Oil Palm Inflorescences Research Articles

Comparative study of maceration and steam distilation extraction methods of volatile organic compounds composition from female oil palm inflorescences

Secondary metabolites of oil palm have various potentials. Research on the secondary metabolite of oil palms inflorescences very limited. The purpose of this research is to compare the extraction method between maceration and steam distillation of oil palm female inflorescence’s volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The maceration used ethanolic for 5 × 24 hours, then concentrated with a rotary evaporator. Steam distillation was carried out at a temperature of >80 °C for 4 hours. The extraction results were analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mas Spectrometry (GC-MS). VOCs found from maceration are less than steam distillation, with a 1:12 ratio. Estragole compound was found in both methods. However, steam distillation possesses more content.

Adjacent forest moderates insect pollination of oil palm

Natural habitat plays a role in many agroecosystems as a source of pollination services and other ecological spillover, but these effects are largely unquantified in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), a globally important crop linked to deforestation. In a field experiment in Sumatra, Indonesia, we manipulated floral visitor access to female oil palm inflorescences over a 100 m distance gradient from forest into oil palm and sampled insects with sticky traps placed above male and female inflorescences. Full exclusion of floral visitors decreased mean oil palm fruit set to 12%, demonstrating that insect pollination was necessary to maintain favorable fruit set and yield. Treatment group means of fruit set under open pollination (62%) and when excluding large (>1.4 mm diameter) organisms (72%), did not differ significantly from open pollination augmented with hand pollination (61%), suggesting no difference in pollen limitation. In contrast, when we examined change in fruit set with distance from forest, we found a significant trend of higher fruit set in oil palms closer to the forest when large organisms were excluded, which increased estimated fruit set at the forest edge to 87%, compared to open-pollinated palms (70%). This trend with distance from forest was absent when we fully excluded floral visitors, showing that the effect of forest was not likely due to an abiotic gradient (e.g., changing soil nutrients). Of the arthropod taxa collected from sticky traps, Drosophilidae (Diptera) and Gelechiidae (Lepidoptera) decreased and increased with distance from forest, respectively. The taxa Elaeidobius kamerunicus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Gelechiidae, and the families Thripidae and Phlaeothripidae (Thysanoptera) were abundant on both male and female inflorescence sticky traps. Elaeidobius kamerunicus, an introduced oil palm pollinator, had the only significant relationship with fruit set. Our results confirm pollination by insects as a key ecosystem service for oil palm production. Although further work is needed to clarify the relationship between fruit set, biodiversity, and distance from forest, we speculate that excluding large organisms could have increased fruit set closer to forest by mediating interactions between pollinators, forest predators, and farm mesopredators. Understanding the relationships between nearby forest and pollination services could better connect oil palm production to its landscape context and associated biodiversity. This would be important for landscape-scale conservation planning that considers both the ecosystem service needs and ecological impacts of oil palm agriculture.

Impact of insect pests of female oil palm inflorescences on the quality of palm bunches and palm oil

Oil palm is a major cash crop for many countries. In fact, Côte d'Ivoire is the second largest African producer after Nigeria and the first African exporter. Despite this performance, the cultivation of this plant is limited by a variety of pests that strongly affect its production. These include leafminer Coelaenomenodera lameensis, defoliating caterpillars (Latoia spp), pests of the stipe of young palms (Oryctes monoceros), etc. and pests of female oil plam inflorescences. The latter destroys female inflorescences, which leads to malformation of many fruits, negatively impacting on the production of bunches. The objective of this work was to study the impact of female inflorescence pests on the quality of bunches and palm oil. The study was conducted at the CNRA research station in La Mé. The mosquito net placed on isolated female inflorescences allowed the capture and the identification of three main insect pests of female inflorescences of oil palm. These are the Curculionidae beetles Prosoestus minor and Prosoestus sculptilis and the Pyralidae lepidopteran Elaeidiphylos adustalis. These insects cause significant damage in palm groves, ranging from 60% to 70.98% of seeds damaged. Indeed, the large number of fruits damaged by these insects does not affect the quality of the oil produced because the acidity and fluidity of the oil remain within the quality standards. However, further biochemical studies are needed to elucidate real impact of these insects on the quality of the palm oil such such as fatty acid composition, β-carotene and vitamin E.

