Bunch ages on seed development and quality of oil palm

Abstract

The study of oil palm bunch ages on development and quality for seedling production were done by harvesting the bunches at the age of 4, 5, 6 and 7 months after anthesis. Seed size, dry weight, moisture content, weight of shell and kernel, embryo size, germination, vigor and seedling ability were studied. The results showed that bunch at 4 months gave seeds that developed their size of 64.00-65.00%, dry weight of 27.51%, moisture content of 21.29% and embryo of 86.00-89.00%. Seed reached the maximum size and dry weight at bunch age of 6 months. Oil palm seed consist of shell 64.53-73.85%. The seed at 4 months had germination of 45.50%, vigor of 54.50-65.42%. The seed at 5 months had germination of 79.50%, vigor of 70.05-71.61%. The seed at 6-7 months had germination of 85.00-89.50%, vigor of 93.07-100.00%. Bunch at 6 months gave the seed that had the highest germination, vigor and seedling growth ability.