February 2011 - N°9

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Advances of our program on molecular biology

ASD initiated research on molecular biology in 2009 and now we routinely use molecular markers to generate the genetic fingerprinting of our clones and the palms used as pollen source in the program to produce commercial oil palm seeds. Additionally, these tools are used for varietal identification and eventually to obtain the molecular characterization of all ASD’s germplasm. All these is done with a high degree of precision and reliability and the knowledge is used to clarify any doubts about the legitimacy of any planting material.

The original number of markers (microsatellites and RFLP) was expanded to elaborate a genetic map of the descendants of a particular cross of the Compact population. For stem height three markers were mapped that identified the shortest palms and three microsatellites were mapped to identify palms with the shortest rachises. Additionally, three markers were mapped for the content of oil in the mesocarp. We are now validating these markers to determine if such associations can be extended to the different descendants of the compact crosses. If that turns out true, we will have markers that will allow tracing a compact phenotype and that will assist in the early detection of compact parents.

It is important to point out that most of the ongoing research in molecular biology in oil palm in other labs is being focused in linkage mapping for traits such as oil quality, fruit type and fruit color (virescens), but no work on oil palm vegetative characteristics was presented at the recent ISOPB and PIPOC meetings in 2009.

During the year 2010 we worked with a Nigeria virescens population (green fruitlets) by using markers designed with tools from bioinformatics and we were able to identify ‘pure’ virescens, ‘non-pure’ virescens and ‘pure’ nigrescens. It was determined that within a ‘non pure’ tenera x tenera progeny we could identify ‘pure’ virescens palms at the nursery stage. Additionally, we could be able to select ‘pure’ parents to produce a 100% virescens variety.

Another project is the application of molecular markers to identify groups of palms with tolerance to spear rot (PC), and look for markers associated with the tolerance condition. Besides this, we are sequencing genes associated with fatty acid synthesis with the aim of generating intragenic markers to be used in the future for selecting parents that will inherit higher oil content of better quality to their progenies. This work was based on a characterization of the fatty acid profile done by chromatography, on several guineensis and oleifera materials. Special attention will be given to compact materials to complement the set of markers associated with growth characteristics.

All this work with molecular markers will have important practical applications in our breeding program in the near future by assisting during the creation of new varieties. Our genetic analyzer has been a central tool for achieving all this progress, since it permits to analyze the molecular markers (microsatellites and AFLP) in an efficient and fast manner and with a high degree of precision.

Our visiting friends and clients

Every year, ASD hosts many persons related to the oil palm industry around the world that come to Costa Rica to know firsthand the strengths of our company as a highly reliable supplier of planting materials for projects and plantations around the world. During the year 2010 we received again new and old friends that came to see our new research and seed processing facilities, new developments y oil palm breeding and tissue culture and the performance of the new and traditional planting materials.
 

Some of our distinguished guests from around the world during the year 2010

An agreement that marks
a real breakthrough for ASD

On November 19, 2010 we signed a formal agreement to establish the company “PT ASD-Bakrie Oil Palm Seed Indonesia”. This joint venture with the company Bakrie Sumatera Plantations based in Indonesia will allow producing the best planting materials of ASD. Production and processing of the first germinated seeds will start toward the end of the year 2011. This agreement will permit offering to the Indonesian market the best of ASD premium varieties and the new compact high density planting materials.

Training courses for our clients

ASD has a long tradition organizing training courses on oil palm cultivation and management of commercial plantations. Such courses have been offered mainly in Costa Rica and several other countries as well. The last international training course on agronomy was offered in Costa Rica in July 2010, and we are now preparing the next one for July 2011. Please keep in mind that we can only take a limited number of students and demand is normally high, so if you are interested, please see other details in this web site and contact our secretary Johanna Mora j.morac@asd-cr.com. This particular course is offered in Spanish.
 

Some highlights during the signing to create PT ASD-Bakrie Oil Palm Seed Indonesia