Family: Palmae

Genus: elaeis

Species: guineensis

Origin and Spread

The palms are believed to have originated in Tropical Africa from where it spread to America and far fast. Oil palm was introduced in India, as early as 1890 at National Botanical Garden, Calcutta. Subsequent introduction were made in several states in South, West and East India.

Uses

Oil palm produces palmoil is used in food products, non-food derivatives, detergent, pharmaceutical and lubricant industries.

Explant

Tender leaf tissues of Dura* and Tenera* seedlings.

Preparation of Explants

• Sample the seedlings destructively by removing the outermost and retaining a few interior leaves with the middle column and surface sterilize by alcohol flaming inside the laminar air flow chamber.
• Dissect out explants of leaf lamina and leaf base (0.5 to1 cm pieces).
• Inoculate leaf explants into callus induction medium

Media & Culture condition

Callus induction medium

1\2 MS + 2,4-D 25 mg/1 + 2-iP 3 mg/1 + Sucrose 3% + Phytagel 0.2% + Charcoal0.25%

Incubate the cultures in the callus induction medium ( temp 27 ± 20C, relative humidity 55-60%) in dark.

Regeneration medium

1\2 MS + 2,4-D 0.1mg/1 + 2-iP 3 mg/1 + zeatin riboside1 mg/1 + Sucrose 3% + Phytagel 0.2% + Charcoal 0.15%

• Transfer callus obtained to regeneration medium to induce soamtic embryogenesis / organogenesis
• Maintain the cultures under illuminated conditions with 16h photoperiod (2500 lux) for further differentiation.
• Subculture at monthly intervals.
• If plantlets are through meristemoid formation, transfer shoots with 3-4 leaves and having a height of 10 – 12cm to rhizogenesis medium

Rhizogenesis medium

1\4 Y3 + IBA 5 mg/1 + NAA 1 mg/1 + Sucrose 2% + Charcoal 0.1%

Plantlet Acclimatization

• Transfer plantlets with balanced roots and shoot to pots after ttreatment with carbendazim (1%) and IBA solution (1000 ppm) for an hour.
• The potting mixture consists of sterilized soil, sand and coir dust in equal portions.
• Provide high humidity to the plantlets initially by covering them with polythene bag; then reduce the humidity gradually by making perforations in the bag and later remove the bags at night. After 4 weeks, remove the bags completely.

Practical Utility

The protocols could be used for mass multiplication of elite genotypes through clonal propagation, creating somaclonal variation for crop improvement and for in vitro conservation.

IBA: Indole-3-butyric acid; 2,4-D: 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid; NAA: a-naphthaleneacetic acid; MS basal medium-Murashige and Skoog(1962); 2-iP: 6-y-y-dimethylallylamino purine; Ads: Adenine sulphate; Y3 medium:. Eeuwens(1976)

*Based on the fruit structure, oil palm is classified as Dura (thick shell; less mesocarp), Pisifera (shell less; embryo rarely formed) and the commercially cultivated Tenera, the DX P hybrid (thin shell; more mesocarp (60 - 95%), with high oil content.