Data & Information Management Services
AAR has a comprehensive data and information management system that stores extensive field-scale agronomic data of oil palm plantations. We are among the first few in the industry that started building a digital database to store historical field data of oil palms in computers when the first graphic interphase Machintosh was introduced in Malaysia late 1980s.
Our relational database management system (AEGIS) stores geo-referenced historical field data and details of factors affecting the potential yield of given sites. It is supplemented with an Integrated Fertiliser Recommendation System (INFERS) that predicts palm growth and calculate required fertilisers site-specifically to optimise use of resources and achieve sustainable yield improvement.
There are two main functions falling under the purview of this section:
- Information Management System (IMS) – Gathering, compiling, storing and analysing agronomic data of commercial fields and research data/records of experimental plots.
- Information Communication Technology (ICT) – Developing data sharing and information retrieving and viewing platforms to assist agronomists in their advisory work. With new technologies of the IR4.0, this sub-section is also tasked to evaluate and deploy or fabricate sensors, cameras and smart dataloggers to acquire intensive real-time or near real-time data/information for planning and monitoring.
Another unique aspect of our system is the incorporation of a model (ASYP) that compute the Site Yield Potential of any given field for our agronomists and client estates to achieve with corrective inputs. Leveraging the technologies of the IR4.0, our IMS is being augmented with time series spatial data useful for change detection, planning of planting and monitoring of palm growth. It is essentially designed to empower decision makers making data-driven and informed decisions.
Biotechnology Analytical Services
We offer reliable services in DNA purification i.e., isolation of high-quality DNA from oil palm for downstream analysis and SSR genotyping for authentication and illegitimacy test.
High throughput SSR genotyping for oil palm legitimacy and clonal fidelity analysis are the major molecular genetic services in our Biotech Lab. We are experienced in genotyping infrastructure, SSR marker screening and genetic polymorphism analysis. We provide cost-effectiveness, reliable and precise screening services to distinguish oil palm genotypes. Our current SSR genotyping services cover marker-assisted selection of oil palms for field planting, characterisation of genetic variation and classification of germplasm, accurate legitimacy test and parental identification of planting materials with unknown origins.
P&D and Microbiology Lab Diagnostic Services
We have a team of trained personnel to tackle serious pest and disease problems of oil palms. Our team of specialists are skillful in both field and lab diagnosis of pests, pathogens as well as beneficial microbes at molecular levels. We are offering commercial services in enumeration, isolation, identification and detection of enzyme activities of microorganisms.
Services include:
- Species identification via DNA-PCR amplification for bacteria, fungi and rodents
- Insect CO1 analysis and taxonomic curation & identification
- Enumeration of total heterotrophic bacteria and fungi in biofertilisers
- Enumeration of nitrogen fixing bacteria, phosphate and potassium solubilising bacteria in biofertilisers
- Screening and quantification of IAA-activity by individual PGPR isolates in biofertilisers
AA Vitroa I (Oil Palm Ramet)
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| We are recognised as one of the leading experts in oil palm tissue culture. Commercially known as AA Vitroa I, our clonal palms are low in overall mantling rate (< 5%) and high in oil to bunch (> 28%). More than 24% of high oil extraction rates (OER) were consistently achieved when tested in commercial palm oil mills. | |
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Performance of AA Vitroa I
* Recorded at various trial sites; averaged from at least 5 years’ yield data |
AA Vitroa I is the product of stringent selection process and our many years of experience as well as long-standing expertise in oil palm tissue culturing. Cloning will allow the industry to reduce yield fluctuation common to the heterogenous DxP. Plantations with palm oil mills will certainly benefit from planting of our high oil-bearing AA Vitroa I. |
AA Vitroa I – owing to the success of our first commercial planting of clonal palms in 1997, we decided to set up a commercial tissue culture laboratory in 2008 to scale up production of ramets. Located in Ijok, Selangor, our 35,000 square feet laboratory was built with an annual production capacity of 1 million saleable ramets. Over the past 30 years, we fine-tuned our protocols and tested the performance of our clonal palms in both experimental plots and commercial fields. As of 2020, our high oil-bearing clones have been planted on more than 69,000 hectares of oil palm fields in our principals’ and clients’ estates in Malaysia.