[en] Green fluorescent protein (GFP) has been widely used as a visual selectable marker for plant transformation. Transformed cells could be easily screened directly under ultraviolet/blue light without the need for any solution or substrate. In this study, oil palm embryogenic calli were bombarded with a transformation vector, p35SCaMV-sgfpS65T, carrying a modified version of gfp gene driven by the 35S promoter. Upon bombardment, the expression of gfp in embryogenic calli was monitored visually while the regeneration of the embryogenic calli was on-going. Regenerated plantlets on medium without selection agent demonstrated that only some parts of the plants showed GFP expression. When gfp gene was co-bombarded with plasmid pAHC25 carrying Basta resistant gene (bar), and the transformed embryogenic calli were regenerated on medium containing herbicide Basta, regenerated plantlets obtained also showed GFP expression in some parts of the plantlets instead of in the whole plant. Molecular analysis revealed the presence of gfp transgene in the transgenic plants. The possible reasons for the failure to obtain the whole plant expressing gfp gene will be discussed. (author)

[en] One of the important requirements for producing transgenic plants is the ability to isolate true transformed cells and regenerate into complete plants without chimera and escapes. Therefore, an efficient selection process is essential. In this study, three different selection agents, namely Basta, bialaphos and glufosinate ammonium were evaluated on embryogenic calli and embryoids, for their effectiveness on selecting transformed oil palm tissues. Un transformed tissues were used in this study as the minimal concentrations which inhibit the growth of the tissues would be the optimum concentrations for selecting the transformed cells. Based on this study, the growth of embryogenic calli was shown to be fully inhibited at 10 mg litre"-"1 of Basta. Meanwhile, only 3 mg litre"-"1 of bialaphos and glufosinate ammonium are needed to inhibit the embryogenic calli. For oil palm embryo id cultures, the minimal concentration for Basta was determined at 20 mg litre"-"1 as compared to 5 mg litre"-"1 for bialaphos and glufosinate ammonium. This result indicated that a higher concentration of Basta is needed to completely inhibit the growth of oil palm tissues as compared to bialaphos and glufosinate ammonium. Furthermore, these observations revealed that embryogenic calli are more sensitive to the three selection agents as compared to embryoids. The information gained from this study will be used as a guideline to increase the efficiency for selecting transformed oil palm cells and producing transgenic oil palm. (author)

[en] The palm oil industry fared better in 2021 compared to 2020, despite lower crude palm oil (CPO) production due to labour shortage and a restricted supply of CPO during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the industry recovers, research and development (R&D) activities remain dedicated towards ensuring the industry is sustainable and competitive. In the upstream sector, efforts continue to be focused in increasing the CPO yield per hectare through precision agriculture, advanced genomic technologies and improved breeding programmes, control of pest and diseases, as well as farm mechanisation. In the midstream sector, there were some improvements in mill productivity, that reduce the environmental impact of the milling operations. Intensification of R&D related to palm-based biomass has the potential to contribute to higher income for the industry. In the downstream sector, food safety and the nutrition-rich value of palm oil offer the best quality for this versatile and productive oil crop, to the world. Additionally, non-food products such as biofuels, biopolymers and bio-lubricants are also gaining research traction due to global movement towards a circular economy and sustainability. (author)

[en] Phytoene synthase (psy) gene is responsible for the synthesis of carotenoids in plants. In this study complimentary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA) and genomic sequences of psy were isolated by rapid amplification of cDNA ends and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using ribonucleic acid (RNA) and DNA isolated from the mesocarp tissues of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis). The size of the full-length cDNA was 2233 bp. The open reading frame (ORF) was 1299 bp and encoded 433 deduced amino acid (AA) residues. The transcript profile revealed that psy was expressed at a maximum level at 12 weeks after anthesis (WAA). The lowest expression of psy was at 13 WAA, which was speculated as the transition of the leaf-like carotenoid to the formation of storage carotenoids. The AA sequence deduced from the cDNA was 70%- 78% identical to PSY from other higher plants. The genomic sequence analysis revealed that the psy gene contains six exons and five introns. Southern blot analysis indicated that oil palm has only one copy of the psy gene in its genome. (author)

[en] Production of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a biodegradable plastic, in plant, has been studied all over the world. We have constructed a transform tion vector pLSP15 carrying the PHB biosynthesis genes. Each of PHB genes was driven by an oil palm leaf-specific promoter (LSP1). This tran formation vector was later transformed into Arabidopsis thaliana and successfully produced T_3 putative transgenic plants. The mature T_3 generation was analysed by Reverse Transcription-qPCR (RT-qPCR) to test the capability of a monocotyledon oil palm LSP1 promoter in driving the expression of the PHB genes in a dicotyledon A. thaliana plant. Expression of all PHB genes, for example phbA (2.32), phbB (1.53) and phbC (1.47) relative to the wild-type, were detected in the plant. Nile blue A staining demonstrated that the PHB polymer was successfully produced throughout the deve o mental stage of the transgenic A. thaliana plant without any deleterious effects. The results demonstrated that the oil palm LSP1 promoter could drive the expression of the PHB biosynthesis genes in plants. (author)

