African Oil Research Articles

Safeguarding forests from smallholder oil palm expansion by more intensive production? The case of Ngwei forest (Cameroon)

Cameroon currently produces 230,000 tons/year of palm oil making it the 3rd largest African and 13th largest global palm oil producer. The country's 193,860 ha of mostly non-industrial oil palm plantations, which are often characterized by archaic production methods, will likely expand significantly along with the anticipated increase of the annual palm oil production by 2025. Their continued expansion represents a threat to forest landscapes, wildlife biodiversity and the environment. Using the example of the Ngwei forest area, one of the hot spots of oil palm growing in Cameroon, this study evaluates the social welfare created by undertaking this activity and the land area that could be spared from deforestation through increasing productivity of non-industrial oil palm plantations. The field survey results indicated that, small-scale non-industrial producers used only between 1 and 30 percent of the inputs used by large-scale producers (skilled labour, mineral fertilizer, high-yield variety seedling, pesticide) and recorded only a quarter oil palm yield (5 tons of fresh fruit bunches per ha as compared to 19.3 tons/ha). The Cobb-Douglas production function showed a higher factor productivity for small-scale plantations. The baseline results from the non-linear programming model indicated a negative social welfare and revealed land and patch of traditional forest trees retained on farms as the most important production factors. Using the counterfactual of land sparing through non-industrial oil palm intensification as a reference scenario, the social welfare became positive and 75% of oil palm area could be reforested. The results also showed that a positive social welfare would be generated if a modest rebound effect occurred. However, as private and social benefits of intensified non-industrial oil palm cultivation exceeded the opportunity cost of forest conversion, improving the adoption of more productive inputs by farmers could prove to further increase pressure on the remaining primary forest areas. Hence, effective environmental governance and complementary policies will be essential in enforcing a reduction of oil palm area and the afforestation of abandoned lands.

A new virus found in garlic virus complex is a member of possible novel genus of the family Betaflexiviridae (order Tymovirales).

Plant vegetative propagation strategies for agricultural crops cause the accumulation of viruses, resulting in the formation of virus complexes or communities. The cultivation of garlic is based on vegetative propagation and more than 13 virus species from the genera Potyvirus, Allexivirus and Carlavirus have been reported. Aiming for an unbiased identification of viruses from a garlic germplasm collection in Brazil, total RNA from eight garlic cultivars was sequenced by high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technology. Although most viruses found in this study were previously reported, one of them did not belong to any known genera. This putative new virus was found in seven out of eight garlic cultivars and phylogenetic data positioned it as representative of an independent evolutionary lineage within family Betaflexiviridae. This virus has been tentatively named garlic yellow mosaic-associated virus (GYMaV), sharing highest nucleotide identities with African oil palm ringspot virus (genus Robigovirus) and potato virus T (genus Tepovirus) for the replicase gene, and with viruses classified within genus Foveavirus for the coat protein gene. Due to its high frequency in garlic cultivars, GYMaV should be considered in upcoming surveys of pathogens in this crop and in the development of virus-free garlic plants.

A persisting minority – narratives of women in corporate leadership

abstractIn this article I draw from a number of interviews conducted with female executives in the South African oil industry in 2017. Globally, the petroleum industry is one of the most male-dominated organisational structures as well as cultures in the business world. Some of the women, who hold upper-management positions, have not only emerged from the science and finance spheres (equally gendered organisations) but also navigated their way through an aggressive, patriarchal atmosphere of rivalry and competition. I examine various mythologies associated with the industry, such as the cowboy myth and the frontier ideology directed at female executives. One of the themes to emerge from the interviews was the almost unanimous rejection of the ‘glass ceiling’ metaphor favoured by some feminists. The women of the petroleum industry rather affirmed a picture of their rise to leadership positions through a strategic labyrinth of challenges and obstacles both in terms of gender and race. The article shares the insights of women leaders in a complex industry, framing their reflections within a theoretical feminist lens.

非洲石油天然气市场开发中的HSSE风险预防与控制

非洲石油天然气市场开发中的HSSE风险预防与控制

Conservation of Neotropical migratory birds in tropical hardwood and oil palm plantations.

