Some Morphological Observations on Albo-nigrescens, Albo-virescens and Virescens Types of Oil Palm Planted at Yaligimba (DRC)

This study has confirmed that the pure albescens oil palm does not exist. There are 2 types of albescens well-described in this paper: albo-nigrescens and albo-virescens. An open-pollinated albo-virescens progeny planted at Yaligimba has shown 36% albo-nigrescens, 36% of albo-virescens, 18 % virescens and 9% nigrescens palms. However, the self-pollinated albo-nigrescens progenies have revealed only two types of palms, 77% albo-nigrescens, 23% nigrescens palms, but no virescens and no albo-virescens. Differences among different oil palm types appear not only on the fruit colours, but also on the colours of rachis, petioles and inflorescences. The albo-nigrescens and albo-virescens progenies planted at Yaligimba plantation have shown short heights, and also has given acceptable bunch productions.