METHODS FOR OBTAINING HIGH-YIELDING OIL PALM PLANTS

Methods are provided for obtaining a high-yielding oil palm plant, comprising determining levels of first and second metabolites in mesocarp tissue of a fruit of a parental oil palm plant 11 to 21 weeks after pollination thereof, determining whether there is a difference between these levels and levels of the first and second metabolites in mesocarp tissue of a fruit of a reference oil palm plant, also 11 to 21 weeks after pollination thereof, wherein the difference is that the level of the first metabolite is at least 15% higher, and the level of the second metabolite is at least 5% lower, for the parental plant relative to the reference plant, and selecting progeny of the parental plant based on the difference to obtain the high-yielding plant. Also provided are methods for predicting oil yield of a test oil palm plant and kits for obtaining a high-yielding oil palm plant.