NEW GENOME: Our scientists beat the French to break the palm oil yield code
RECENTLY, scientists from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) made headlines. Their breakthrough in deciphering oil palm genome was well-received.
Dr Ravigadevi Sambanthamurthi, a fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia who led the team, could not hide her excitement in a recent talk at the academy’s idea exchange event. The discovery promises to break the deadlock in palm oil yield, which has been stagnated for many years now. When that happens, palm oil production in Malaysia is set to expand again. This is also expected to bring comfort to the industry, which is under pressure from environmental groups calling for further restrain in opening new land for oil palm cultivation. With the expected 30 per cent improvement in yield, the oil palm will continue to widen its lead in productivity over other competing oils.
What exactly is the breakthrough? How significant is it? And, how would the findings be put to use? Though led by Malaysians, the team had collaboration from Orion Genomics, a United States biotech company. The discovery involves the identification of a single gene, called Shell, that is responsible for increasing the plant’s oil yield. It is significant in terms of scientific advancement, considering that two papers from the work were accepted for publication in the prestigious international journal, Nature. But more important is the potential the findings will have in bringing benefits to the palm oil industry. For decades now, palm oil is a source of nearly one-half of the supply of edible vegetable oil worldwide. This is now expected to be sustained for a longer term.
According to MPOB director-general Datuk Dr Choo Yuen May: “The discovery will have a significant impact on the Malaysian economy because for every one per cent increase in palm oil yields, Malaysia gains RM1 billion (US$330 million) in income.”
The oil palm that is widely grown in Malaysia is a hybrid of two varieties: dura, which has thick shells and therefore gives lower yield, and the shell-less pisifera, which makes processing difficult to separate the palm oil from the kernel oil. The hybrid of the two is the tenera, which is the common variety cultivated. It has a thinner shell than the dura and therefore has better yield.
Seed producers rely on selective breeding techniques to maximise plantings of tenera palms. The problem is that they often end up with up to 10 per cent of plantings may be the low-yielding dura. This arises because of the uncontrollable wind and insect pollination. Identifying whether an oil palm plantlet is the desired shell type can take six years. This can be costly because, by then, the trees cannot be uprooted. The identification of Shell has enabled the development of a simple molecular screen that can be used with seeds and plantlets to prevent the cultivation of undesired non-tenera plants, thereby, raising the efficiency of oil palm plantations.
The researchers also hope their public release of the genome will allow other scientists to pinpoint more genes that might be useful for improving oil palm trees, such as resisting drought and diseases.
“We’re not going to stop here,” said Ravigadevi.
The Latest Bing News on:
Oil palm research
- Did we misunderstand palm oil to be bad?on May 20, 2024 at 1:29 am
A major highlight in the dietary guidelines by the ICMR includes the use of palm oil, known to be a controversial vegetable oil, that can reduce blood cholesterol if consumed in moderation.
- MALAYSIAN OIL PALM PLANTERS' YIELDS POISED TO RECOVER IN FY2024 -- MAYBANK IBon May 19, 2024 at 10:39 pm
Maybank Investment Bank Bhd (Maybank IB) expected the yields of Malaysian oil palm planters to recover in financial year 2024 (FY2024) following the return of guest workers. It said that some ...
- Palm Beach County Health: Can Olive Oil be the Secret Ingredient to Slash Your Dementia Death Risk ? Doctor Explainson May 17, 2024 at 5:04 pm
In this article, Dr. Adriana Davis, Family Medicine, shares her expert insights of the findings and provides Florida residents with evidence-based recommendations for protecting their health.Why This ...
- Bill to establish oil palm research institute scales second readingon May 17, 2024 at 6:01 am
A Bill for an Act to amend the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria to make provision for the establishment of the National Institute for Oil Palm Research, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State, passed through ...
- Malaysian palm oil futures upon May 15, 2024 at 11:28 pm
Market focus is now on May 1-15 palm oil export and production performance,” Anilkumar Bagani, commodity research head at Mumbai-based Sunvin Group said. Dalian’s most-active soyoil contract rose 0.54 ...
