CIRAD and its French partner IRD are being implementing a long-term multi-stage project towards the marker-assisted selection of the oil palm (E. guineensis Jacq.) in order to make optimum use of the existing network of field genetic experiments while capitalising upon recent advances in plant biotechnology. Classical molecular breeding projects are originally combined with novel tools, for the cloning and tagging of key agronomic genes, such as: (i) EST (Expressed Sequence Tag) of cDNA sequences, (ii) physical mapping of BAC clones, (iii) cDNA-AFLP mapping, (iv) differential analysis of cDNAs, (v) macro- and micro-arrays technology. A network of field methodological trials is being established in order to validate QTL/gene markers, to implement marker-assisted selection strategies and to pursue physical mapping towards the characterisation, cloning and tagging of useful genes. In parallel, the CIRAD-IRD team is exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying the oil palm somatic embryogenesis and mantled somaclonal variation. The development of a regeneration protocol based on the use of embryogenic cell suspensions and physiology results has provided a method which allows the production on a large scale of single somatic embryos displaying structural similarities with zygotic seed embryos. In order to establish an early clonal conformity testing procedure, molecular studies were carried out on both genomic DNA methylation changes and gene expression induced by tissue culture. Efforts will now being directed towards the exploitation of this new knowledge in the development of clonal conformity tests.