Frond Base Fracture and Dynamics of Palm Oil Inflorescence Applied With Different Nutrient Sources

Frond base fracture is an increasingly common phenomenon in oil palm plantations caused by various stress factors. This study aimed to determine the incidence of frond base fracture in the plantation where different nutrient sources were applied (palm oil mill effluent, oil palm EFB, and organic fertilizers) in relation to the dynamics of oil palm inflorescence. The incidence of frond base fracture and the production of male and female inflorescences were observed in 30 sample trees for each nutrient source. Observations were made three times with an interval monthly. To reveal the research objectives, it used descriptive analysis. The results showed that the routine application of POME increased the susceptibility of oil palms to fractured fronds and the sex ratio was higher other than that of EFB; the lowest incidence was found in the palm that was given inorganic fertilizers. frond base fracture trees produced fewer female inflorescence, although the number of male ones did not differ between frond base fracture palm and healthy ones.

The origin of an extreme case of sister‐species sympatry in a palm‐pollinator mutualistic system

AbstractAimMutualistic systems involving plants and brood pollinators show intriguing cases where a single plant is pollinated by several closely related sympatric species. This study aims at identifying the mechanisms involved in such an extreme case, where 10 sympatric weevil species are only associated with African oil palm inflorescences. We assessed the patterns and timing of speciation of this peculiar assemblage to explore the main drivers of its diversification.LocationTropical Africa.TaxonThe African oil palm Elaeis guineensis Jacquin (Arecaceae, Cocoseae), weevil genera Elaeidobius Kuschel and Prosoestus Faust (Curculionidae, Derelomini).MethodsWe first reassessed the status of the weevil species assemblage associated with the African oil palm based on a range of molecular species delimitation analyses. Second, we reconstructed a dated molecular phylogeny using Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood and carried out historical biogeographical analyses accounting for the main biogeographical barriers in tropical Africa.ResultsOur analyses generally confirm the validity of the species associated with the African oil palm and indicate that they form a monophyletic group. Dating analyses indicate that they originated about 7–8 million years ago (Mya) and that most speciation events occurred during the Pliocene and Pleistocene. Historical biogeography analyses reveal that one geographical barrier played a bigger role during their diversification. Age estimates suggest that extant weevil species remained in sympatry along the range of their host during the last 0.2 Mya.Main conclusionsThis case represents a remarkable example of a speciose mutualistic monophyletic insect assemblage. Our results indicate that past climatic oscillations in Western and Central Africa – where cycles of range contractions and expansions of the host drove the divergence of the weevils in allopatry – and the predominant role of a mountain range were instrumental in the emergence of the sympatric assemblage.

Oil Palm Inflorescence Sex Ratio and Fruit Set Assessment in dura × pisifera Biparental Progenies on Fibric Peat Soil

This study investigated oil palm inflorescence sex ratio (ISR) and fruit set (FS) yield among 24 dura × pisifera biparental progenies on fibric peat soil, hybridized from ten genetic origins. Three-month intervals of data collection on ISR and “S-shape” procedure for FS determination were carried out in an independent complete randomized design for one year. Based on the assessment of individual progenies, analysis of variance revealed the existence of genetic heterogeneity. Five of the progenies had the highest ISR above 90%. However, 20.83% of the progenies (PK4841, PK4674, ECPHP415, ECPHP550, and PK4118) had the best normal range of ISR, indicating FS declined being influenced by ISR. Therefore, only 12.50% of the progenies (PK4674, PK4465, and PK4482) were above 60% FS critical level. Correlation analysis verified that ISR depends on the female flower and progeny PK4674 (65.78%) and PK4465 (62.62%) had the best FS and fruit to bunch. Among the parental origins, Deli Serdang × Cameroon was statistically the best for male flower production at 29.40% and ISR at 72.22%. The highest FS was recorded in Deli Banting × AVROS (54.00%) and Angola × AVROS (53.78%). However, molecular research, such as microsatellite molecular markers if concurrently used as a selection criterion with the present conventional study, could present further details to complement the present findings.

