Genetic Architecture of Palm Oil Fatty Acid Composition in Cultivated Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) Compared to Its Wild Relative E. oleifera (H.B.K) Cortés

Abstract

We searched for quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with the palm oil fatty acid composition of mature fruits of the oil palm E. guineensis Jacq. in comparison with its wild relative E. oleifera (H.B.K) Cortés. The oil palm cross LM2T x DA10D between two heterozygous parents was considered in our experiment as an intraspecific representative of E. guineensis. Its QTLs were compared to QTLs published for the same traits in an interspecific Elaeis pseudo-backcross used as an indirect representative of E. oleifera. Few correlations were found in E. guineensis between pulp fatty acid proportions and yield traits, allowing for the rather independent selection of both types of traits. Sixteen QTLs affecting palm oil fatty acid proportions and iodine value were identified in oil palm. The phenotypic variation explained by the detected QTLs was low to medium in E. guineensis, ranging between 10% and 36%. The explained cumulative variation was 29% for palmitic acid C16:0 (one QTL), 68% for stearic acid C18:0 (two QTLs), 50% for oleic acid C18:1 (three QTLs), 25% for linoleic acid C18:2 (one QTL), and 40% (two QTLs) for the iodine value. Good marker co-linearity was observed between the intraspecific and interspecific Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) linkage maps. Specific QTL regions for several traits were found in each mapping population. Our comparative QTL results in both E. guineensis and interspecific materials strongly suggest that, apart from two common QTL zones, there are two specific QTL regions with major effects, which might be one in E. guineensis, the other in E. oleifera, which are independent of each other and harbor QTLs for several traits, indicating either pleiotropic effects or linkage. Using QTL maps connected by highly transferable SSR markers, our study established a good basis to decipher in the future such hypothesis at the Elaeis genus level.

Analysis of genetic diversity and population structure of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) from China and Malaysia based on species-specific simple sequence repeat markers

“…The only other species in the genus Elaeis is the American oil palm, Elaeis oleifera (Montoya et al, 2014). Both the species have 16 chromosome pairs (2n = 32).…”

Seed biometric parameters in oil palm accessions from a Brazilian germplasm bank

“…It is possible to distinguish three types of plants according to the presence and thickness of the endocarp: pisifera, which produces fruits without the endocarp; dura, with an endocarp with a thickness exceeding 2 mm; and tenera, with an endocarp less than 2 mm thick. In E. oleifera, only the dura type occurs, but studies report the existence of a great variety in fruit size and color (Cunha et al, 2012;Rios et al, 2012;Montoya et al, 2014).…”

Brief Review on the Controversies around Oil Palm (Elaeis Guineensis Jacq.) Production and Palm Oil Consumption

“…Few studies have been done in view of improving the quality of palm oil especially regarding its saturated fatty acids composition (Van Der Vossen, 1974;Gascon & Wuidart, 1975;Noiret. & Wuidart, 1976;Billotte et al, 2010;Montoya et al, 2013;Montoya et al, 2014;De Souza et al, 2015). Acknowledging the fact that there has been a serious campaign to denigrate palm oil for decades does not cancel the fact that irrational intake of saturated fats could increase the risk of cardiovascular disease incidence and obesity among consumers.…”

“…Despite the controversies surrounding the oil palm industry, and with reference to the bulk of scientific knowledge developed so far from diverse studies on the oil palm and other plants (Van Der Vossen, 1974;Noiret & Wuidart, 1976;Corley & Tinker, 2003;Singh et al, 2007;Kellens et al, 2007;Billotte et al, 2010;Singh et al, 2013;Montoya et al, 2014), it could be interesting if this crop is considered beyond just serving economic interests. The oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)…”