Improvement the Bunch and Oil Yields of Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) by Introducing Material of Yocoboué Origin into the Selection Scheme in Côte d'Ivoire

Abstract

The introduction of Yocoboué-origin material into Group B of the reciprocal recurrent selection (RRS) scheme in Côte d'Ivoire aimed to enhance extraction rates of La Mé material and augment genetic diversity within the group. In this study, 1120 trees from 13 progenies and 3 controls, from the first and second selection cycles, were evaluated for bunch and oil yields in a balanced square lattice design (BSLD) with 4 x 4 and 5 replications. Results indicated that twelve progenies exhibited significantly higher bunch yields, ranging from 23 to 25 t/ha/year, compared to the three controls. Remarkably, industrial oil extraction rates reached up to 27%, resulting in an impressive oil yield capacity of 6.90 t/ha/year. Noteworthy progenitors, including LM13878P, LM13015T, and LM13832T, played a key role in achieving these performances and displayed favorable crossing values with Deli testers. These findings underscore the potential for creating high-performance hybrid seeds and advancing genetic improvement in oil palm. The diverse choices presented by these performances hold promise for the continued enhancement of oil palm cultivation.