Identification and evaluation of bunch components of Nigerian source oil palms (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) from Hut Bay, Little Andaman Island, India

Aim: The present study was carried out with an aim to select promising individual oil palms from Nigerian source population at Hut Bay, Little Andaman Island for utilization in breeding programme, enrich germplasm assemblage and conservation in the field gene bank. Methodology: The Nigerian source oil palm were subjected to fruit cut testing and evaluated for eleven bunch quality components of horticultural importance at Oil Palm Research Centre, Palode in Kerala. Results: The maximum standard deviation was observed for total number of fruits followed by total number of spikelet and percentage of shell/fruit, whereas highest CV % was recorded for bunch weight followed by oil to bunch %, single fruit weight and single nut weight. The four identified palms had maximum values of bunch components viz, total number of spikelet, single fruit weight, total number of fruits, mesocarp tofruit and oil to bunch with 262, 15.79g, 2246, 73.79 % and 37.3 %, respectively. Principal Component Analysis of bunch components revealed that the first three principal components accounted for 79.1% of the variability observed with Eigen value more than one. The most important bunch components that contributed more to the diversity of the oil palms are fruit to bunch, single nut weight, single kernel weight, bunch weight, total number of spikelets, total number of fruits and shell thickness. Interpretation: The significant genetic diversity observed among the individual palms of Nigerian source suggests that these palms are best donors of new genes for oil palm improvement as well as widening the genetic base.