Discovering the type of gene can increase palm oil production

According to a study conducted by the Malaysian Palm Oil Management Authority (MPOB), published in the journal Nature (UK) on July 24, Malaysian scientists have identified an important gene for oil palm. , called Shell gene, has the potential to increase palm oil production and reduce pressure on tropical forests.

According to the study, Shell genes form three shells of oil palm trees, dura (thick shell), pisifera (without shell) and tenera (thin shell), in which tenera is a hybrid between dura and pisifera. , there were normal Shell genes and 1-2 gene mutations. This breeding has resulted in a 30% higher rate of palm oil in fruits than dura.

According to Raijinder Sing at the MPOB's Advanced Biotechnology and Plant Breeding Center, mutations in this gene explain the important economic characteristics of oil palm trees - that is the correlation between the thickness of the shell and the size. fruit and oil production . This finding could help balance the benefits between the growing demand for palm oil and bioenergy with conservation of tropical forests in the world.

According to the researchers, the finding will help growers determine whether the seedling is a high-yielding plant within six years of planting.

The ability to identify genes right during the seedling stage will help speed up the cultivation process and reduce the demand for cultivated areas. In addition, another typical feature of the genome is the ability to determine the ripeness of fruit and the use of asexual reproduction methods in cultivation.

Oil palm trees are popular in tropical countries, accounting for about 45% of world oil production, but this species is severely damaged by the destruction of tropical forests and burning forests for coal for cultivation.