09/11/2009 (Bernama) - The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) and Orion Genomics on Monday announced that a consortium co-led by the Advanced Biotechnology and Breeding Centre has sequenced three oil palm genomes from two palm species, an important food and biofuel crop.

This genome sequencing effort provides a comprehensive genetic blueprint of E.oleifera and E.guineensis, including the pisifera and dura palms, they said.

MPOB director-general Datuk Dr Mohd Basri Wahid said knowledge of the genomic sequence of these oil palm varieties enabled researchers to understand genetic differences between trees for more resistant to disease than usual.

“Our goal in completing the oil palm genome sequence is to dramatically improve oil yields both for the production of food, feed and fuel,” he said at the plenary session on “Sequencing the Oil Palm Genome: The Beginning” at the International Palm Oil Congress 2009 here.

Oil palm plantations on average produce 3.9 tonnes of oil per hectare per year, nearly 10 times more than other productive oil-bearing crops, Mohd Basri said.

Therefore, it has the potential to meet growing demand for food and renewable fuel, he said.

Used in cooking oil, margarine, baked goods and other foods, palm oil is the most consumed edible oil in the world.

It feeds more than three billion people in 150 countries worldwide and is also a common ingredient in soaps and cosmetics.

Last year, Malaysia produced 17.7 million tonnes of crude palm oil and exported RM65.2 billion (US$17.6 billion) worth of palm oil products.

New technologies are now enabling palm oil to be transformed into biodiesel, a promising renewable fuel.

MPOB and Orion Genomics, along with Mogene LC, also unveiled plans to study the epigenetic make-up of oil palm next year in an effort to improve yields.

Epigenetics is the study of the pattern of chemical groups that influence whether specific genes are turned on or off, said Orion Genomics’ president and chief executive officer Nathan Lakey.

“We theorise that by studying oil palm epigenetics, we may be able to help to speed the development of varieties of oil palm that produce more oil, rapidly increasing the per acre efficiency of this crop, which already is the single largest producer of edible oils worldwide,” he said.