Tropical forests in the Americas are undergoing rapid conversion to commercial agriculture, and many migratory bird species that use these forests have experienced corresponding populations declines. Conservation research for migratory birds in the tropics has focused overwhelmingly on shade coffee plantations and adjacent forest, but both cover types are now in decline, creating an urgent need to evaluate conservation opportunities in other agricultural systems. Here we compare how a community of 42 Neotropical migratory bird species and a subset of five conservation-priority species differ in usage and habitat associations among a secondary forest baseline and four expanding commercial plantation systems in Guatemala: African oil palm, teak, rubber, and mixed-native hardwoods. We found that mixed-native hardwood plantations supported the highest richness and diversity of all migrants and that the three hardwood plantation types generally outperformed oil palm in richness and diversity metrics. Despite this, oil palm supported high abundance of several common and widespread species also experiencing range-wide population declines and may therefore play an important role in conserving common species. Mature secondary forest hosted low abundance and diversity of the full migratory community, but high abundance and richness of conservation priority migrants along with native hardwood and teak plantations. Likewise, the percentage of forest cover on the landscape was positively associated with priority migrant abundance and richness but negatively associated with the abundance of migrants in general, highlighting how individual species within the broad group of Neotropical migratory landbirds respond differently to anthropogenic changes in land use. Across all cover types, the retention of tall overstory trees increased the abundance, richness, and diversity of all migrants, which indicates that vertical structural diversity and remnant trees are important habitat features for birds in agricultural landscapes. Our findings show that conservation opportunities exist in hardwood and oil palm plantations, though the species likely to benefit from conservation action will vary among plantation types. For the subset of conservation priority migrants, our results suggest that conservation efforts should combine strategies that retain and restore secondary forest, promote the adoption of native hardwood and teak plantations, and promote the retention of tall, remnant trees in agricultural landscapes.

Influence of processing conditions on some physical characteristics of vegetable oil expressed mechanically from Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth kernels: Response surface approach

AbstractThe global increase in demand for vegetable oils due to their nutritional, pharmaceutical, and industrial importance necessitates investigation on exploitation of new oil bearing crops. This study was undertaken to determine the influence of processing conditions on physical properties of oil expressed mechanically from African oil bean kernels. Central composite rotatable design of response surface methodology (RSM) at 3‐factors, 5‐levels was adopted; independent variables considered were: moisture content (MC; 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16% dry basis), heating duration (HD; 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 min), and heating temperature (HT; 50, 70, 90, 110, 130 °C) while dependent variables (physical characteristics) include: oil impurities, density, kinematic viscosity, dynamic viscosity, specific gravity, refractive index, and color; all determined using standard methods. Optimum values were obtained using RSM. Optimum oil quality (0.044%m/m impurity, 0.92 kg/m3 density, 43.86 mm2/s kinematic viscosity, 40.8 mPa s dynamic viscosity, 0.9 specific gravity, 1.469 refractive index, and 7.7 color units) was obtained at 8% db, 11.7 min HD, and 59.3 °C HT. The quality of the expressed oil falls within permissible limits for edible oils and high nutritional importance. The processing conditions influenced the quality of the mechanically expressed African oil bean oil.Practical applicationsAfrican oil bean is an underutilized plant with potentials for meeting increasing global demand for vegetable oil for nutritional and industrial importance. The application/usage of oil is dependent on its quality attributes which is otherwise dependent on processing parameters like moisture content, heating duration, and heating temperature. These factors need to be controlled during oil expression processes to actually the optimum conditions that will yield good quality oil. The degree of influence of the parameters on oil quality is a useful data to vegetable oil processors, food, and agricultural engineers. The quality parameters of the oil were determined and compared with international standard parameters. Mathematical models were developed to predict the yield and quality attributes of expressed oil from African oil bean kernels at various processing conditions.

India – Africa: Trade and Investments in the XXI Century

In article commercial relations and investment streams between India and the countries of Africa in the conditions of globalization of the XXI century are considered. Scales and filling of their economic interaction are significantly differ, determined by the level of development of national economy and features of external demand for the made production. High need of the countries of Africa for inflow of foreign investments, especially taking into account strong lag of most of them in development of own research and development remains. In intercontinental communications o f Africa the high activity is characteristic of India which government in 2002 has adopted the program “In focus Africa”, aimed at continuous development of economic contacts with the countries of the continent. The considerable share in their GDP of the shadow sector remains essential negative feature of economic structures of the countries of Africa and India. It not only complicates adequate assessment of the economic processes happening in these countries, but also has an adverse effect on efficiency of the state institutes. It was designated, though uneven on scales, formation of the middle class and, as a result, new types of consumption, demand and their proliferation. Respectively, their domestic markets increase and differentiated that increases interest in access to them for foreign exporters and investors. Special importance is represented by economic policy of India in the relations with the countries of Africa, including with use of “soft power” for further expansion of the positions. The main forms of economic relations of India and the countries of Africa, the growing activity of large business structures, the top-level annual economic summits are considered. In export of the African countries to India the high share of raw materials, first of all agricultural and also hydrocarbons steadily remains. The share of the African oil in the general import of India in 2016 has made 15%. Along with traditional presence in the African and South Asian markets of the leading countries of the West, economic influence of China as exporter and investor amplifies. Influence of the Japanese and South Korean capitals grows in competition for the African markets. In February, 2018 the countries of Africa have agreed about creation of the common market. Such prospect will significantly aggravate the competition for economic positions in trade and investments with the countries of African continent.

