Palm Tree Species Research Articles

Survey and identification of palm tree species at some ornamental plant stores and nurseries in Ho Chi Minh City and using palm trees in garden design

The study was conducted from June to September 2020 in Ho Chi Minh City. This research aimed to identify the palm species and incorporate them into the garden design. To investigate the species, 85 ornamental plant stores and nurseries were surveyed in Go Vap district, District 7 and at Highway 22. Then, morphological comparison method was used for plant species classification. According to the analyses, this region had 25 species belonging to 22 genera in the Arecaceae family. Twenty two of the 25 species surveyed were imported and 03 being native to the area. The majority (68%) was solitary-stemmed palms, with the remaining 08 species having clustered trunks (32%). To incorporate palm trees into the garden design, Sketch-up, Lumion, and Photoshop software were used.

Haplotype-resolved genome assembly enables gene discovery in the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus

The red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is an economically-important invasive species that attacks multiple species of palm trees around the world. A better understanding of gene content and function in R. ferrugineus has the potential to inform pest control strategies and thereby mitigate economic and biodiversity losses caused by this species. Using 10x Genomics linked-read sequencing, we produced a haplotype-resolved diploid genome assembly for R. ferrugineus from a single heterozygous individual with modest sequencing coverage (sim 62x). Benchmarking against conserved single-copy Arthropod orthologs suggests both pseudo-haplotypes in our R. ferrugineus genome assembly are highly complete with respect to gene content, and do not suffer from haplotype-induced duplication artifacts present in a recently published hybrid assembly for this species. Annotation of the larger pseudo-haplotype in our assembly provides evidence for 23,413 protein-coding loci in R. ferrugineus, including over 13,000 predicted proteins annotated with Gene Ontology terms and over 6000 loci independently supported by high-quality Iso-Seq transcriptomic data. Our assembly also includes 95% of R. ferrugineus chemosensory, detoxification and neuropeptide-related transcripts identified previously using RNA-seq transcriptomic data, and provides a platform for the molecular analysis of these and other functionally-relevant genes that can help guide management of this widespread insect pest.

Visual Colonization: Scenes, Objects, and Main Content of Postcards from German East Africa

The paper deals with colonial representation of German East Africa in postcards, issued for exposure of conquered territories to the empire’s metropolis population. To the lesser degree they present peoples of distant land, their culture and life, concentrating more on (controversial) “achievements” brought by colonizers, like military stations, churches and Christian missions, infrastructure, askari troops recruited from local population etc. On these postcards we can see various species of acacias and palm trees, numerous Araberstrasse and Kaiserstrasse, monuments to the emperor and chancellor, ships in the Dar es Salaam bay, “native beauty” and “native quarters”. On the one hand, postcards reflect what colonizers wanted to display in their homeland, on the other — what homeland wished to see: images of exotic hot tropics, success of German administrators and troops. Content, scenes, objects shown on the postcards are analyzed in the article as specific patterns of “visual colonization”.

Impact of the invasive plant species “Nicotiana glauca” toxins on the larvae of the invasive insect species “Rhynchophorus ferrugineus”: A damaging pest of date palm trees in Saudi Arabia

The wild tree tobacco (Nicotiana glauca) is an alien species that invaded vast areas of the Southwestern region of Saudi Arabia. While, the Red Palm Weevil (RPW) (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) is considered to be the most damaging invasive insect species of palm trees all over the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, causing major economic losses to farmers and the economy of the country. Using conventional insecticides to control harmful insects such as RPW has undesirable effects on the environment and human health. Alternatively, using biocontrol agents such as poisonous extracts from N. glauca might be a better approach in pest management and can be considered as an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and safe alternative. Therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate the larvicidal effect of N. glauca aqueous extracts against the red palm weevil larvae. The plant specimens were collected from Al-Baha region in the Southwest of Saudi Arabia. Each single test consisted of 20 larvae, and N. glauca preparations were; 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3 ml, besides the control test. Results obtained for the effect of botanical extracts; leaf, flower, stem and root against R. ferrugineus larvae for an exposure period of 24 hr. at the concentrations of 2.8, 4.2, 6.0, 7.0 and 8.0 ppm. The concentrations for N. glauca extracts reflected an LC50 of 2.7 ppm for leave, 2.6 ppm for flower, 2.8 ppm for stem and 7.00 ppm for root. While, the same concentrations extracts reflected an LC95of 11 ppm for leaf, 9.6 ppm for flower, 8.9 ppm for stem and 13.00 ppm for root. These results showed that N. glauca extracts have a remarkable potentiality as insecticidal substances that can be used as an ecofriendly integrated approach for the management of R. ferrugineus.

