Tenera

Tenera is a cultivar group of the oil palm species Elaeis guineensis produced by a cross between the dura and pisifera forms. The resulting tenera palms are typically grown as hybrids, commonly denoted DxP (dura x pisifera), and form the basis of most modern high-yield palm-oil plantations. The name is linked to Latin tener, meaning tender or delicate, in reference to the thin or absent shell on the fruit.

Genetics and breeding: Tenera palms arise from crossing a dura with a pisifera, yielding fruits with a thin or absent shell and a higher proportion of mesocarp, which contains the oil. Commercial breeding programs select tenera lines for shell thickness, oil-to-fruit ratio, growth characteristics, and disease resistance. Seeds marketed as tenera originate from controlled DxP crosses and are propagated to produce uniform planting material.

Description and agronomy: Tenera fruits have a relatively thin shell around a high-oil mesocarp, leading to higher oil yield per fruit than pure dura. Plants typically show vigorous growth and high bunch numbers, though performance varies with climate and management. Because tenera constitutes the bulk of current plantations, breeding continues to optimize agronomic traits and disease tolerance in this form.

Geographic and economic context: Tenera plantations dominate commercial palm-oil production in many regions, especially Southeast Asia, with significant impact on national economies, land use, and export revenues. Ongoing debates focus on sustainability, landscape transformation, and ecological effects of intensive oil-palm farming.

See also: Dura, Pisifera, Elaeis guineensis, Oil palm cultivation.