ABBC – Malaysian Palm Oil Board https://mpob.gov.my/ms Mon, 11 May 2026 08:08:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 Proteomics And Metabolomics Unit https://mpob.gov.my/ms/2025/02/proteomics-and-metabolomics-unit/ Thu, 13 Feb 2025 06:23:42 +0000 http://mpob.gov.my/layout-04/?p=4780 Read more]]>

ABBC

Mission

To provide intellectual and technical expertise, and instrumentation (Mass Spectrometry based platform), for multiplex analysis of proteins and metabolites towards crop improvement. Importantly, to accomplish this mission, the Unit interacts closely with other research disciplines to promote and facilitate translational research and experienced research groups in data processing and data mining.

Strategic Research Areas
  1. Development of methods for proteomics and metabolomics profiling from important traits/planting materials of the future
  2. Detection of proteins and metabolites towards biomarkers for superior yield, oil quality, specialty oils and oil palm disease
  3. Geographical traceability and authenticity studies of palm oil to support industry QC, especially with respect to sustainability, and

  4. Metabolic reconstruction and mapping of proteomics and metabolomics data.

Metabolomics Group 

Metabolomics, as promising approaches to translational research will be the main focus areas under this group. Major activities of the group include:

  1. Profiling of proteins and metabolites from the planting materials of the future (e.g. specialty oils) and Ganoderma disease
  2. Development of innovative key technologies for the plant oil market to support oil palm geographical traceability and sustainability
  3. Development and refinement of metabolomics data quality, statistical analysis and Oil Palm Metabolome Database (OPDMB)
Proteomics Group

Proteomics and functional interpretation using advanced IT-learning tools will be the main focus areas of the group:

  1. Development of tissue-specific expression atlas and proteome map by linking datasets from protein profiling of palms with desired traits such as superior yield, oil quality and Ganoderma tolerance to relevant gene and transcript datasets;
  2. Development of omics data analysis pipeline using various methods including multivariate analysis, machine learning solutions, mathematical modelling and network analysis
  3. Identification of critical metabolite networks and pathways of important roles in the metabolic regulation of specific traits.
Protein Identification with MALDI-TOF/TOF Mass Spectrometry

We offer to identify your protein(s) by peptide mass spectrometric analysis using a Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time-of-Flight mass spectrometer (Bruker Ultraflex III) followed by a database search with Bruker ProteinScape data management software.

Typically, after protein separations on polyacrylamide gel (1D or 2D), we will perform tryptic digest on the proteins for peptide analysis. The generated peak list is then searched against public protein sequence databases such as NCBI or SWISSPROT. Our services are paid services but the offered technologies and expertise are also attainable through collaborations.

Our service offering includes, but not limited to;

  1. Electrophoresis gel-based protein separation
  2. Enzymatic digestion with trypsin
  3. Peptide clean-up
  4. Standard protein identification
  5. Customized services (training, hands-on, project design and consultation)

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Pricing

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Contact Person

If you need further information, please talk to us.

  1. Dr. Abrizah Othman – Group Leader Metabolomics
  2. Dr. Benjamin Lau Yii Chung – Group Leader Proteomics
FAQs
Gas Chromatography Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer

The GC/Q-TOF MS system comprising of Gerstel 1.4.6.5 Autosampler, a 7890B Agilent Gas Chromatography and 7200B Agilent Time-of-Flight MS.

Transfer of Services

MPOB TS No. 167, July 2017
Identification of Leaf Metabolome Content for Development of New Varieties

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MPOB Staff Application Form

Pricing
NoServicesCharges per injection
(excluding 6% GST)
AcademicIndustry
1Metabolite analysis with derivatization N-methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (MSTFA)RM 200.00RM 250.00
2Dynamic headspace (DHS) /headspace for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) analysisRM 150.00RM 200.00

Contact person

If you need further information, please contact our officer:

  1. Dr. Abrizah Othman – Group Leader Metabolomics
  2. Mdm. Nurul Liyana Rozali – Research Officer Metabolomics Group
FAQs
]]> Genomics Unit https://mpob.gov.my/ms/2025/02/genomics-unit/ Thu, 13 Feb 2025 06:17:21 +0000 http://mpob.gov.my/layout-04/?p=4775 Read more]]>

ABBC

Mission
To use genomic based technologies to unravel the genome structure and organization of oil palm and explore its full potential for sustainable production.
 
Objective
To develop and apply genomic based diagnostic tools to help improve the efficiency of oil palm breeding and tissue culture.
 
