KUALA LUMPUR, 8 Nov 2023 – Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) today commemorates the 10th anniversary of MPOB’s ground-breaking publication of the world’s first oil palm reference genome.

In commemorating the event, Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim was presented with a plaque containing a personal letter signed by Dr. James D. Watson, Nobel Laureate and researcher who co-discovered the DNA double helix structure, congratulating MPOB on its achievements in the MPOB genome programme at the MPOB International Palm Oil Congress and Exhibition (PIPOC) 2023 today.

A book entitled “Double Helix”, authored and personally signed by Dr. Watson was also presented to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Plantation and Commodities Dato’ Sri Fadillah Yusof.

In addition, to commemorate this momentous occasion, MPOB has compiled a booklet containing a collection of articles and technology transfers resulting from the genome programme. The booklet not only showcases high-impact publications by MPOB but also spotlights the technological advancements driven by this pivotal genome sequence. The oil palm genome sequence stands as a testament to MPOB’s 2 commitment to sustainability and innovation, driving the nation towards a greener, more productive future.

MPOB embarked on the oil palm genome project in 2004 to serve the sustainability pursuits of the oil palm industry and strategised to leverage genomic insights to increase the productivity of the oil palm. MPOB selectively sequenced the hypomethylated gene-rich regions of the genome and subsequently transitioned to a full-scale sequencing of the genome.

MPOB’s ground-breaking work in decoding the oil palm genome in 2013 was published in the prestigious journal Nature. This first reference oil palm genome in the world unlocked a treasure trove of genetic information offering myriad opportunities for improving the industry’s environmental and economic footprints. It led to the discovery of SHELL, arguably the single most important gene controlling yield.

This was soon followed by the identification of other genes which include the VIRESCENS (VIR) gene, which controls fruit exocarp colour, an important trait for fruit harvesting and, therefore, oil yield.

Economic analysis indicated that just DNA testing for SHELL on a national scale would increase palm oil production by more than RM4 billion annually.

The discovery of the SHELL gene led to the development of a diagnostic assay, SureSawitSHELL that can distinguish dura, tenera and pisifera fruit forms. This assay, a powerful quality control tool can ensure that only tenera plants find their place in commercial fields, optimising yield and efficiency. The discovery of the VIRESCENCE gene opened doors to yet another diagnostic assay, SureSawit VIR, this time to predict the colour of oil palm fruit, an important trait for ripeness and harvest readiness, and by extension oil yield.

MPOB scored a major breakthrough by unravelling the MANTLED abnormality as an epigenetic phenomenon, triggered by the hypomethylation of a retrotransposon called ‘Karma,’ integrated in the MANTLED gene. The ground-breaking discovery graced the cover of journal Nature in 2015. It laid the foundation for the development of a diagnostic assay, SureSawit^KARMA that can predict clonal fidelity.

MPOB’s commitment to sharing the oil palm genome sequence data with the industry and the global scientific community to spur innovation in oil palm improvement was realised through the creation of the GenomSawit web portal. This one-stop centre for oil palm genome information has been instrumental in making the genome sequence data accessible globally.

Additional genome-based tools including MYPalmViewer, an oil palm genome browser, and PalmXplore an oil palm gene database, further enrich the industry’s toolkit.