Preliminary Study on the Biodegradability of Chitosan Films Emulsified with Palm Oils (Aracaceae) from the Brazilian Cerrado

Non-toxic products with distinguishable characteristics are desirable for use in the packaging sector. Biopolymers fit this criterion and can serve as vehicles for the addition of various compounds, such as enzymes, dyes, antioxidant agents, or monounsaturated fatty acids, to provide useful qualities to a product, such as biodegradability. A biopolymer obtained from fishing industry waste residues can be combined with fatty acids to form films and emulsions with different characteristics to be used in different drug production, packaging, and product protection. This study aimed to use a natural biopolymer, chitosan, in combination with oils from the Mauritia flexuosa L.f., (“buriti”) and Acrocomia aculeata (“macaúba”) species of palm trees to develop films that exhibit excellent biodegradability in soil. The degradation of chitosan films (CF), emulsified chitosan films with buriti oil (CFB), and emulsified chitosan films with macaúba oil (CFM) in soil was investigated, where the CFB samples showed the best protection against moisture and the largest weight reduction over 30, 60, and 90 day testing periods. Further studies are needed to test the practical application of these films, but the results of the CFB sample indicate that these chitosan films imbued with natural oils from the Mauritia flexuosa L.f. and Acrocomia aculeata species have great potential for use in the packaging sector.

Assessment of Natural and Post-Extraction Biomass from Acrocomia totai leaves: a Renewable Source of Energy

The search for cleaner production technologies and sustainable development tools has prompted increasing interest in the use of new, renewable raw materials for biorefineries and energy production. Thus, biodiesel production from the pulp oil (fruit oil) of Acrocomia totai Mart., a species of palm tree, is currently being investigated. However, the bioenergy potential of biomass from different parts of this species is still unknown, and may not be limited to oil from the pulp. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the leaves of A. totai as a secondary source of lipids and energy. Deciduous and fresh leaves were submitted to the Soxhlet and Bligh & Dyer extractions, and the presence of 1.0 to 5.8% of unsaturated fatty acids was observed by GC-FID analyses. The crude extract (CE) of the leaves was obtained by exhaustive extraction with methanol and then partitioned with different solvents. CE and its fractions were characterized by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and the thermal properties were determined. The average specific heat of the grease fractions was 2.0 J g−1 K−1 and the calorific value of the polar and non-polar fractions varied from 15.7 to 34.1 MJ kg−1. For the whole leaves, the calorific value of the deciduous leaves was higher than that of the fresh leaves due to their lower water content, as determined by thermogravimetric-differential thermal analyses (TG-DTA) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The residual pies from the Soxhlet extractions of the deciduous and fresh leaves were characterized by TGA-DTA and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), revealing a lignocellulosic fibrous material with calorific values of 14.2 MJ kg−1 and 9.3 MJ kg−1, respectively, and an average specific heat of 1.6 J g−1 K−1. These thermal properties are comparable to those of sugarcane bagasse, a widely used type of biomass for industrial large-scale bioenergy production in Brazil. Therefore, these results indicated that it may be possible to harvest the deciduous leaves, a residue from the “macauba” cultivation, for energy cogeneration in biodiesel refineries.