Strategic Research Areas
  1. Develop molecular markers and identify genes associated with traits of economic interest.
  2. Utilize relevant information from the reference oil palm genome build to improve oil palm productivity.
  3. Utilize high throughput genomic platforms for diagnostic purposes.
  4. Oil palm molecular cytogenetics and cytometric applications.
Molecular Mapping Group 
Objective 
  1. Identify and validate the association of markers linked to agronomic traits and isolate the corresponding gene(s) influencing the traits.
  2. Develop diagnostic tools for application in oil palm breeding and tissue culture.
Cytogenetics Group
Objective
  1. Establish cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetics tools for a holistic view of the oil palm genome.
  2. Integrate and apply molecular cytogenetic tools available for the improvement and efficiency of oil palm breeding and tissue culture.
Applied Genetics & Transcriptomics Group
Objective
  1. Develop prediction model for complex traits of economics interest.
  2. Utilize relevant information from the reference oil palm genome build to improve oil palm productivity.
  3. Determine the expression patterns for genes associated with traits of economic interest.
Genome Analysis Laboratory for Oil Palm (GALOP)

 
This facility is set up as a resource centre to serve both the industry and MPOB.

The following facilities are based in GALOP:
1. DNA Banking – to deposit reference materials as cultures, DNA or tissues for future references.
2. DNA Fingerprinting – use of DNA probes as quality control tools in oil palm tissue culture and breeding. 

Contact Person: Dr. Rajinder Singh (rajinder@mpob.gov.my)

Sitogen Lab

Services being offered are: 

  1. Chromosome Painting in Oil Palm Hybrids.

    • MPOB TS No. 49 (June 1998)

    • Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) method.

  2. Flow Cytometry Applications.

    • MPOB TS No. 18 (June 2007)

    • DNA content estimation and ploidy analysis.

  3. Plant Mitosis and Meiosis – Cytogenetical Analysis.

    • MPOB TS No. 49 (June 2008)

    • Establish karyotypes and perform cytogenetical analysis of mitotic and meiotic cells.

  4. Plant Molecular Cytogenetics Analysis.

    • MPOB TS No. 58 (June 2009)

    • Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) method.

  5. Image Cytometry (ICM): Genetic Analysis of Oil Palm calli and Regenerants.

    • MPOB TS No. 111 (June 2012)

    • DNA content estimation of calli.

  6. Oil Palm Haploid Technology: Screening for Naturally Occurring Haploids.

    • MPOB TS No. 125 (June 2013)

    • Maria Madon, Wan Ibrahim Wan Hassan, Zulkifli Yaakob & Norziha Abdullah.

  7. Makmal Sitogenetik MPOB.

    • MPOB TS No. 133 (June 2014)

    • Maria Madon, Noorhariza Mohd Zaki, Nordiana Hanim Mohd Nor, Mohd Razik Midin, Zainab Anip and Razali Mohd Nor.

Contact Person : Dr. Noorhariza Mohd Zaki (hariza@mpob.gov.my)

]]> Functional Biotechnology https://mpob.gov.my/ms/2025/02/functional-biotechnology/ Thu, 13 Feb 2025 04:20:48 +0000 http://mpob.gov.my/layout-04/?p=4728 Read more]]>

ABBC

Mission
To provide the oil palm industry with innovations for the production of genetically modified oil palm and novel high-value products through research in gene function and transgenic technology.
 
Strategic Research Areas
  1. Isolation of constitutive and tissue-specific promoters
  2. Isolation of key genes involved in oil synthesis and carotenoids pathway
  3. Testing oil palm promoters and genes using model plants
  4. Molecular approaches towards solving major disease and yield problems
  5. Development of routine and improved transformation system
  6. Improving oil quality and novel products using transgenic technology.
  7.  Understanding of oil palm genes associated with the height of regulation and affecting oil quality.
Gene Function Group
Objective
  • To identify, isolate and characterise genes and promoters towards production of oil palm with improved traits and novel high value products.
Transgenic Technology Group 
Objective 
  • To provide oil palm industry with innovations for the production of genetically engineered oil palm with improved oil quality and novel high-value products through research in genetic transformation and its allied sciences.

 

Gene Function LaboratoryTransgenic Technology Laboratory

Service being offered are:

  • Arabidopsis thaliana laboratory as a research facility in MPOB. MPOB information Series No. 308.

 

 

 

Services being offered are:

  • Transient gene expression system utilizing oil palm protoplasts. MPOB Information Series No. 687.
  • Services for genetic transformation of plant species. MPOB Information Series No. 483.
  • Construction of transformation vectors for genetically modifying plants. MPOB Information Series No. 309.

