Applications and challenges of biotechnology in oil palm breeding

Biotechnological applications in oil palm breeding comprises tissue culture propagation (TC), genetic modification (GM), marker-assisted breeding (MAB), and marker-assisted selection (MAS). Commercial success of oil palm TC has been hampered by the fruit mantling somaclonal variation risk, inefficient cloning process and inefficient ortet selection. With the imminent availability of the mantling marker and subsequently markers for cloning and palm selection efficiencies, the scenario would change. Despite early enthusiasm, GM oil palm remains at the R&D level and only for the high oleic trait, because of technical complexity and public sensitivity. Marker-assisted breeding, population genetic diversity, homozygosity determination and linkage disequilibrium have made most impact in oil palm breeding. With the revelation of the oil palm whole genome sequence, the feasibility of MAS for many major quantitative gene locus (QTL) traits e.g. shell, fruit colour, mantling, long stalk, lipase are being expedited. Meanwhile for minor QTL controlling yield and other traits, oil palm breeders are testing the feasibilities of genomewide breeding/genetic value estimation for MAS of hybrid parents, families and individuals. Undoubtedly, biotechnological tools will continue improving but their success depends on the field breeder who provides the essential genetic trials to develop the biotechnological tools and to validate their utility.