The Seed Laboratory of ICAR-IIOPR Pedavegi has been dedicated to oil palm seed research, particularly focusing on enhancing seed germination and hybrid seed production. Through its research endeavors, the laboratory has conducted fundamental studies on the structural changes in seeds during dormancy breaking, standardized methods for seed viability testing, and developed field and lab standards for oil palm seed gardens in India.
Despite these efforts, more than fifty percent of hybrid seeds fail to germinate even after pre-treatment within a span of 120-160 days. The current research at the laboratory aims to find alternative methods to achieve a higher germination rate (close to 80%) within a shorter period. The laboratory maintains elite male and female palms as a seed garden, primarily providing mother palm seedlings to new oil palm seed gardens, while using the remaining flowers for hybrid seed production (about 100,000 seeds annually).
ICAR-IIOPR has developed and published technical know-how for oil palm seed gardens in the form of technical bulletins and serves as a consultant for establishing new oil palm seed gardens. Additionally, it conducts an annual skill training program on oil palm hybrid seed production. The laboratory’s customers include entrepreneurs involved in oil palm area expansion programs and hybrid seed producers.
As a customer-focused laboratory, it tailors its research activities based on feedback gathered during its biennial national oil palm seed meet, which brings together palm oil entrepreneurs, oil palm seed garden personnel, and researchers
