trial planting Recording Ganoderma trials Pre-trial screening using DNA diagnostics This is an invaluable manual for oil palm breeders and oil palm institute across the world, and particularly tropical zones. It is also useful for those starting a career in oil palm improvement, those developing breeding programmes, as well as a reference guide for plantation managers and for training purposes.

This is a hands-on, practical guide to general and specific practices in oil palm nurseries to produce healthy, vigorous and uniform plants ready for field planting. There are two nursery stages, pre-nursery and main nursery. The pre-nursery receives both germinated seeds and tissue culture produced plantlets (ramets) which are planted in a relatively small area in which shade and humidity can be controlled. Once young plants are established they are transferred to the main nursery, potted-on and grown on to produce field-ready plants. Good nursery practices, using sustainable approaches where possible, aim to provide high quality planting materials for both commercial production and field trialling. The book covers: Nursery set up - pre-nursery and main nursery Fertilizer programmes Watering Culling Weeding Pests and diseases Pre-field genotypic screening and selection Quarantine nurseries This is an invaluable manual for commercial seed producers, nursery plant producers, commercial plantation companies and plant breeders, as well as researchers in oil palm. It is useful for those starting a career in oil palm production, and as a reference guide for managers and for training purposes.