Highest bush dog (Speothos venaticus) record for Ecuador with a potential association to a palm tree (Socratea rostrata)

ABSTRACT The bush dog (Speothos venaticus) is one of the rarest canids in Central and South America. Very little is known about its distribution or its ecological behavior. However, there are ongoing scientific efforts to compile updated data on this species. By using line transect surveys, interviews with local people and camera traps, we studied mammals and their association with four palm-tree species (Oenocarpus bataua Socratea spp., Iriartea deltoidea, and Wettinia maynensis). Three transects, of approximately 3 kilometers each, were used to survey the piedmont of Colonso-Chalupas Biological Reserve (CCBR) in Eastern Ecuador; a recently established biological reserve (93,246 ha with an altitudinal gradient from 560 to 4432 m asl). We recorded two independent events of bush dog at 1200 m asl, using line transect surveys (one event from 91 line transect surveys) and camera trapping (two photographs from 1759 trap-nights) from September 2016 to March 2017. Both occurred at the same location, where the ground was completely covered by mature S. rostrata fruits. This is the first scientific report which confirms: the presence of bush dog in the reserve, the highest elevation of its range in Ecuador, and provides relevant data on a direct or indirect association between bush dog and a palm tree.

The role played by exotic plants in urban ecosystems: comments on Spennemann, 2019.

The article written by Dick HR Spennemann, and published in the European Journal of Ecology, addresses the role played by a palm tree species native to the Canary Islands as food source for several frugivore species found in Australian cities. This palm tree bears fruit throughout the year; therefore, it is a reliable food source in winter and helps increasing wildlife support. Spennemann avoids the native versus exotic dogmatic simplism; instead, he assesses the palm tree species based on its positive environmental impact.

Microbial Diversity and Metabolite Profiles of Palm Wine Produced From Three Different Palm Tree Species in C\xf4te d\u2019Ivoire

Palm wine, the most commonly consumed traditional alcoholic beverage in Western Africa, harbours a complex microbiota and metabolites, which plays a crucial role in the overall quality and value of the product. In the present study, a combined metagenomic and metabolomic approach was applied to describe the microbial community structure and metabolites profile of fermented saps from three palm species (Elaeis guineensis, Raphia hookeri, Borassus aethiopum) in Côte d’Ivoire. Lactobacillaceae (47%), Leuconostocaceae (16%) and Acetobacteriaceae (28%) were the most abundant bacteria and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (87%) the predominant yeasts in these beverages. The microbial community structure of Raphia wine was distinctly different from the others. Multivariate analysis based on the metabolites profile clearly separated the three palm wine types. The main differentiating metabolites were putatively identified as gevotroline hydrochloride, sesartemin and methylisocitrate in Elaeis wine; derivative of homoserine, mitoxantrone in Raphia wine; pyrimidine nucleotide sugars (UDP-D-galacturonate) and myo-Inositol derivatives in Borassus wine. The enriched presence of gevotroline (an antipsychotic agent) and mitoxantrone (an anticancer drug) in palm wine supports its therapeutic potential. This work provides a valuable insight into the microbiology and biochemistry of palm wines and a rationale for selecting functional microorganisms for potential biotechnology applications.

Euterpe edulis seed germination parameters and genotype selection

The palm tree juçara (Euterpe edulis Mart) is considered one of the most important and threatened native species in the Atlantic Forest. The search for juçara seeds (Euterpe edulis Martius) has increased, generating a need for technologies favorable to their production, quality and conservation. The aim of this study was to describe the seed germination patterns of 45 juçara accessions by using a nonlinear model to examine the behavior of these patterns and select superior genotypes. After clustering 45 juçara accessions into four groups, four nonlinear models, namely, the logistic, Gompertz, von Bertalanffy and Weibull models, were tested based on their fit for each group of accessions. The Gompertz model presented the best fit to describe the germination growth curve of E. edulis seeds. Groups 3 and 4 presented the highest daily germination rates and were considered the most vigorous. Analysis of deviance was performed, revealing genetic variability among the genotypes in terms of seed germination and vigor. It was possible to find a nonlinear model that best explained our data, and this model may also be a promising model for other palm tree species. It is possible to select genotypes based on the characters we analyzed, due to the elevated genetic variability.

