Phenotypic characterization of some Pisifera Sh alleles in oil palm

Abstract

Abstract Oil palm is mainly recognized as having three fruit types characterized by different shell thicknesses controlled by alleles at the SHELL locus (Sh). The alleles of Sh exhibit co-dominant monogenic inheritance, i.e., Dura (Sh/Sh) is thick-shelled, Pisifera (sh/sh) is shell-less, and Tenera (Sh/sh) has thin-shelled fruits. Pisifera palms are usually female-sterile. However, several Sh alleles are now known that confer a range of fruit and palm phenotypes. Verdant has germplasm with various Pisifera allelic constitutions: from homozygous combinations of AVROS (A/A), Nigeria (1/1), La Mé (3/3), Ghana (8/8), and heterozygous combinations (A/1, A/3, A/8, 1/3 and 1/8). Some heterozygous combinations of these Pisifera alleles are associated with fruit development and potential female fertility. Variation in morphology, fruit, and fertility is described for the allelic combinations of Sh giving the Pisifera phenotype. Fertile Pisiferas are potentially helpful for breeding and selection within the Pisifera germplasm. These phenotypes also provide information about different palm characters for the various Pisifera allelic combinations that may be useful when selecting parental lines for Pisifera breeding and commercial seed production.