Genetic Variation and Heritability Estimates for Bunch Yield, Bunch Components and Vegetative Traits in Oil Palm Interspecific Hybrids

Abstract

Progeny testing of oil palm interspecific hybrids was conducted in four trials in Kluang, Ulu Paka, Teluk Intan and Carey Island, Malaysia. The interspecific hybrids (O  P) were created according to the North Carolina Model I (NCM I) mating design, using Elaeis oleifera (O) and Elaeis guineensis var. pisifera (P) as the maternal and paternal parents, respectively. Differences among O, P and O-within-P were determined by the performance (bunch yield, components and vegetative traits) of the progenies. There were significant differences among P for fresh fruit bunch (FFB) yield, bunch number (BN) and average bunch weight (ABW) in Kluang, Ulu Paka and Teluk Intan, but not in Carey Island. FFB yield was generally higher on coastal soils (Teluk Intan and Carey Island) than inland soils (Kluang and Ulu Paka). Heritability was calculated based on the intraclass correlation. Heritability estimates for these three yield components were variable, depending on the breeding material and environment in which the materials were tested. Fruit to bunch (F/B) and oil to bunch (O/B) of parthenocarpic fruits were important in determining the overall O/B of the interspecific hybrids. The O  P hybrids in Kluang showed the lowest height increment with only a mean of 14.0 cm/year, whereas in Ulu Paka and Teluk Intan, the values were higher at 24.0 cm/year and 25.0 cm/year, respectively. The study showed that the FFB yields of oil palm interspecific hybrids performed better in coastal soils than inland soils.