| Summary: | The understanding of yield responses of different oil palm progenies to rainfall is important for plantation
management to ensure that the most suitable progeny is selected for maximum productivity. Drought responses
are commonly studied using drought induction on oil palm seedlings or by conducting irrigation trials. Nevertheless, such trials may not reflect the yield response in mature palms in natural conditions. In this study, an
alternative approach is developed to evaluate oil palm yield responses to varying rainfall regimes. Using the
time-series rainfall and yield data of oil palm materials (n = 11), the yield components most affected by rainfall
fluctuations were identified. Subsequently, the floral developmental stages susceptible to rainfall changes were
determined. Finally, the relative yield performance of the materials in different rainfall conditions was compared
to determine the materials adapted to the low rainfall condition. The bunch number was the best parameter to
investigate the effect of rainfall on oil palm yield. The floral developmental stages affected by rainfall were
inflorescence abortion and sex determination. Progeny-specific yield response is discernible from yield and
rainfall data alone. Our study has contributed to the development of an approach to screening for droughttolerant materials.
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