In Vitro Induction of Callus and Flowers in Immature Oil Palm Inflorescences

This work aimed to investigate the effects of different combinations of auxin (0, 225 and 450 µM Picloram) and Murashige and Skoog salts (50% and 100% MS salt concentrations, respectively named as ½ MS and MS) in mediate the induction of callus and flowers from immature inflorescences (developmental stages I-9, I-12 and I-15) of the oil palm BRS – Manicoré hybrid. In I-9 inflorescence explants, the rate of callus induction was 17% higher in ½ MS than in MS; while in both I-12 and I-15 inflorescence explants, callus induction was over than 95% regardless of the MS salt concentration. The higher rate of callus induction in I-9 inflorescences was mediated by 450 µM Picloram, while the callus induction rates for either I-12 or I-15 inflorescences were higher than 92% regardless of Picloram concentration. Floral induction was lower in I-9 inflorescence explants (45% floral induction rate) than in both I-12 and I-15 inflorescence explants (floral induction rate higher than 90%). Our results suggest that Picloram (450 µM) and MS salts concentrations (½ MS) led to the highest rates of calluses and flowers induction in younger inflorescence explants (I-9); however, the medium composition is indifferent on callus and flower induction in I-12 and I-15 inflorescences.

Growth and development of young male inflorescences of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) In tissue culture system: The effect of 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid

An effort in developing a standard protocol for rapid clonal propagation of oil palm through somatic embryogenesis was established with the aim to determine the effect of various concentrations of growth regulators on the development of embryogenic callus from immature inflorescences as explants source. Immature male inflorescences were obtained from 4 – 5 years old oil palm planted in Teaching Farm, Faculty of Agriculture University of Jambi. The inflorescences were taken from leaf axils between 8th and 15th leaf from the top (the upper most exposed leaf). Following surface sterilization with 70% alcohol, the inflorescences were cut into segments of approximately 5 mm long, and cultured on solid MS medium supplemented with 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 ppm respectively. Cultures were kept in culture room with photoperiod of 16 hour per day for 8 weeks. The results indicated that the application of 2, 4-D in culture medium was proven to be crucial in accelerating callus formation as well as increasing the percentage of from young male inflorescence of oil palm forming callus. Among the treatments tested, the application of 70 ppm 2, 4-D was the best concentration in initiating callus formation on young male inflorescence explants of oil palm plants.

NILAI EKONOMI NIRA SAWIT SEBAGAI POTENSI PEMBIAYAAN PEREMAJAAN KEBUN KELAPA SAWIT RAKYAT

Sebagian besar dari perkebunan kelapa sawit rakyat saat ini telah memerlukan peremajaan. Namun banyak pekebun rakyat mengalami kesulitan, terutama karena besarnya biaya yang dibutuhkan dan hilangnya pendapatan selama masa tanaman belum menghasilkan. Batang sawit yang ditumbangkan pada saat peremajaan memiliki potensi nilai ekonomi sehingga dapat dijadikan sebagai alternatif sumber pendapatan selama tanaman belum menghasilkan. Untuk menganalisis hal tersebut penelitian ini dilakukan di Desa Lau Tador Kecamatan Sei Suka Kabupaten Batu Bara Sumatera Utara. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah on farm participatory research survey dan focus group discussion serta dilakukan analisis usaha gula merah sawit. Penelitian menunjukkan nilai ekonomi batang sawit yang belum diolah adalah sebesar Rp. 15.813. atau sebesar Rp. 1.897.500 per ha, sedangkan yang sudah diolah menjadi gula sawit memiliki potensi pendapatan bersih per ha nya sebesar Rp. 18.421.500 sampai dengan Rp. 22.866.325. Potensi ini dapat membantu biaya hidup petani dan biaya perawatan selama sawit masih dalam masa belum menghasilkan. Untuk mengoptimalkan potensi ekonomi produksi gula merah sawit dilakukan dengan skala luas melalui pembentukan kelompok tani ataupun koperasi. Melalui koperasi akan dikelola secara terorganisir baik pendanaan, teknis, produksi, maupun pemasaran. Pemanfaatan nira sawit ini dapat dijadikan salah satu kegiatan dalam program peremajaan sawit rakyat (PSR) yang menjadi program utama pemerintah.