Physical characteristics of instanised Cocoa drink sweetened with Palm Sap Sugar: A preliminary study

Palm sap sugar is a natural sweetener made from sap collected from the flowers of several species of palm tree. This sugar is highly produce in South-East and South Asian regions, such as Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and India. Its use improves the taste, colour and aroma of drink and food products. This work investigated the impact of palm sap sugar and processing method on the solubility and appearance of instanised cocoa powder. In this study, three cocoa powder blends with different palm sap sugar proportion, namely 15%, 30%, and 45% were used as a sweetener. The results showed that the solubility of cocoa drink increased as the proportion of palm sap sugar was increased. With regard to the appearance, the lightness of the cocoa drink decreased as the proportion of palm sap sugar was increased. This study revealed that the lightness of the cocoa drink decreased and the solubility increased as the number of agglomeration process repetition was increased.

Investigating the potential of sunflower species, fermented palm wine and Pleurotus ostreatus for treatment of petroleum-contaminated soil

Phyto- and myco-remediation have been identified as sustainable options for treatment of petroleum-contaminated soils. To appraise the benefits thereof, the potentials of 3 sunflower species, 2 palm wine types and P. ostreatus to treat petroleum-contaminated soils was investigated. The study involved sampling of petroleum-contaminated soils and treatment with the phyto- and myco-remediation agents for a period of 90-days. Agents used for the remediation were 3 species of sunflowers (Helianthus annus-pacino gold, Helianthus sunsation &Helianthus annus-sunny dwarf), fermented palm wine (from 2 species of palm trees -Elaeis guineensis &Raffia africana), and oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). The study further investigated variation in remediation efficiency among the sunflower and palm wine species, as well as different substrates and conditions for optimal application of P. ostreatus. The results obtained revealed up to 340 g/kg dry weight of Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) in the soils, with remediation outcomes of up to 69% by the sunflower- Helianthus annus (Pacino gold), 70% by fermented palm wine, and 85% by P. ostreatus. While the remediation efficiency of sunflower species was proportional to biomass, there was no significant difference in remediation efficiency of the palm wines. It was also found that substrates type and method of application has a significant impact on the remediation efficiency of P. ostreatus. The study further revealed available nitrate and electrical conductivity as possible useful indicators of TPHs concentration and remediation progress in soils.

Temporal variation in production and nutritional value of pollen used in the diet of Apis mellifera L. in a seasonal semideciduous forest

The flora of mountain formations in the Caatinga biome is composed predominantly by semi-deciduous species with representatives of both Atlantic and Amazon forest. Information on the potential for bee pollen production of these species is limited. In this study we evaluated the potential of production, the temporal variation, the botanical origin and the nutritional value of bee pollen produced in a seasonal semideciduous forest in northeastern Brazil. We identified a total of 252 flowering plant species throughout the year. The diet of Apis mellifera consisted of 74 pollen types distributed in 58 genera and 27 families. We identified two production peaks of bee pollen, the highest occurring in the rainy season. Nutritional value considering crude protein, carbohydrates, lipids and mineral matter changed over the study period, with influence of rainfall on the dry matter level. Some taxonomic groups of plants showed a strong relationship with nutrients, suggesting that although the diet of A. mellifera is broadly diversified, this species devoted most of its pollen foraging effort on the genus Mimosa and the palm tree species of Attalea speciosa. The results show that the seasonal semideciduous forest of the mountain range in the Northeast Brazil presents plant species: Mimosa caesalpiniifolia, Baccharis trinervis, Mimosa tenuiflora Myracrodruom urundeuva, Cecropia pachystachya, Attalea speciosa, with high nutritional level and potential for the pollen production.

Palm Sap Sugar: A Review

Palm sap sugar is a natural sweetener made from sap/nectar collected from the flowers of several species of palm tree. This sugar has been used as a traditional and an alternative sweetener in the South-east and South Asian regions. In these regions, the species of palm tree are found in abundance, with Indonesia and the Philippines being the largest palm sap sugar producers in the world. This sugar is widely used as sweetener for beverages and foods. It does not only provide the sweetness to the products, but also develop their colour, aroma, and taste. In this review, sugar production (composition, factors influencing the quality of sap/nectar), processing, composition, aroma profile, factors influencing the quality, health benefit and potency of palm sap sugar is discussed.

