Journal of Life Sciences 8 (2014) 946-954 doi: 10.17265/1934-7391/2014.12.004 Morphogenesis of Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) Fruit in Seed Development Hermine Bille Ngalle 1 , Joseph Martin Bell 1 , Georges Franck Ngando-Ebongue 2 , Hernild Eman-Evina 1 , Godswill Ntsefong Ntsomboh 2 and Armand Nsimi-Mva 3 1. Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, P.O. Box 812, Cameroon 2. Specialized Oil Palm Research Centre (CEREPAH of La Dibamba), IRAD, Douala, P.O. 243, Cameroon 3. Ekona Regional Research Centre, IRAD, Buéa, P.O. Box 25, Cameroon Received: November 14, 2014 / Accepted: December 2, 2014 / Published: December 30, 2014. Abstract: The place of the oil palm, Elaeis guineensis Jacq., in the market for fats of vegetable commodities makes it a strategic plant which requires continuous improvement. In this context, it seems appropriate to better describe the effects of the Sh gene in the developing fruit. This study aims to set a benchmark for the development of the seed in the natural palm (Elaeis guineensis var. dura). Thus the growth and development of the two major seed tissues were monitored every two weeks from pollination to maturity of the fruit. The results show that the endosperm is still liquid six weeks after pollination. It then begins an accelerated development which leads it, 11 weeks later, to completely fill the seed cavity, with an average mass of 0.81 g. This mass remains stable until the maturity of the fruit. The embryo is only visible when the endosperm is gelatinous, around 70 DPP (days post-pollination). It then has an average length of 1.00 mm. At 126 DPP, the embryo has finished growing and measures 2.82 mm on average. This length also remains stable until 168 DPP (3.04 mm). In perspective, a detailed follow-up of the development of the zygote from the pollination to 100 DPP is proposed. In parallel, the analysis of the chemical composition of the endosperm between 100 DPP and 168 DPP is necessary. These two complementary studies will allow to better specifying the benchmark of seed development in Elaeis guineensis var. dura. Key words: Elaeis guineensis Jacq., embryo, endosperm, seed, development. 1. Introduction Since 2006, palm oil, extracted from the mesocarp of the fruit of the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), became the first source of vegetable fat on the world market [1]. With a world production of 57.3 million tons in 2013 [2], this oil also ranks first in terms of production. Palm oil reaches this performance thanks to its exceptional yield, with world average around four tons of palm oil per hectare [3]. This productivity of the oil palm is much greater than that of all oilseed crops. It is ten times higher than that of soybean [3-5]. With a production of 6.8 million tons in 2013 [2], palm kernel oil extracted from the seed also holds an important Corresponding author: Joseph Martin Bell, Ph.D., associate professor, research fields: genetics and plant breeding. E-mail: josmarbell@yahoo.fr. place in the consumption of fats of vegetable origin. Oil palm appears as a strategic plant for the economy of numerous producing countries. Breeding programs and genetic improvement of this species are primarily focused on the development of planting material more efficient in terms of production of palm oil and kernels [6]. However, the history of selection in this plant is of recent [4, 7-10]. It consisted up to here in indirectly valuing a natural mutation that occurred on the shell (Sh) gene, which specifically controls the thickness of the endocarp in this species [11, 12]. At this locus, the wild palm dura having the genotype Sh + Sh + with thick endocarp and large seed is distinguished from the mutated palm named pisifera having the genotype Sh - Sh - without endocarp and with a tiny seed, and the hybrid palm D DAVID PUBLISHING