Effect of processing aid on the chemical composition and metagenomics of fermented African oil bean seed (Pentaclethra macrophylla, Benth)

Oil palm inflorescence ash (FMA) has been used in post-harvest processing and preservation of food crops. In this study effect of oil palm inflorescence ash as a processing aid on the chemical composition and metagenomics of fermented African oil bean seed (Pentaclethra macrophylla, Benth) was investigated. The result showed that the African oil bean seeds sample fermented with FMA had higher total amino acid (TAA) content (88.48 g/100 g crude protein (cp)) and better protein quality compared to the sample fermented without the ash (NFM) (81.04 g/100 g cp) and the unfermented (UFM) sample (8.07 g/100 g cp). The FMA had lower residual anti-nutritional factors and total saturated fatty acid (4.07%) hence has better dietary value than the NFM and UFM samples. New aromatic volatile compounds were also produced in the FMA which further improved its sensory quality compared to the NFM and UFM samples. The metagenomic study revealed that FMA had fewer spoilage bacteria but higher fermentative yeasts than the NFM. Thus the findings of the current study provide evidence that African oil bean seeds fermented with oil palm inflorescence ash have better chemical and microbial composition than the one processed without the oil palm ash.

Transcriptome analysis of oil palm inflorescences revealed candidate genes for an auxin signaling pathway involved in parthenocarpy.

Oil palm parthenocarpic fruits, which are produced without fertilization, can be targeted to increase oil content because the majority of the fruit is occupied by mesocarp, the part in which palm oil is stored. Consequently, gaining an understanding of the parthenocarpic mechanism would be instrumental for producing parthenocarpic oil palm. This study aims to determine effects of auxin treatment and analyze differentially expressed genes in oil palm pistils at the pollination/anthesis stage, using an RNA sequencing (RNA seq) approach. The auxin treatment caused 100% parthenocarpy when auxin was sprayed before stigmas opened. The parthenocarpy decreased to 55%, 8% and 5% when the auxin was sprayed 1, 2 and 3 days after the opening of stigmas, respectively. Oil palm plants used for RNA seq were plants untreated with auxin as controls and auxin-treated plants on the day before pollination and 1 day after pollination. The number of raw reads ranged from 8,425,859 to 11,811,166 reads, with an average size ranging from 99 to 137 base pairs (bp). When compared with the oil palm transcriptome, the mapped reads ranged from 8,179,948 to 11,320,799 reads, representing 95.85–98.01% of the oil palm matching. Based on five comparisons between RNA seq of treatments and controls, and confirmation using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and quantitative real-time RT-PCR expression, five candidate genes, including probable indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-amido synthetase GH3.8 (EgGH3.8), IAA-amido synthetase GH3.1 (EgGH3.1), IAA induced ARG7 like (EgARG7), tryptophan amino transferase-related protein 3-like (EgTAA3) and flavin-containing monooxygenase 1 (EgFMO1), were differentially expressed between auxin-treated and untreated samples. This evidence suggests a pathway of parthenocarpic fruit development at the beginning of fruit development. However, more research is needed to identify which genes are definitely involved in parthenocarpy.

Isolation and characterisation of oil palm LEAFY transcripts

ABSTRACTLEAFY (LFY) is an important regulator of plant's reproductive system, regulating the transition from vegetative growth to flowering, and also acts as an upstream regulator of floral homeotic MADS-box genes in Arabidopsis. Owing to its importance in flower development, oil palm LFY transcripts were isolated and the expression pattern was characterised to elucidate the role of LFY in oil palm. In addition, the gene expression pattern was analysed to determine a possible correlation of LFY to a type of floral abnormality in clonal palms termed mantling. In this study, three LFY transcripts were isolated from oil palm inflorescence tissue. The isolated cDNAs, OpLFY1, OpLFY2 and its splice variant, OpLFY2v were predicted to encode proteins each consisting of 430, 451 and 181 amino acids, respectively. OpLFY1 and OpLFY2 share 90% and 94% amino acid sequence identity to two different LFYs from Phoenix dactylifera, respectively. OpLFY1 was localised in all floral organ primordia. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis revealed that OpLFY genes are expressed in shoot apical meristem and inflorescence tissues with the highest expression level. The expression of the OpLFY1 gene was significantly lower in stage 1 of inflorescence development in mantled palms compared with that of normal inflorescences, suggesting possible association of the gene with this somaclonal variation.