Generalist host species drive Trypanosoma cruzi vector infection in oil palm plantations in the Orinoco region, Colombia

BackgroundOil palm plantation establishment in Colombia has the potential to impact Chagas disease transmission by increasing the distribution range of Rhodnius prolixus. In fact, previous studies have reported Trypanosoma cruzi natural infection in R. prolixus captured in oil palms (Elaeis guineensis) in the Orinoco region, Colombia. The aim of this study is to understand T. cruzi infection in vectors in oil palm plantations relative to community composition and host dietary specialization by analyzing vector blood meals and comparing these results to vectors captured in a native palm tree species, Attalea butyracea.MethodsRhodnius prolixus nymphs (n = 316) were collected from A. butyracea and E. guineensis palms in Tauramena, Casanare, Colombia. Vector blood meals from these nymphs were determined by amplifying and sequencing a vertebrate-specific 12S rRNA gene fragment.ResultsEighteen vertebrate species were identified and pigs (Sus scrofa) made up the highest proportion of blood meals in both habitats, followed by house mouse (Mus musculus) and opossum (Didelphis marsupialis). Individual bugs feeding only from generalist mammal species had the highest predicted vector infection rate, suggesting that generalist mammalian species are more competent hosts for T. cruzi infection .ConclusionsOil palm plantations and A. butyracea palms found in altered areas provide a similar quality habitat for R. prolixus populations in terms of blood meal availability. Both habitats showed similarities in vector infection rate and potential host species, representing a single T. cruzi transmission scenario at the introduced oil palm plantation and native Attalea palm interface.

What are the species of phorophytes of Vanilla palmarum (Orchidaceae) in Brazil? An assessment of emblematic specificity with palm tree species

Abstract Vanilla palmarum is an obligately epiphytic orchid distributed widely throughout South America with emblematic specificity for species of palms. This epiphyte-phorophyte association was examined through the analysis of specimens available via the database of Centro de Referência em Informação Ambiental and from Brazilian herbaria. We recognized nine species as hosts of V. palmarum in Brazil: Acrocomia aculeata, Attalea phalerata, Attalea speciosa, Elaeis guineensis, Mauritia flexuosa, Syagrus cearensis, S. coronata, S. schizophylla, and S. vagans. The most important phorophytes of V. palmarum were found to be A. speciosa (Cerrado), A. phalerata (Pantanal), M. flexuosa (Amazon Forest) and S. coronata (Caatinga). Future management actions must consider the association between V. palmarum and its phorophyte palm species in order to ensure the protection of this ecological interaction.

State of forest genetic resources in the world and in Ukraine

The aim of the article is to generalize the information presented in the FAO report ‘The State of World Forest Genetic Resources (FGR) and in the reports on the state of forest genetic resources in Ukraine and other countries. Results and Discussion. To draw up the World Report, the information was provided by 86 countries which occupy 76% of the earth's surface and involve 85% of the total forest area. The countries’ reports cover 8,000 species of trees, palm trees and bamboo, among which about 2,400 are economically important; at that, information at the genetic level is only available for 500 to 600 species. The vast majority of important for environmental protection species (84%) are indigenous, in contrast to those economically important, 85% of which are introduced species. About 50 indigenous and non-native species of forest trees are used in the forestry of Ukraine. 26 of them are given as high-priority ones. They are used to produce wood, pulp, fuel, non-timber products, as well as to create protective plantations. The total number of species and subspecies in the world that are preserved in situ is almost 1,000, with about 500 of them – in Asia and almost 200 in both Europe and Africa. In Ukraine, there are about 30 of such species. In cases where in situ conservation is problematic, alternative methods are used, namely ex situ. The total number of species that are conserved ex situ is 1,800; at that, 1,025 of them grow in Africa, 401 – in Europe, 389 – in Asia, 372 – in Latin America and the Caribbean, 265 – in North America, 102 – in the Middle East and 57 species – in Oceania. In Ukraine, they make a stock of the seeds of more than 130 tree and shrub species, including decorative ones. Man-made forests are created with more than 20 species of trees annually. Non-native species of woody plants in the forestry of Ukraine make 39%. Methodological approaches to the study of genetic variability involve analysis of biometric, morphological and biochemical characteristics, as well as DNA markers. They analyze genetic variation as in field studies in provenance trail and progeny tests, so in laboratory studies. Conclusions. The basic tasks for the forest genetic resources conservation is to develop and implement national in situ and ex situ conservation strategies for sustainable use of FGR, to strengthen the role which forests and protective stands play in the in situ FGR conservation, and to identify first-priority measures at the species level. FGR conservation strategies should contribute to both ecosystem restoration using appropriate genetic material and adaptation to climate change along with mitigating its impacts.