Levels of Biologically Active Compounds and some Essential Metal in Parts of African Oil Bean Tree (<i>Pentaclethra macrophylla</i>)

Levels of Biologically Active Compounds and some Essential Metal in Parts of African Oil Bean Tree (<i>Pentaclethra macrophylla</i>)

Oil to cash in Somaliland: a debate whose time has come

AbstractSomaliland might start producing oil in 2019. Yet, it has done little to prepare for the arrival of oil revenues which could exceed its current annual budget. Although Somaliland has been largely peaceful for two decades and recently inaugurated its fifth president after holding a democratic election, it remains entirely unrecognised. Oil revenues could positively transform Somaliland's fragile political economy, but they also place it at significant risk for a political resource curse that could threaten its democracy, peace and political institutions. Oil to cash or the direct distribution of oil revenues to citizens has been posited as a solution to the political resource curse. Somaliland has many of the elements necessary to make oil to cash work in place. Several factors combine to make Somaliland both potentially receptive to oil to cash and uniquely positioned to benefit from it. Interviews with political elites demonstrate receptiveness to the idea. Sample revenue calculations from other African oil producers highlight just how such a system could work to benefit Somaliland.

Development of novel EST-SSR markers in the maca\xfaba palm (Acrocomia aculeata) using transcriptome sequencing and cross-species transferability in Arecaceae species

BackgroundThe macaúba palm is a novel feedstock for oil production suitable for multiple uses, including as biodiesel and in the food and cosmetic industries. As an efficient alternative, the macaúba palm has limited genomic resources, particularly expressed sequence tag (EST) markers. We report a comprehensive set of validated EST-simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers by using transcriptome sequencing, its application in genetic diversity analysis and cross transferability in other palm trees with environmental and economic importance.ResultsIn this study, a total of 418 EST-SSRs were identified to be unique for one transcript and region; 232 EST-SSRs were selected, with trinucleotide repeats being the most frequent motif, representing 380 (90.9%), followed by composited (4.5%), di- (3.6%), and hexanucleotides (3.6%). A total of 145 EST-SSRs (62.5%) were validated for consistent amplification in seventeen macaúba palm samples, and 100 were determined to be polymorphic with PIC values ranging from 0.25 to 0.77. Genetic diversity analysis was performed with the 20 most informative EST-SSR markers showing a distinct separation of the different groups of macaúba palm. Additionally, these 145 markers were transferred in six other palm species resulting in transferability rates of 99% (144) in Acrocomia intumescens, 98% (143) in Acrocomia totai, 80.7% (117 EST-EST) in African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) and peach palm (Bactris gasipaes) samples, 70% (102) in the juçara palm (Euterpe edulis) and 71.7% (104) in the hat palm (Sabal causiarum). Analysis of genetic distance showed a high separation in accordance with geographic location, establishing distinct groups by genera.ConclusionsThe EST markers identified in our study are a valuable resource and provide a genomic tool for genetic mapping and further genetic studies, as well as evaluation of co-location between QTLs and functionally associated markers.

Deforestation risks posed by oil palm expansion in the Peruvian Amazon**Data associated with this letter are available at: https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.kk7hq10.

Further expansion of agriculture in the tropics is likely to accelerate the loss of biodiversity. One crop of concern to conservation is African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis). We examined recent deforestation associated with oil palm in the Peruvian Amazon within the context of the region’s other crops. We found more area under oil palm cultivation (845 km2) than did previous studies. While this comprises less than 4% of the cropland in the region, it accounted for 11% of the deforestation from agricultural expansion from 2007–2013. Patches of oil palm agriculture were larger and more spatially clustered than for other crops, potentially increasing their impact on local habitat fragmentation. Modeling deforestation risk for oil palm expansion using climatic and edaphic factors showed that sites at lower elevations, with higher precipitation, and lower slopes than those typically used for intensive agriculture are at long-term risk of deforestation from oil palm agriculture. Within areas at long-term risks, based on CART models, areas near urban centers, roads, and previously deforested areas are at greatest short-term risk of deforestation. Existing protected areas and officially recognized indigenous territories cover large areas at long-term risk of deforestation for oil palm (>40%). Less than 7% of these areas are under strict (IUCN I-IV) protection. Based on these findings, we suggest targeted monitoring for oil palm deforestation as well as strengthening and expanding protected areas to conserve specific habitats.

