RESEARCH ARTICLE

Journal of Oil Palm Research Vol. 5 No. 1 1993 June, p. 12-26

CORRELATIONS BETWEEN VEGETATIVE AND YIELD CHARACTERISTICS AND PHOTOSYNTHETIC RATE AND STOMATAL CONDUCTANCE IN THE OIL PALM (ELAEIS GUINEENSIS JACQ.)

SMITH, B G*

Received: 2 April 1992  
ABSTRACT

Photosynthetic rate per unit leaf area (A) and stomatal conductance (g) were as-sessed during the dry season of 1988 for a mixed population of 6 progenies in a breeding trial in the Republic of Zaire. There were positive correlations between A or g and yield and total biomass production, but there was no significant correlation between A or g and either Bunch Index or Harvest Index.

These results provide encouraging evidence that crossing igh A palms with palms exhibiting superior partitioning characteristics could be a useful way to increase yields.

However, more work is needed to ensure that correlations between g or A and either dry matter production or yield arise because of genotypic effects rather than environmental variation.

KEYWORDS:

FIGURES & TABLES:

* Unilever Plantations,
Unilever House,
Blackfriars, London,
U.K.