What Is the Dura Variety? Traits, Role, and Differences from Tenera
- Dura is an oil palm fruit type with a thick shell (2–8 mm), thin mesocarp, and large kernel, giving low oil yield of 14–18%.[1]
- Dura serves as the female parent (mother palm) in hybrid seed production, because Dura × Pisifera crosses produce thin-shelled Tenera.[2]
- Genetically, Dura is homozygous dominant (Sh/Sh) for thick shell, Pisifera is recessive (sh/sh), and Tenera is heterozygous (Sh/sh).[3]
- Dura fruit has a 2–5 mm thick shell, 20–50% thin mesocarp, and no fiber ring around the kernel.[1][2]
- Despite low yield, Dura remains essential in breeding because it carries fertile, productive female parent traits.[2]
Dura is the original thick-shelled oil palm type that serves as the female parent in hybrid seed production. Although its oil yield is lower than Tenera, its role is strategic in breeding and the seed industry.
Table of contents
What Is the Dura Variety?
Dura is an oil palm fruit type with a thick shell and large kernel, with relatively thin mesocarp. This type is the ancestral form of oil palm growing in the wild and in plantations, and is one of the parents in breeding programs.[1]
Dura fruit is recognized by its very thick shell, about 2–5 mm, and the absence of fiber in the mesocarp around the kernel. Its mesocarp is thin, so the kernel proportion is larger than in other types.[2]
Dura originates from the four Bogor parent palms in Java that were the source of oil palm germplasm in Southeast Asia. This type is homozygous dominant for thick shell, so Dura × Dura crosses produce uniform Dura offspring.[3]
Fruit Traits and Composition
Dura fruit characteristics determine its oil yield. Because the shell is thick and mesocarp thin, Dura produces less oil than Tenera but more palm kernel. This comparison is documented in oil palm breeding literature.[1][4]
| Parameter | Dura | Tenera | Pisifera |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shell (mm) | 2–5 | 1–2.5 | Almost none |
| Mesocarp as % of fruit | 20–50 | 60–90 | 92–97 |
| Kernel (%) | 4–20 | 3–15 | 3–8 |
| CPO yield (%) | 14–18 | 18–25 | Low |
| Kernel yield (%) | 4–7 | 4–7 | High |
| Female flower | Fertile | Fertile | Sterile |
| Commercial role | Female parent | Commercial planting | Male parent |
Role in Breeding
Dura serves as the female parent (mother palm) in hybrid seed production. Crosses between Dura and Pisifera produce Tenera combining thin shell and thick mesocarp, yielding far more oil than Dura.[2]
The gene controlling shell thickness is the Shell gene. Dura is genotype Sh/Sh (homozygous dominant), Pisifera sh/sh (recessive), and Tenera Sh/sh (heterozygous). Tenera produces much higher oil than either parent because its mesocarp is thicker.[3]
Dura used as a female parent in seed production is usually regenerated from Dura × Dura crosses so traits are uniform. Pisifera as male parent is regenerated from Tenera × Tenera or Tenera × Pisifera crosses.[3]
Comparison with Tenera and Pisifera
Compared with Tenera, Dura produces less oil because mesocarp is thin and shell thick. Tenera underpins commercial palm oil production in Southeast Asia by combining the best traits of both parents. In Indonesia, all three types are often used as field references for recognizing fruit type.[2][5]
Pisifera has no shell and is generally female-sterile, so it is not planted commercially. This type is used as a pollen source in controlled crossing programs.[2]
Dura, Tenera, and Pisifera can also be distinguished by fruit traits: Dura has no fiber ring around the kernel, whereas Tenera has a clearly visible fiber ring. Pisifera consists only of yellow mesocarp and white kernel.[2]
Summary
Dura is a thick-shelled oil palm type with thin mesocarp and large kernel, giving low oil yield. It serves as the female parent in hybrid seed production because crosses with Pisifera yield thin-shelled, thick-mesocarp Tenera.
References
- Gatra (2024). Here Are Superior Oil Palm Varieties Farmers Can Choose. https://www.gatra.com/detail/news/523179/info-sawit/ini-dia-varietas-sawit-unggul-bisa-jadi-pilihan-petani
- FAO. Oil Palm — fruit types (dura, pisifera, tenera). https://www.fao.org/4/y4355e/y4355e03.htm
- PMC/NIH. The oil palm Shell gene controls oil yield and encodes a homologue of SEEDSTICK. http://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4209285/
- World Bank. Palm Oil Handbook — fruit forms of Elaeis guineensis. https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/644041492626105225/pdf/multi-page.pdf
- GAPKI (2026). Dura, Tenera, and Pisifera: Recognizing Three Oil Palm Fruit Types. https://gapki.id/news/2026/07/23/dura-tenera-dan-pisifera-mengenal-tiga-tipe-kelapa-sawit-yang-menentukan-produktivitas-kebun/