Breeding for oil yield and short oil palms in the second cycle of selection at La Dibamba (Cameroon)

Breeding in oil palm aims mainly at improving palm oil yield. Short palms are also desired because they are easy to harvest and increase the economic life of the plantation. A total of 23 progenies from Deli × La Mé and Deli × PO 1097 P (Yangambi) crosses were field tested at La Dibamba Oil Palm Research Centre in Cameroon from 1988 to 1998. Oil yield components were measured on per palm basis from 3 to 9 years after planting, and the vertical growth at 6 years after planting. The mean oil yield of the trial was average, representing 102% of the control (3.515 t/ha), and the mean height 6 years after planting was 101% that of the control (88.0 cm). The analysis of variance detected differences among progenies for various yield parameters and vertical growth. The comparison of means showed clear separation of groups of progenies for oil yield at the juvenile period (3–5 years after planting). At maturity (6–9 years after planting), the groups of progenies were overlapping indicating that progenies were comparable each other. However, four precocious progenies and high oil yielding at maturity (119–122% of the control) in absolute values can be released to planters. Though their vertical growth represented 116–127% of that of the control, short pisifera palm are expected from parental selfs or crosses given the intrinsic heterozygosity of oil palm.