 

Contact Person: Dr. Zubaidah Ramli (bai@mpob.gov.my)Contact Person: Dr. Abdul Masani Mat Yunus (masani@mpob.gov.my)
]]> Bioinformatics Unit https://mpob.gov.my/ms/2025/02/bioinformatics-unit/ Thu, 13 Feb 2025 04:11:51 +0000 http://mpob.gov.my/layout-04/?p=4720 Read more]]>

ABBC

Mission
To enhance biotechnological research innovations and data interpretation through the development of advanced bioinformatic tools, training and support.
 
Strategic Research Areas
  1. Development of pipelines to automate data analysis workflows.
  2. Develop oil palm sequence and annotation databases and web-based tools.
  3. Integrate public domain information into local databases.
  4. Analyse and mine oil palm genome information for markers, sequences and genes of interest.
  5. Develop a one-stop centre for data storage and analysis, as well as for bioinformatics support and training.
Computational Biology Group
Objective
  • To provide a comprehensive collection of sequence and annotated resources for biological research.
Bioinformatics Resources Group

Objective 
  • To provide a central repository of biological data analysis and management system.
The Genomsawit Website: 

Online information resources for oil palm genome data and sequence analysis.

     

The MYPalmViewer:

Oil Palm Genome Browser.

     

PalmXplore:

The oil palm gene database. 

OPSRI:

Oil Palm SSR Resources Interface

Courses: 
  1. Provide in-house sequence analysis course using command line and analysis pipeline. 
  2. Organized series of bioinformatics courses for researchers in ABBC.
]]> Breeding and Tissue Culture Unit https://mpob.gov.my/ms/2025/02/breeding-and-tissue-culture-unit/ Thu, 13 Feb 2025 03:54:22 +0000 http://mpob.gov.my/layout-04/?p=4712 Read more]]>

ABBC

Mission

Continuous improvement and generation of elite oil palm planting materials.

Objective

Generation of improved and elite planting material through breeding and clonal propagation, enhanced through the use of molecular tools developed.

Strategic Research Areas
    1. Diversity studies for oil palm
    2. Establishment of a DNA database for oil palm germplasm material
    3. Establishment of a cryopreservation method for storage of germplasm and clonal materials
    4. DNA fingerprinting for our planting material
    5. Marker assisted selection towards improving oil palm breeding material
    6. Genetic resources
    7. Improvement of selection methodology
    8. Establishment of advanced breeding populations
    9. Further exploitation of Elaeis oleifera, interspecific hybrids and backcrosses
    10. Introgression of germplasm into breeding research
    11. Genotyping analysis
    12. Use of –omics technologies to discover biomarkers for improvement of clonal propagation
    13. Epigenetics studies towards understanding the oil palm clonal abnormality and other epigenetically controlled traits
    14. Production of elite clonal palms and specialty palms such as Bactris and Elaeis oleifera.
    15. Development of novel methods for improvement of the tissue culture process.
    16. Development of liquid cultures for improving the efficiency of the tissue culture protocol.
    17. Clonal propagation and breeding to produce planting materials with the following priority traits:

                     – High oil yield
                     – Ganoderma tolerance
                     – High bunch index
                     – Low height
                     – Long stalk

Breeding and Genetics Group
Objective
  1. To develop new and improved oil palm planting materials;
  2. To maintain and conserve germplasm and advanced genetic base for future use;
  3. To accelerate conventional breeding programme for developing and conserving elite oil palm planting materials through molecular approach;
  4. To conduct research on oil palm breeding materials in the field of genetic diversity, markers assisted-selection, fingerprinting and DNA preservation.
Clonal Propagation Group
Objective
  1. Increase efficiency of generation of elite planting materials.
  2. Create a centre of excellence in oil palm biotechnology (plant tissue culture).
  3. Development of improved planting materials.
Epigenetics Group
Objective
  1. Develop methods to detect and evaluate epigenetic modifications and signatures across diverse oil palm tissues.
  2. Identify and test epigenetic marks linked to important traits that could enhance oil palm tissue culture and breeding processes.
  3. Understand how environmental factors influence epigenetic changes in oil palms, helping to develop strategies for more resilient crops.
Breeding & Quantitative Genetics Group Services
Services
  1. Sale of DxP seeds
  2. Sale of genetic materials for seed garden
  3. Leasing of mother palms
  4. Sale of pollen
  5. Consultancies on breeding and seed production
Clonal Propagation Group Services
Services
  1. Sale of ortet
  2. Consultancies on clonal propagation
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