Metroxylon Sagu Research Articles

Sago Palm (Metroxylon sagu) Cultivation: Factors Affecting the Subsequent Survival Rate of Suckers in the Nursery

Sago Palm (Metroxylon sagu) Cultivation: Factors Affecting the Subsequent Survival Rate of Suckers in the Nursery

THE VARIABILITY OF THE SAGO PALM AND THE NEED AND POSSIBILITIES FOR ITS CONSERVATION

In the wild and in cultivation, sago palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) is mostly propagated vegetatively through its suckers. Generative propagation occurs to a limited extent; there are strong indications of sago palm being largely an obligatory cross-pollinator. This opens the possibility of the existence of an endless amount of clonal varieties of sago palm, which is confirmed by the endless amount of different names for locally distinguished varieties in the areas where sago palm occurs naturally. Sago palm's great variability is now threatened by the decrease in area under natural and semi-natural sago forest in the centres of diversity (New Guinea, the Moluccas) and by the sole attention to high-yielding, quickly-maturing varieties for plantation purposes. A comprehensive plan is required for the conservation of the existing germplasm for future selection and breeding. The problems and uncertainties with in-vitro and standing in-situ germplasm collections are such that gathering varieties from the wild and planting them in special regional germplasm gardens seems the only viable option. Issues of collecting and describing material are dealt with, including the evaluation of information from local informants. Centres of sago palm diversity seem to coincide with centres of language diversity. It is demonstrated, however, that differences in name cannot be attributed singly to differences in language. An extensive list is given of examples of locally distinguished varieties reported in literature, and of varieties encountered during the author's 1988–1990 research on sago in the Moluccas and during a two-month all-Indonesia study tour in 1992.

Use of low-cost gelling agents and support matrices for industrial scale plant tissue culture

The efficacies of sago (from Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) and isubgol (from Plantago ovata Forsk.) as gelling agents and those of filter paper, nylon cloth, polystyrene foam and glass wool cloth as support matrices have been tested for the propagation of plantlets of chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev). The performances of these low-cost gelling agents and matrices were found satisfactory and could compare well with that of agar. Glass wool cloth was, however, found to be the best matrix. Comparative cost estimations of the matrices and gelling agents have been presented and their merits and/or demerits have been discussed. For a given quantity of a medium, sago and isubgol cost about 1/18th and 1/10th respectively, compared to agar (e.g. Sigma, purified agar, No. A. 7921). The corresponding costs of the matrices are also less than that of agar. The results showed the potential of the substitutes for economic commercial application, replacing the costliest, though not indispensable, gelling agent agar.

Studies on Sago Starch. Part I: Characterization and Comparison of Sago Starches Obtained from Metroxylon sagu Processed at Different Times

AbstractThis paper reports on a study undertaken to determine some of the factors responsible for the variability shown by sago starch, which at present severely limits the commercial value of this material. Two batches of sago starch extracted from Metroxylon sagu species were characterized physicochemically and structurally. One batch was white in colour while the other was reddish‐brown. The latter contained significantly more protein (0.06%) than the former (0.015%). Non‐proteinaceous material constituted 40% of the total nitrogen in the former. The ionic contents of the two batches of starch exhibited a similar ion profile except for the following striking differences. The white batch contained 20‐fold more phosphorus and 15‐fold more aluminium whilst the reddish‐brown batch contained double the quantity of iron and calcium. The solubility and swelling capacity of both batches were also different. Amylographic representation was used to reveal the strength of starch granules during pasting. Scanning electron microscopy disclosed different degrees of pitting between the two batches, the morphology of which were also shown to be disparate. Flow curves also displayed significant differences in the rheological behaviour.

The composition of pith from the sago palms Metroxylon sagu and Arenga pinnata

AbstractThe tropical sago palms are increasingly regarded as having a major role as energy crops, but many aspects of them are little known. In this study samples of pith were obtained from Metroxylon sagu Roxb. in West Java and South Kalimantan, Indonesia, and from Arenga pinnata Merr. in West Java. Starch content of pith samples obtained from commercially harvested logs varied between 18.8 and 38.8% (fresh weight) for M. sagu and 10.5 and 36.7% for A. pinnata. However core samples of pith obtained in West Java from standing palms of M. sagu suitable for commercial use or from palms of similar dimensions and appearance, gave a much wider range of starch values; from 0.3 to 32.9% (fresh weight). Starch content was highly correlated with water content. Free sugars occurred at up to 5% (fresh weight) and in samples of very low dry matter content there was more sugar than starch. Predominant simple sugars were glucose, fructose and sucrose. Maltose was not detected. Crude protein and fat were negligible constituents. In addition samples were analysed for NDF, ADF, cellulose, lignin, ash, calcium, phosphorus, sodium and potassium. Pith residues obtained following starch extraction in village mills were found to contain significant amounts of starch.

Isolation of a novel raw starch-digesting amylase from a strain of black mold-Chalara paradoxa.

A strain of black mold was isolated from a pith of sago palm (Metroxylon sagu) sampled at Papua New Guinea. The mold, which was identified as Chalara paradoxa, produced a strong amylase activity to hydrolyze starch granules. In this paper, the morphlogical description of the mold and the some characteristic properties of the crude enzyme was described.The enzyme had extremely high activity to hydrolyze starch granules compared with the ones of conventionally studied raw starch-digesting amylase.

Salmonella isolations from foodstuffs in the East Sepik District of the Territory of Papua and New Guinea employing an elevated temperature technique.

Indigenous native foodstuffs were tested for contamination with salmonella. Most of the tests were concerned with sago, the starchy product of the sago-palm (Metroxylon sagu). During the course of the testing, modifications were introduced into the method of primary enrichment until the use of 5 gm samples Inoculated into 100 ml volumes of tetrathionate broth and incubated at 41°C was found to give a greatly improved rate of isolation, resulting in salmonella being found in 38.8% of the samples tested. Salmonellæ were also recovered from a leafy vegetable (Amaranthus sp.) and also from an edible shellfish (Cyrena sp.).