Agronomic Performance and Bio-Oil Yield of Interspecific Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis x Elaeis oleifera) Hybrids in Southwest Cameroon

African Journal of Agriculture | Vol. 13, No. 8, August 2026 | pp. 122–129

DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJA/000749

Article Type: Original Research Article

Title: Agronomic Performance and Bio-Oil Yield of Interspecific Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis x Elaeis oleifera) Hybrids in Southwest Cameroon

Names of Authors: Daniel M. Ewane¹, Fidelis N. Tanyi¹, Theresa B. Njoume²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), Ekona Regional Centre, Buea, Cameroon; ²Department of Agronomy, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon

Abstract: Traditional Elaeis guineensis oil palm plantations face severe losses from fatal yellowing disease and bud rot across Central Africa. Interspecific hybrids (Elaeis guineensis x Elaeis oleifera, or OxG) offer a strong genetic defense against these biotic stresses, but their long-term agronomic yields require localized verification. This study tracked the vegetative growth, bunch component analysis, and crude palm oil (CPO) productivity of three elite OxG hybrid crosses (Coari x La Mé, Taisha x Ekona, and Manicoré x Pobe) over an 8-year production lifecycle in southwest Cameroon. The field trial was set up using a randomized complete block design with four replicates. The Taisha x Ekona hybrid displayed high tolerance to bud rot, with a recorded incidence of 0.0% compared to 14.5% in the local E. guineensis check. Hybrid Taisha x Ekona also achieved the highest fresh fruit bunch yield, averaging 22.4 ± 1.5 t/ha/year at maturity. Bunch analysis revealed an extraction rate of 21.8% CPO for Taisha x Ekona, equating to a net oil yield of 4.88 t/ha/year. The oil characterization showed a high iodine value (64.2 g I/100g) and an unsaturated oleic acid fraction exceeding 54.0%, indicating premium oil quality. This research confirms that the Taisha x Ekona hybrid provides high oil output and excellent disease resistance for Central African growers.

Keywords: Elaeis guineensis, Interspecific hybrids, Bud rot resistance, Fresh fruit bunch, Crude palm oil, Cameroon

Manuscript Timeline: Received: June 01, 2026; Revised: July 05, 2026; Accepted: July 30, 2026; Published: August 31, 2026

Citation: Ewane, D. M., Tanyi, F. N., & Njoume, T. B. (2026). Agronomic Performance and Bio-Oil Yield of Interspecific Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis x Elaeis oleifera) Hybrids in Southwest Cameroon. African Journal of Agriculture, 13(8), 122–129. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJA/000749

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