Production of Polyhydroxyalkanoates From Underutilized Plant Oils by Cupriavidus necator

Utilization of neglected oils for polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) production will provide vast arrays of carbon substrates, lower its production cost, and boost global PHA production. The scope of this study is to evaluate the potential of desert date oil, bitter apple oil, African elemi oil, and Amygdalus pedunculata oil from Africa and some parts of Asia as novel carbon sources for PHA production. The desert date kernels and bitter apple seeds contain up to 45.5 and 53.2% of oil‐based on dry weight. Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) results showed the presence of palmitic (C16:0), stearic (C18:0), oleic (C18:1), and linoleic (C18:2) acids as the major fatty acids constituting 97–99% of the total fatty acids. Both strains of Cupriavidus necator H16 and Re2058/pCB113 utilizes the oils effectively as carbon sources for poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate), P(3HB) and poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate), P(3HB‐co‐3HHx) production, respectively. A maximum cell dry weight (CDW) of 8–9 g/L−1 (C. necator H16) and 6–8 g L−1 (Re2058/pCB113) at a C/N ratio between 24 and 36 was achieved from shake flask cultures. The oils are suitable for the biosynthesis of high concentration of P(3HB) (6 g L−1) and P(3HB‐co‐3HHx) (5 g L−1) with 31 mol% 3HHx. Gel permeation chromatographic (GPC) analysis of the PHAs revealed high PHA molecular weights (Mw) of 510 000–630 000 for copolymer and 1 580 000–2 400 000 Da for homo‐polymer. This study shows that the underutilized oils are potential feedstock to produce PHA that can substitute palm oil.

Life cycle analysis of macauba palm cultivation: A promising crop for biofuel production

The 450 Scenario, which limits the increase in global average temperature to 2 °C, makes it necessary to take steps towards a low-carbon economy. Since the energy sector is a major contribution to anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the production of biofuels can play a key role in strategies aimed at climate change mitigation. In this regard, the oil derived from macauba palm (Acrocomia aculeata), mainly constituted of saturated organic chains, has been claimed to hold promise for the production of liquid fuels. The high potential yield, diversity of co-products and various positive features of this emerging energy crop make it an interesting option both from a social and an environmental point of view. Nonetheless, a full environmental evaluation is still missing. In the study presented herein, the impacts produced in its plantation, cultivation and harvesting phases and the associated cumulative energy demand have been determined using a life cycle analysis methodology, in addition to shedding some light on its GHG intensity relative to the other energy crops it can displace. Excluding land use changes and biogenic CO2 fixed by the crop, it was concluded that to produce one ton of macauba fruit in Brazil, the system would absorb 1810.21 MJ, with GHG emissions of 158.69 kg CO2eq in the 20-year timeframe, and of 140.04 kg CO2eq in the 100-year timeframe (comparable to those of African oil palm). Damage to human health, ecosystem quality, and resources would add up to 16 Pt·t−1 according to Eco-indicator 99 methodology. In order to account for the uncertainty derived from improvement and domestication programs, which should affect current production levels, a sensitivity analysis for different productivities was performed. In all analyses, fertilization was found to be responsible for ca. 90% of the impacts, and hence special attention should be paid to the development of alternative fertilizer management schemes.

Sustainability of African Oil Palm Agriculture in a Changing Climatic Environment

