Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) genetic differences in mineral nutrition: specific leaflet mineral concentrations of high-yielding oil palm progenies and their implications for managing K and Mg nutrition

Abstract

Background and aims: In oil palm, similar fertilization treatments can result in lea et potassium and magnesium concentrations that vary signi cantly from one progeny to another. This hinders the development of standardized fertilizer recommendations for this crop, as they are usually calculated based on optimum lea et nutrient concentrations.Methods: 4-high-yielding oil palm progenies with contrasting lea et K and Mg concentrations (C1, C2, and C3 of Deli x La Mé origin and C4 of Deli x Yangambi origin) were treated with combinations of 3-levels of KCl and MgSO 4 , in a completely randomized split-plot factorial design with 6-replicates, where progenies were a sub-factor.Results: For a given level of KCl or MgSO 4 , different lea et K and Mg concentrations were found between progenies (p < 0.0001). Lea et K concentration and yield response to KCl applications revealed that the four oil palm progenies have different optimum lea et K concentrations. In our study period (5-8 YAP), progenies C1 and C3 showed their highest fresh fruit bunch (FFB) yields (13.62 and 16.54 t ha -1 year -1 , respectively) at K2, whereas progenies C2 and C4 showed their highest yields (14.62 and 12.39 t ha -1 year -1 , respectively) at K1. Conclusion:Our study highlighted speci c optimum lea et K and Mg concentrations for different oil palm progenies in a given environment. It paves the way for adopting K and Mg fertilizer application rates adapted to speci c requirements of each type of oil palm planting material.

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) genetic differences in mineral nutrition: potassium and magnesium effects on morphological characteristics of four oil palm progenies in Nigeria (West Africa)

“…It is known that Deli  Yangambi material, such as C4 palms, produces relatively more male inflorescences in less favorable ecologies (Nouy et al, 1999), such as the one in our experiment (Nigeria) with lower rainfall conditions compared to Southeast Asia (Bonneau et al, 2014;Ollivier et al, 2017). This finding is important in solving low pollination problems (lack of pollen or very low male inflorescences production in the plantation) occurring in some oil palm plantations and suggests adding Deli  Yangambi material in, or around plantations composed of Deli  La Mé oil palm material which are known to be female material, having very high female inflorescences production (Dassou et al, 2022a).…”

“…Fruit bunches are mineral sinks that store K, to the detriment of K potentially accumulating in fronds (Dubos et al, 2010;Legros et al, 2006). The negative effect of K on frond length was more pronounced for progeny C3, which also had a higher bunch weight in comparison with progeny C2 (Dassou et al, 2022a). Moreover, only progenies C2 and C3 exhibited K-category among all progenies tested in this study, indicating that they have a low K status compared to progenies C1 and C4 which exhibited Kþ status (Dassou et al, 2022b).…”

“…Deli  Yangambi material (progeny C4) has a high, genetically determined frond emission potential compared to that of Deli  La Mé material (progenies C1, C2 and C3) (Corley and Tinker, 2016). The reduction in the number of emitted fronds with increasing KCl rates observed for the palms of progeny C4 was therefore probably linked to the yield increase observed for palms with treatments K1 and K2 compared to treatment K0, which may have depressed its vegetative growth (Dassou et al, 2022a).…”

“…The negative effect of KCl on rank 17 frond length for progenies C2 and C3 might possibly be explained by the high yield (with increasing KCl levels) recorded between 5 to 8 YAP (Dassou et al, 2022a). Fruit bunches are mineral sinks that store K, to the detriment of K potentially accumulating in fronds (Dubos et al, 2010;Legros et al, 2006).…”

“…The high frond emission in progeny C4 explained its high bunch number, as each frond is predestined to produce one inflorescence that can become male or female (Corley and Tinker, 2016). However, progeny C4 produced more male (69%) than female (31%) inflorescences (Dassou et al, 2022a). It is known that Deli  Yangambi material, such as C4 palms, produces relatively more male inflorescences in less favorable ecologies (Nouy et al, 1999), such as the one in our experiment (Nigeria) with lower rainfall conditions compared to Southeast Asia (Bonneau et al, 2014;Ollivier et al, 2017).…”