Normal vs. Mantled Oil Palm Fruit (IMAGE)

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Normal vs. Mantled Oil Palm Fruit

Caption

Imagine planting prized hybrid nurslings in year one, only to discover when the plants mature 6 years later that their fruits are worthless. That's the 'mantled' dilemma facing oil palm growers. Scientists have discovered the genetic secret behind the transformation of oil palm plants bearing normal fruit (far left column) to plants bearing dessicated, worthless 'mantled' fruit (far right column). A simple genetic test will enable growers to cull mutated plants at the beginning of the process, while they are still in culture dishes.

Credit

Martienssen Lab, CSHL

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