Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is a perennial tropical tree which reproduces only by seeds. In the
nature, the seeds have a relative dormancy leading to very long germination process (1 to 3 years). In
order to improve oil palm production, research aiming at the reduction of the dormancy period was
initiated. The germination tests carried on seeds stored for different periods after harvest, showed a
germination percentage of fresh seeds (not stored) significantly higher (55.39 %) than that of seeds
stored for 3 months (45.78%) and 6 months (38.68%). This germination ability also varies significantly
with the two palm genotypes (C70XX from LM 19954 and C24XX from linear LM 19617) developed by the
Centre National de Recherche Agronomique (CNRA) in Côte d’Ivoire and used in the present study.
Seeds of category C70XX from LM 19954 linear present a significant superior percentage of germination
than those of the category C24XX from linear LM 19617. In order to break seeds dormancy, heat
incubation at 40°C was applied for different durations (40, 60 and 80 days). Seeds incubated for 60 days
at 40°C induced higher germination percentage (56.3%) compared to the current applied delay of 80
days heating. 40 days heating period appeared to reduce the germination capability. According to these
results, the usual germination techniques for oil palm seedlings production can be improved by
shortening germination delay of seeds.