By Monday Ajogun
Experts in the palm oil sector have called for improved oil palm breeding strategies to develop drought-tolerant varieties that sustain high yields, strengthen farmers’ livelihoods, and address climate change challenges.
Dr Rajinder Singh, an expert at the Advanced Biotechnology and Breeding Centre of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board, made the call on Thursday in Benin while delivering a lecture on breeding for high yield and drought tolerance.
Singh revealed that research was ongoing to identify drought-tolerant planting materials, using Southeast Asian and African germplasm, as well as shell mutations, as benchmarks.
He explained that identifying suitable oil palm genotypes was essential to improving productivity in drought-prone environments.
He cited studies conducted in South America and Thailand, where researchers subjected different oil palm genotypes to water stress to identify planting materials capable of surviving under limited water conditions.
According to him, a South American study identified oil palm lines that remained relatively healthy after approximately 16 months without watering, although their growth was less vigorous than that of well-watered control plants.
He said molecular marker analysis had also identified genes associated with stress adaptation in certain oil palm genotypes.
Singh stressed that nursery assessments alone could not establish drought tolerance, adding that researchers needed to identify measurable seedling characteristics that could reliably predict performance under actual field conditions.
He explained that drought stress could reduce photosynthesis and stomatal conductance while increasing the production of reactive oxygen species, which could damage plant tissues and reduce productivity under severe water-deficit conditions.
He warned that rising temperatures and prolonged dry spells associated with climate change could significantly reduce oil palm yields.
He added that successful breeding required understanding physiological processes, flowering patterns and fruit bunch production.
On his part, Dr Claude Bakoume, Africa Regional Representative of the International Society for Oil Palm Breeders, also emphasised the importance of identifying oil palm genotypes capable of performing effectively under drought conditions.
Bakoume explained that the primary objective of oil palm improvement was to increase yields by selecting planting materials naturally suited to particular environments, especially areas experiencing water shortages.
He said the Reciprocal Recurrent Selection approach had helped breeders identify promising materials.
He explained that inadequate water could affect nutrient absorption because essential nutrients must dissolve in water before roots could absorb them, potentially disrupting palm development and productivity.
Bakoume added that drought could influence the balance between male and female flowers, affecting fruit bunch formation and ultimately reducing oil palm yields.
In his response, the Executive Director/Chief Executive of the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research, Dr Isona Gold, urged participants to maximise the opportunity to learn from experts and apply the knowledge gained to their work.
Gold, represented by Dr Olushegun Solomon at the event, said the first two days of the workshop had been eventful, with participants gaining valuable insights from presentations and discussions.
He encouraged participants to remain attentive and make the most of the opportunity to interact with experienced scholars and scientists.
Gold, who welcomed participants on behalf of the institute, expressed hope that the deliberations would be fruitful and contribute to improved research and professional practices. (NAN)
AJOM/KOO
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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa
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