[en] Transformation vector construction is one of the important disciplines for plant genetic transformation studies. A series of vector consisting of hygromycin phosphotransferase (HPT) gene as the selective marker and green fluorescent protein (GFP) as the visual reporter gene, under the control of double cauliflower mosaic virus 35S (2XCaMV35S) promoter has been engineered for transformation into oil palm cells. These genes were cloned into different types of cloning and expression vectors. The cloning was carried out by using restriction enzyme digestion and ligation method. Five intermediate vectors have been created for insertion of 2XCaMV35S-HPT-35ST and 2XCaMV35S-GFP-35ST into modified pBINPLUS backbone vector for particle bombardment and Agrobacterium-based transformation protocols. All vectors were sequenced to confirm the integrity of DNA region. The vectors were later transformed into oil palm embryogenic calli using biolistic device. The viability of the vectors was initially evaluated by transient GFP fluorescence expression observed under fluorescence microscope. It was demonstrated that the 2XCaMV35S promoter was able to drive the expression of gfp as gene in oil palm calli. (author)

[en] Current oil palm transformation efficiency was relatively low compared to other monocots such as rice and sorghum. Thus, the construction of efficient transformation vectors is crucial for Agrobacterium-mediated oil palm genetic engineering to elevate the transformation efficiency. In this study, six transformation vectors, which contain phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (bar), modified green fluorescent protein (mgfp) and synthetic green fluorescent protein (sgfp(S65T)) genes driven by either maize ubiquitin (Ubi-1) or cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV35S) promoters, were assembled in pBINPLUS/ARS or pCAMBIA0380 backbones. The efficiency of these vectors was evaluated in oil palm calli. Based on transient GFP signals, the pBINPLUS/ARS-based vectors produced a higher number of GFP signals than the pCAMBIA0380-based vectors. The CaMV35S promoter was more excellent than the Ubi-1 promoter in driving the expression of gfp genes. Furthermore, the sgfp(S65T) variant was more suitable for oil palm transformation than the mgfp variant because it produced more GFP signals in the oil palm calli than the mgfp variant. These results suggested that the pBAR65 vector, which carries the bar and sgfp(S65T) genes driven by the CaMV35S promoter in the pBINPLUS/ARS backbone, is the most suitable vector and could be used to develop an efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system for oil palm.(author)

[en] The bar gene conferring resistance to the herbicide Basta was used as a selectable marker in oil palm transformation system. However, the inefficiency in the selection system was believed to generate transgene escape and high rate of chimerism in oil palm. To overcome this limitation, an effective selectable marker for oil palm is required. The aim of this work is to evaluate the use of the hygromycin phosphotransferase (hpt) gene as the selectable marker for generation of stable oil palm transformation via biolistic method and subsequently improve the oil palm transformation efficiency. In this selection approach, the embryogenic calli were bombarded with the vectors carrying the hpt and a green fluorescent protein (gfp) reporter genes, which were driven by the 2X35S promoter assembled in pBINPLUS and pCAMBIA0380 (pPZP) backbones. Visualisation of GFP spots was observed using Fluorescence Microscope for confirmation of successful deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) delivery. The calli were then cultured on regeneration medium added with hygromycin at 10 mg litre-1 and consequently reduced to 5 mg litre-1. The presence of transgenes in the bombarded tissue was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of hpt and gfp genes. These results demonstrate the potential of hygromycin as an alternative selection agent for oil palm transformation. (author)

[en] The year 2020 faced unprecedented challenge for most of the global economic growth due to the outbreak of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Despite a downward trend performance of the Malaysian oil palm industry, particularly for the first half of 2020, the impact is less severe due to the encouraging palm oil export revenue through the National Economic Recovery Plan (PENJANA) which nurtures a notable increase in crude palm oil (CPO) price. In honouring the Malaysian pledge on forest conservation, land expansion for the oil palm cultivation remains stagnant over the years. The effort is now shifting towards enhancing the oil palm yield performance through new planting materials and good agricultural practices, coupled with systematic pest and disease management. Sustainability continues to be the key agenda of the oil palm industry, in moving forward to sustain the industry ecosystem. The industry is now open for innovative palm oil processes to comply with the dynamic and stringent food safety and quality standards and trade regulations. Owing to the distinction in food and feed applicability together with health prospects, translating the information into consumer-friendly language is becoming crucial for effective communication. Valorisation via the concept of waste to wealth has compelled series of innovations in capitalising oil palm co-products for greener bioenergy and oleochemicals, and source of phytonutrients to generate higher earnings without having to heavily rely on palm oil trade as commodity. Mandatory enactment of the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification scheme has portrayed a success story of showing the utmost commitment towards sustainability. With persistent dedication, the oil palm industry is envisaged to be self-sustaining, amidst the never-ending challenges surrounding economy, well-being and environment. (author)

[en] The oil palm industry saw a marginal improvement in crude palm oil production in 2022 from 18.12 (2021) to 18.45 million tonnes and overall export volume by 1.8% to 24.72 million tonnes. Export value reached a new record high of RM137.89 billion due to extraordinary hike in palm oil prices. Despite this, upstream efforts remained technologically-driven in maximising oil yield per hectare, managing nutrient cycle, soil fertility, pests and diseases and ecological services. Particularly, planting materials were improved by widening the oil palm gene pool. The unrelenting labour shortage issue intensified adoption of sensor- and vision-based mechanisation technologies for fruit bunches harvesting. In the biomass and bioenergy context, synergistically interfacing supply chains to address logistic issues was key to broader adoption. Integrating engineered nanomaterial, diversely-orientated carbon layering and specialty chemicals from biowastes/byproducts into current palm oil processing not only could ensure that the industry continues to play an important role in the global value chain for food, feed, fibre, fuel and chemicals but also portray multiple industrial symbiosis approaches. Similarly, intensifying businesses and performance of oleo-based industries, such as bio-lubricants, and nutritional research for quality and contamination monitoring, are prioritised in the interest of achieving circular economy. (author)