Research and innovation in the processes to improve the quality of the oil palm seeds

The emergence and the quality of the plants are affected by the quality of germinated oil palm seeds and agricultural management practices during planting and pre-nursery. ASD of Costa Rica has been adopting different innovations in the oil palm seed germination process, which have had a significant impact on the recovery of a higher percentage of high quality seed, which in turn leads to lower losses during the nursery stage. The first step was to design a machine that mechanically separates the mesocarp, reducing to a minimum level the amount of fiber adhered to the seed, which among other things, decreases the substrate on which fungus can develop, which can affect germination. Another machine was recently designed and adopted that mechanically separates the rachis shoots from the bunch once it arrives from the field. This is a very quick process and it reduces the percentage of fruits mechanically damaged when the separation process is done manually using exes. Research on the factors affecting the quality of germinated seeds has focused on: i) obtaining an earlier germination after heat treatment to break latency; ii) reducing seed infestation by storage fungus during the process; iii) identifying seed abnormalities that may affect emergence and quality of nursery plants. It was determined that the time required by the seed to germinate is inversely proportional to the emergence percentages after planting and to normal plants that developed further. On the other hand, those seeds contaminated by storage fungus, such as Penicillium sp., had low emergence and generated abnormal plants. Those seeds that presented abnormal germination (abnormal radicle or plumule), mainly plumule atrophy, led to emergence deficiency. These quality factors are important indicators that must be taken into account when selecting germinated seeds, so as to reduce the probability of having customers receive seeds that do not meet the standards. Nevertheless, the agricultural management at the pre-nursery also led to the non-emergence of seeds that were apparently of good quality or to plants of a lower quality. It was found that the planting of germinated seeds in loam soils led to a better development of emerged plants, when compared to compacted and clayish soils. Another important factor to obtain seedlings of a better quality is through the use of shade during the first growth stages after planting.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Mora, Sergio, Chinchilla, Carlos, Sánchez, Armando, Escobar, Ricardo
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	spa
Published:	Fedepalma 2007
Online Access:	https://publicaciones.fedepalma.org/index.php/palmas/article/view/1263
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