Non-governmental organizations often claim that those countries growing oil palm are responsible for deforestation, biodiversity loss, and climate change. Nevertheless, demand for palm oil has kept on growing in Africa and worldwide due to the ever-growing populations and to the high demand for palm oil numerous food and non-food uses. In 2018, African demands for oils and fats are estimated at 30.64 million tonnes. Assuming that 50% of the continent’s demands were to be satisfied with palm oil, mature oil palm areas would have to be 7.547 million hectares at the current palm oil yield of 2.03 t/ha. Growing demand for palm oil will result in expansion of oil palm plantation in new forest areas. In Africa, further challenges facing oil palm agriculture are poor yields of oil palm resulting from (i) limited technical knowhow on the establishment and management of plantations, (ii) a marked dry season of 2-5 months per year, and (iii) unambitious oil palm development programmes. Fortunately, oil palm ranked first in oil production per unit area with a high theoretical oil yield potential (18 t/ha). High-yield oil palm agriculture could be harnessed to meet the growing demand for food without destroying more natural habitat. In 2016, 609 000 ha would have been enough for the 9 recorded African oil palm-growing countries to produce their 2.434 million tonnes of palm oil production at 4 t/ha against 1.198 million hectares effectively harvested with an average yield of 2.031 t/ha. High-yield on-farm activities are recommended, from the site selection to the harvest of ripe fresh fruit bunch to (i) ensure economic and environmental sustainability of oil palm fields, (ii) consolidate the African oil palm sector, and (iii) prepare its shift to an African oil palm industry, an ambitious vision on which sustainability of the palm oil business depends.

Levels of biologically active compounds and some essential metal in parts of African Oil Bean Tree (<i>Pentaclethra macrophylla</i>)

The study assessed the phytochemical and mineral content in leaves, root and bark of Pentaclethra macrophylla in Amumara Mbaise, Imo State. The qualitative analysis show that the root extract had the highest tannin (++), flavonoid (+++), alkaloid (+++), and saponin (+++) with high degree of precipitation while phenol (+++) and phytate (+++) occurred in the leaves extract. Quantitatively, the highest significant (P<0.05) content of tannin (1.42±0.00 %), flavonoid (3.75±0.35 %, alkaloid (1.30±0.14 %), and saponin (3.40±0.00 %) were obtained in the root while the highest significant (P<0.05) content of the minerals: Mg (158.00±0.00 mg/100 g), Fe (16.50±0.00 mg/100 g), Na (165.00±0.00 mg/100 g), and Ca (224.15±0.00 mg/100 g) were observed in the leaves. The results indicate that P. macrophylla is a promising tree species that can improve the health of man.Keywords: Mineral, phytochemical, leaves, roots

Genetic control of fatty acid composition in coconut (Cocos nucifera), African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), and date palm (Phoenix dactylifera).

Predominant gene isoforms and expression bias in lipid metabolism pathways are highly conserved between oil-producing Arecaceae crop species coconut and oil palm, but diverge in non-oil-producing species date palm. Coconut (Cocos nucifera), African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) and date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) are three major crop species in the Arecaceae family for which genome sequences have recently become available. Coconut and African oil palm both store oil in their endosperms, while date palm fruits contain very little oil. We analyzed fatty acid composition in three coconut tissues (leaf, endosperm and embryo) and in two African oil palm tissues (leaf and mesocarp), and identified 806, 840 and 848 lipid-related genes in 22 lipid metabolism pathways from the coconut, African oil palm and date palm genomes, respectively. The majority of lipid-related genes were highly homologous and retained in homologous segments between the three species. Genes involved in the conversion of pyruvate to fatty acid had a five-to-sixfold higher expression in the coconut endosperm and oil palm mesocarp than in the leaf or embryo tissues based on Fragments Per Kilobase of transcript per Million mapped reads values. A close evolutionary relationship between predominant gene isoforms and high conservation of gene expression bias in the lipid and carbohydrate gene metabolism pathways was observed for the two oil-producing species coconut and oil palm, differing from that of date palm, a non-oil-producing species. Our results elucidate the similarities and differences in lipid metabolism between the three major Arecaceae crop species, providing important information for physiology studies as well as breeding for fatty acid composition and oil content in these crops.

Ex post evaluation of technology diffusion in the African palm oil sector: The Caltech expeller in Cameroon, Benin, and Liberia

Abstract This study is a post-project evaluation of three development projects promoting the same technology but implemented at three different times and locations over a period of thirty years, from 1984 to 2014. The technology in question is a small, portable palm oil expeller invented in Cameroon in the 1980 s. The technology was designed to increase the productivity of small farmers and create employment opportunities by increasing local capacity for small-scale palm oil processing. The expeller was subsequently promoted in Benin and Liberia over a period of nearly two decades. This evaluation is based on archival research of institutional records, data from impact surveys of technology users in all three countries during the project periods, and field research in Liberia in 2011 and 2013. The study analyzes and evaluates the social, economic, and environmental impacts of the expeller over the long term, comparatively, across a broad geographic area. In terms of social and economic impacts, the technology consistently increased incomes for farmers and small enterprises. The use of the technology altered relationships of production, particularly with regard to the role of women in palm oil processing and their control over resources. Environmental impacts of the technology are geographically dispersed and include increased water usage and pollution. Ultimately the technology in question has also contributed to political impacts over time by exacerbating conflicts between small farmers, palm oil corporations, and governments. This study confirms that comparative, longitudinal evaluation research can reveal important dimensions of development impacts.

