Recent Developments in F1 Hybrid Project

Abstract

London Sumatra (Lonsum) has continuously pursued the F1 hybrid project to produce the genetic and phenotypic uniformity of palms that highlight the exceptional qualities of the parents. Selection of haploid palms that have been duplicated by tissue culture techniques to become doubled haploid is an efficient method for producing highly homozygous palms. About 206 dura haploids and 47 haploid pisifera from different populations were obtained by abnormal seed and seedling screening. During this time, one of four dura-doubled haploids that produce normal flowers have proliferated. Due to the unavailability of doubled haploid pisifera, the potential of dura doubled haploid as a parental candidate was tested by crossing it with highly homozygous diploid pisifera (>80%). The offspring are referred to as semi-hybrids and are currently in an immature state. Going forward, the F1 hybrid project will cross doubled haploid dura and pisifera while continuing to monitor the potential of semi-hybrids.