Genome survey and development of 15 microsatellite molecular markers in Syagrus coronata (Martius) Beccari (Arecaceae) by next-generation sequencing

Syagrus coronata (Martius) Beccari belongs to the Arecaceae family, an economically and ecologically important species of palm tree. It grows in northeastern Brazil and has a widespread geographic distribution in the “Caatinga” (a seasonally dry tropical forest biome) and Atlantic forest domains (a rain forest biome). The aim of this study was to perform a genome survey and develop SSR markers using high-throughput sequencing. We obtained 78,231,881 million Illumina single-end and paired-end reads, and these reads were used to obtain contigs with a minimum of 500 nucleotides using Ray software. Mining of the SSRs was performed with Phobos software, while the primers were designed by Primer3. Thirty loci were analyzed, three of which were not amplified, 12 were monomorphic, and 15 were polymorphic. Five to 11 alleles per locus were observed, with the observed and expected heterozygosity at 0.06–0.63 and 0.73–0.88, respectively. Here, we report the first set of microsatellite markers developed for S. coronata, and their polymorphism levels indicate they can be used as powerful tools for evaluating genetic diversity and population structure, and thus contribute to conservation studies.

Antioxidative effect and phytochemical profile of natural products from the fruits of “babaçu” (Orbignia speciose) and “buriti” (Mauritia flexuosa)

Orbignya speciosa and Mauritia flexuosa are two native palm tree species found in Brazil. Their fruits are rich in edible fixed oils, which are used for many purposes in industry, such as in the manufacture of soaps, surfactants and margarines. The aim of this work was to characterize the chemical profiles and antioxidant properties of the methanol extracts obtained from the fruits of O. speciosa and M. flexuosa. The chemical prospection was carried out using specific qualitative tests to evaluate the presence of phenolic compounds (tannins and flavonoids) in the extracts of both species. The antioxidant properties of the extracts were analyzed by the following methods: production of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) from phospholipids, deoxyribose degradation, radical-scavenging activity-DPPH, iron chelation assay and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The methanolic extracts obtained from M. flexuosa and O. speciosa presented significant antioxidant activities, although M. flexuosa presented higher antioxidant activity than O. speciosa. In conclusion, M. flexuosa and O. speciosa are important sources of antioxidant substances that may be useful in the development of new products to prevent diseases associated with oxidative stress.

Object-Based Image Analysis for Sago Palm Classification: The Most Important Features from High-Resolution Satellite Imagery

Sago palm (Metroxylon sagu) is a palm tree species originating in Indonesia. In the future, this starch-producing tree will play an important role in food security and biodiversity. Local governments have begun to emphasize the sustainable development of sago palm plantations; therefore, they require near-real-time geospatial information on palm stands. We developed a semi-automated classification scheme for mapping sago palm using machine learning within an object-based image analysis framework with Pleiades-1A imagery. In addition to spectral information, arithmetic, geometric, and textural features were employed to enhance the classification accuracy. Recursive feature elimination was applied to samples to rank the importance of 26 input features. A support vector machine (SVM) was used to perform classifications and resulted in the highest overall accuracy of 85.00% after inclusion of the eight most important features, including three spectral features, three arithmetic features, and two textural features. The SVM classifier showed normal fitting up to the eighth most important feature. According to the McNemar test results, using the top seven to 14 features provided a better classification accuracy. The significance of this research is the revelation of the most important features in recognizing sago palm among other similar tree species.