Metarhizium anisopliae against Prosoestus Spp., Pests of Female Oil Palm Inflorescences: Preliminary Laboratory Tests

Metarhizium anisopliae against Prosoestus Spp., Pests of Female Oil Palm Inflorescences: Preliminary Laboratory Tests

Pollination in the oil palms Elaeis guineensis, E. oleifera and their hybrids (OxG), in tropical America

ABSTRACT Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) is very important in the Central and South American economies. Plants suffer from a devastating fungal disease known as "lethal decay" or "pudrición del cogollo", in Spanish. Producer countries in Africa, Asia and tropical America have developed breeding programs that seek the tolerance of this disease by plants. The hybrids Elaeis guineensis x Elaeis oleifera (OxG) are resistant, but show physiological problems that affect commercial productivity. Natural pollination in these hybrids is low and manual pollination has high labor costs. The Coleoptera order is the most numerous and diverse natural pollinator, and the Elaeidobius genus has high efficiency and specificity to oil palm species. Elaeidobius kameronicus, Elaeidobius subvittatus and Mystrops costaricensis are the insects most commonly associated with oil palm inflorescences. Dynamics in insect populations change according to palm species and weather conditions. It is necessary to understand the insect behavior and population dynamics in OxG hybrids. Thus, recent studies on oil palm pollination, insect diversity and distribution in Latin America are discussed in this study.

Expression patterns of inflorescence- and sex-specific transcripts in male and female inflorescences of African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis)

Oil palm is a monoecious plant and the sex ratio of the female to male inflorescences on each palm is important for breeding and commercial production.We hypothesise that the sex differences of oil palm inflorescences are due, at least in part, to variations in gene expression so this study aimed to establish the sexual differences by using whole genome expression analysis. We sequenced the transcriptomes of oil palm male and female inflorescences at the earliest stage at which the male and female tissues can be reliably distinguished. From the transcriptome data, we identified 97 potential sex-specific transcripts. Among the validated transcripts, oil palm orthologs of acid phosphatase and DEFICIENS showed male-specific expression patterns whereas orthologs of bZIP transcription factor, late embryogenesis abundant protein and TASSELSEED1 showed female-specific expression patterns. Transcripts for orthologs of acid phosphatase and late embryogenesis abundant protein were also strongly inflorescence-specific. Furthermore, we assembled a broad and dense consensus transcriptome from male and female inflorescences, shoot apical meristem, mesocarp, leaf and root of oil palm, which provides a valuable reference for identification of unique and common transcripts between these tissues. We suggest that the combined expression of inflorescence- and sex-specific transcripts may account for sexual differences of oil palm male and female inflorescences.

Comparative expression profiling of three early inflorescence stages of oil palm indicates that vegetative to reproductive phase transition of meristem is regulated by sugar balance.

Breeding and seed production activities in oil palm have been hampered because of the inability of the male parent Pisifera to produce male inflorescence as source of pollen under normal conditions. Researchers are using complete defoliation to induce male inflorescences, but the biological and molecular processes responsible for this morphological change are yet to be revealed. To understand the underlying network of genes that initiate and control this phenotypically documented activity, we initiated a study aimed at identifying differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in three stages of an oil palm inflorescence under complete defoliation stress using RNA-seq. Sequencing on an Illumina platform produced 82631476 reads consisting of 8345779076 bases. A total of 60700 genes were obtained after transcript filtering and normalisation and 54% of them were downregulated. Differences in gene expression levels were significant between tissues under stress. The farther the distance between tissues, the more DEGs recorded. Comparison between stage 2 and stage 1 induced 3893 DEGs whereas 10136 DEGs were induced between stage 3 and stage 1. Stress response genes and flower development genes were among the highly expressed genes. This study suggests a link between complete defoliation and meristem differentiation from vegetative to reproductive phase in oil palm.

