The ICAR-Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research, Pedavegi has successfully established an efficient tissue culture protocol for dura and tenera genotypes of oil palm utilizing immature male inflorescence explant through the process of somatic embryogenesis. Institute has developed protocol for both tenera and dura oil palm genotypes, which aid in the production of uniform hybrid planting material as well as semi clonal planting material. Currently, the Institute has ten plants undergoing secondary hardening, expected to be ready for field planting by December, 2025, alongside fifty plants in primary hardening (including 35 tenera and 15 dura genotypes), which are anticipated to be ready for field planting by July, 2026. Additionally, there are 300 plants which are maintained under light chamber conditions within the tissue culture laboratory.
Notably, ICAR-IIOPR marked a significant milestone by planting India’s first tissue culture plants on September 12, 2025, an event officiated by Dr. K. Neeraja Prabhakar, the RAC Chairman and former Vice-Chancellor of SKLTHU, Telangana and Dr. K. Suresh, Director, ICAR-IIOPR, Pedavegi. The tissue culture protocol developed is instrumental in cloning of mother palms utilized in seed gardens and in producing homogeneous planting material which is expected to enhance oil palm yields. Furthermore, this advancement will significantly decrease the dependence on importing substantial quantities of oil palm planting material from countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia, ultimately leading to a reduction in foreign exchange.
