Reproductive developmental complexity in the African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis, Arecaceae)

Abstract

Species of the palm family (Arecaceae) are remarkably diverse in their inflorescence and floral morphologies, which make them a particularly interesting group for studies of reproductive development and its evolution. Using light and scanning electron microscopy, we describe inflorescence and flower development in the African oil palm Elaeis guineensis from the initiation of the inflorescence meristem to flower maturity. In mature palms, the inflorescence develops over 2-3 years and is characterized by individual stages within which differentiation may be either relatively slow, as in the case of early inflorescence meristem development, or rapid, as in the case of flower organogenesis. The female inflorescence bears floral triads composed of single pistillate flowers flanked by two abortive staminate flowers, whereas the male inflorescence contains single functional staminate flowers. This suggests a possible evolutionary movement from an ancestral hermaphrodite inflorescence form containing fully functional floral triads to the situation of temporal dioecy observed at present. Wild type flowers are compared to those bearing an epigenetic homeotic abnormality, known as mantled, involving an alteration of the identity of the organs in the fertile and sterile androecium.

Genetic Fidelity Testing Using SSR Marker Assay Confirms Trueness to Type of Micropropagated Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) Plantlets Derived from Unfertilized Ovaries

“…For an example; in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq), 5% of somatic embryo-derived palms showed an abnormality that is called the 'mantled' phenotype [26]. This is claimed to be a somaclonal variation resulting in a conversion of the male floral organs into supernumerary carpels [27] and may lead to partial or complete flower sterility, depending on the severity of the abnormality [26]. It has been reported that hypo-methylation during tissue culture contributes to the origin of this 'mantled' phenotype in tissue culture effectively preventing the clonal propagation from elite palms [28].…”

Ontogeny and structure of the acervulate partial inflorescence in Hyophorbe lagenicaulis (Arecaceae; Arecoideae)

“…Developmental data on the arecoid floral triad have been recently published for commercially important species such as Cocos (Perera et al, 2010) and Elaeis (Adam et al, 2005), but almost nothing is known about inflorescence development in other arecoid palms. Moreover, apart from the study describing selected developmental stages of acervuli in Hyophorbe indica (Uhl and Moore, 1978), relatively few data have been obtained on the ontogeny of this type of partial inflorescence.…”

Deteksi Ganoderma secara molekuler pada kebun kelapa sawit yang diberi perlakuan biofungisida Ganor (Molecular detection of Ganoderma on oil palm plantation treated with Ganor biofungicide)

“…Diferensiasi sexual, tahapan yang menentukan apakah bunga kelapa sawit akan menjadi bunga jantan atau betina akan terjadi "sesaat" sebelum bunga berkembang tumbuh (Leaf+15). Menurut Adam et al (2005) pada tanaman kelapa sawit Afrika (Elaeis Guineensis, Arecaceae), differensiasi ini terjadi pada level Leaf+12. Menurut pengalaman Dr. Asmini Budiani (komunikasi pribadi), secara histokimia seluler tanda diferensiasi seksual pada kelapa sawit hibrida Tenera mulai terlihat pada level Leaf+11.…”