Oil palm inflorescence (Elaeis guineensisJacq.) ash and pirimiphos-methyl dust application for control ofOryzaephilus surinamensisinfestation on stored date palm fruit (Phoenix dactylifera)

The efficacies of male oil palm inflorescence ash (OPIA) and pirimiphos-methyl dust (PMD) were assessed for possible control of Oryzaephilus surinamensis infestation of the date palm fruit Phoenix dactylifera. Male OPIA at concentrations of 0.625 g/25 g of fruit and 1.25 g/25 g as well as PMD at the prescribed dosage of 0.0125 g/25 g were tested on pristine and simulated dates using four replicates per treatment for exposure periods of 5 and 10 weeks. Efficacy was measured on the rate of mortality and emergence of O. surinamensis at various development stages. Results showed increased larval and adult mortality on both pristine and simulated dates and decreased larval and adult emergence of the pest exposed to 1.25 g of OPIA. Five days exposure to PMD recorded a significantly high mean mortality of adult O. surinamensis and no emergence. The authors concluded that exposure to OPIA at the concentration of 1.25 g/25 g for five weeks could be used in possible control of O. surinamensis infestation of palm da...

Entomofauna of Oil Palm Tree Inflorescences at La Mé Experimental Station (Côte d’Ivoire)

Pollination of oil palm tree is mainly entomophilous. The inflorescences of this plant lodge many insects. The identification and quantification of these insects have proven ability to hold their pollination. The entomofauna of female and male inflorescenc es was inventoried and quantified at La ME, a station of CNRA, the National Center of Agronomic Research of CUte d'Ivoire (West Africa) for a period of 2 years. The insects of the male inflorescences were listed at the beginning, the full and the end of an thesis on 1536spikeletsof 384 male inflorescences. For the insects of female inflorescences, 96 inflorescences were covered with a muslin sheath. The insects arriving on these inflorescences were captured in 2 days corresponding to anthesis length, durin g 10 minutes per hour, from 6 am to 6 pm. Species Elaeidobiussp., Microporumsp., Prosoestussp.and Athetaburgeoniwere common and regular present regardless of inflorescence type. Species Gabrius sp., Thrips sp., Anthocoridesp., Lithargussp.and thebees (Nomia sp.and Apismellifera)were rarely observed in female inflorescences.Elaeidobiuskamerunicus and Prosoestus sp.were more abundant on the female than on the male inflorescences. The higher level of insects was observed in full anthesis onmale inflorescences whereas among female inflorescences it was noted at the first day of flowering. Knowledge of the insect fauna of oil palm inflorescences according to different stages of flowering allows better management of pollination.

English

  This study highlights procedures for embryogenic calluses induction from immature female inflorescences of oil palm using thin-cell-layers explants (TCL). In three experiments, the ability of calluses induction were examined and identified through different types of basal media, position of the TCL explants in the rachillae and concentrations of 2,4-D and types of antioxidants added into the medium. Samples of embryogenic calluses obtained were isolated and transversal and longitudinal cross sections were obtained and stained for observations in light microscopy. The results achieved suggest that immature female inflorescences of oil palm can be reverted from the floral state to the embryogenic vegetative state and are excellent alternative sources of explants for the induction of somatic embryogenesis. In general, 225 to 450 µM of 2,4-D are required to induce embryogenic callus in explants composed of immature oil palm inflorescences and the composition formed by salts and vitamins of MS medium provides superior results than Y3 medium. The activated charcoal at concentration of 3.0 g l-1 is the most indicated antioxidant for preventing the oxidation of floral oil palm explants and its presence can be considered essential for the formation of embryogenic callus.   Key words: Elaeis guineensis, somatic embryogenesis, micropropagation, floral explants, morphogenesis, agroenergy.

Comparative efficacy of oil palm inflorescence ash, orange peels ash and benlate in preservation of cassava tubers (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

Comparative efficacy of oil palm inflorescence ash, orange peels ash and benlate in preservation of cassava tubers (Manihot esculenta Crantz)