- Palm oil trades lower as market waits for export and production dataon May 14, 2024 at 12:17 am
JAKARTA: Malaysian palm oil futures reversed gains on Tuesday as the market is awaiting Malaysia’s palm oil export and production performance for further cues. The benchmark palm oil contract for July ...
- Analysts expect crude palm oil stockpile to increase, impacting priceson May 12, 2024 at 9:59 pm
Analysts expect the crude palm oil (CPO) stockpile to increase in the coming months, potentially exerting downward pressure on prices. In their ...
- Malaysia plans to give orangutans to countries that buy palm oilon May 9, 2024 at 11:21 am
Orangutan diplomacy’ strategy aims to ease concern over environmental impact of palm oil production, says minister ...
- Report: There are no good or bad oil crops, only good and bad practiceson May 8, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Their research shatters the myth that crops like oil palm, soybean, or rapeseed are inherently good or bad. Instead, the report reveals it's all about how these crops are grown, processed ...
- Crude palm oil price likely to climb next yearon May 7, 2024 at 5:00 pm
For Kenanga Research, the palm oil supply-demand trend for 2024 is expected to stay tight. “While 2023 palm oil output is improving, the harvest of fresh fruit bunches in 2024 may encounter ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Oil palm research
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Oil palm research” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
The Latest Bing News on:
Palm oil production
- Debate Arises Over Palm Oil Plantations in Java Amid National Food Production Prioritieson May 19, 2024 at 12:01 pm
PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA – Although Java is not the main area for oil palm cultivation in Indonesia, areas such as West Java, Banten and East Java have ...
- Explained: Why is Palm oil used in bakery industry so commonlyon May 19, 2024 at 2:30 am
Palm oil is a type of edible vegetable oil that is derived from the fruit of oil palm trees. Its popularity in the food industry stems from its versatility and low cost of production. It serves as a ...
- Tripura's palm oil production push: One lakh saplings prepared in nursery in Sepahijala to be planted by Auguston May 18, 2024 at 11:01 am
As the Tripura government in collaboration with private agencies is striving towards the production of oil palm at a commercial scale, around one lakh saplings of the crop prepared in a huge palm ...
- Palm oil ends lower with export data in focuson May 16, 2024 at 10:10 am
JAKARTA: Malaysian palm oil futures shed earlier gains and closed lower on Thursday ... of moderate rival oils performance while cautious about impending increase in production and lower export in the ...
- Sustainable Palm Oil Sourcing: The RSPO’s Recommendations For Retailerson May 16, 2024 at 4:24 am
In recent years, sustainable sourcing has become a key agenda in the overall ESG goals of retailers across Europe.
- Malaysia’s plan to gift orang utans to countries buying palm oil panned by green groupson May 15, 2024 at 8:00 pm
Orangutans should be left in situ and the deforestation issue addressed further, they say. Read more at straitstimes.com.
- Palm oil trades lower as market waits for export and production dataon May 14, 2024 at 12:17 am
JAKARTA: Malaysian palm oil futures reversed gains on Tuesday as the market is awaiting Malaysia’s palm oil export and production performance for further cues. The benchmark palm oil contract for July ...
- Sabah on track for sustainable palm oil productionon May 13, 2024 at 5:09 pm
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has reaffirmed its commitment toward the production of sustainable palm oil in the state by next year under a framework set by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). It ...
- Analysts expect crude palm oil stockpile to increase, impacting priceson May 12, 2024 at 9:59 pm
Analysts expect the crude palm oil (CPO) stockpile to increase in the coming months, potentially exerting downward pressure on prices. In their ...
- An ape for palm oil? Why critics say Malaysia’s ‘orangutan diplomacy’ plan is problematicon May 12, 2024 at 7:17 pm
China has “panda diplomacy,” Australia parades koalas at global summits, and now Malaysia plans to join the Asia-Pacific trend for adorable ambassadors, by gifting orangutans to countries that buy its ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Palm oil production
[google_news title=”” keyword=”palm oil production” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]