Dziwidło olbrzymie (Amorphophallus titanum), niezwykła bylina sumatry

Amorphophallus titanum niezwykle rzadko obserwowany, endemiczny gatunek Sumatry, jest byliną wykształcająca jeden z największych kwiatostanów świata. Osiągająca ok. 3 m wysokości kolba i ujmująca ją purpurowa pochwa kwiatostanowa, skutecznie wabią zapylające roślinę chrząszcze, błonkówki oraz muchówki, które zwiedzione intensywnym zapachem padliny, ciepłem wydzielanym przez kwiatostan i jego barwą, kierują się ku znajdującym się w jego wnętrzu kwiatom. Mimo zadziwiających rozmiarów dziwidła olbrzymiego, jego biologia nie została dobrze poznana, a powierzchnia okołorównikowych lasów dwuskrzydlcowych Azji Południowo-Wschodniej, w których znajdują się jego nieliczne, naturalne stanowiska, z roku na rok kurczy się. Deszczowe lasy Indonezji i Malezji, będące jednym z głównych centrów różnorodności biologicznej na świecie, wycinane lub wypalane są bowiem pod plantacje olejowca gwinejskiego (Elaeis guineensis), które w samej Indonezji zajmują już ok. 7,7 mln ha.

China outperforms India in the oil industry in Angola and Nigeria

ABSTRACTThe article asserts that China’s NOCs have trumped Indian oil companies in four ways. First, Chinese NOCs have more oil blocks in Angola and Nigeria relative to Indian oil companies. Second, NOCs from China are able to outbid Indian oil companies if and when they directly compete for the same oil blocks. Third, Chinese NOCs have better quality oil blocks compared to Indian oil companies. Fourth, Chinese NOCs are preferred as partners by African NOCs and international oil companies. It provides a more comprehensive explanation of the above observations by examining macro level factors such as difference in the economic, political and diplomatic support received by the Chinese and Indian oil companies from their respective governments and foreign exchange reserves and micro level factors such as access to capital, rate of return on investment, pricing of oil and risk aversion.

In silico characterization and expression profiling of the diacylglycerol acyltransferase gene family (DGAT1, DGAT2, DGAT3 and WS/DGAT) from oil palm, Elaeis guineensis

The diacylglycerol acyltransferases (DGAT) (diacylglycerol:acyl-CoA acyltransferase, EC 2.3.1.20) are a key group of enzymes that catalyse the final and usually the most important rate-limiting step of triacylglycerol biosynthesis in plants and other organisms. Genes encoding four distinct functional families of DGAT enzymes have been characterised in the genome of the African oil palm, Elaeis guineensis. The contrasting features of the various isoforms within the four families of DGAT genes, namely DGAT1, DGAT2, DGAT3 and WS/DGAT are presented both in the oil palm itself and, for comparative purposes, in 12 other oil crop or model/related plants, namely Arabidopsis thaliana, Brachypodium distachyon, Brassica napus, Elaeis oleifera, Glycine max, Gossypium hirsutum, Helianthus annuus, Musa acuminata, Oryza sativa, Phoenix dactylifera, Sorghum bicolor, and Zea mays. The oil palm genome contains respectively three, two, two and two distinctly expressed functional copies of the DGAT1, DGAT2, DGAT3 and WS/DGAT genes. Phylogenetic analyses of the four DGAT families showed that the E. guineensis genes tend to cluster with sequences from P. dactylifera and M. acuminata rather than with other members of the Commelinid monocots group, such as the Poales which include the major cereal crops such as rice and maize. Comparison of the predicted DGAT protein sequences with other animal and plant DGATs was consistent with the E. guineensis DGAT1 being ER located with its active site facing the lumen while DGAT2, although also ER located, had a predicted cytosol-facing active site. In contrast, DGAT3 and some (but not all) WS/DGAT in E. guineensis are predicted to be soluble, cytosolic enzymes. Evaluation of E. guineensis DGAT gene expression in different tissues and developmental stages suggests that the four DGAT groups have distinctive physiological roles and are particularly prominent in developmental processes relating to reproduction, such as flowering, and in fruit/seed formation especially in the mesocarp and endosperm tissues.