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'Candidatus Phytoplasma wodyetiae', a new taxon associated with yellow decline disease of foxtail palm (Wodyetia bifurcata) in Malaysia

Naderali N, Nejat N, Vadamalai G, Davis RE, Wei W, Harrison NA, et al.

Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 2017 Oct;67(10):3765-3772.
PMID: 28905707 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.002187

Landscape-grown foxtail palm (Wodyetia bifurcata A. K. Irvine) trees displaying symptoms of severe foliar chlorosis, stunting, general decline and mortality reminiscent of coconut yellow decline disease were observed in Bangi, Malaysia, during 2012. DNA samples from foliage tissues of 15 symptomatic palms were analysed by employing a nested PCR assay primed by phytoplasma universal ribosomal RNA operon primer pairs, P1/P7 followed by R16F2n/R2. The assay yielded amplicons of a single band of 1.25 kb from DNA samples of 11 symptomatic palms. Results from cloning and sequence analysis of the PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene segments revealed that, in three palms, three mutually distinct phytoplasmas comprising strains related to 'Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris' and 'Candidatus Phytoplasma cynodontis', as well as a novel phytoplasma, were present as triple infections. The 16S rRNA gene sequence derived from the novel phytoplasma shared less than 96 % nucleotide sequence identity with that of each previously describedspecies of the provisional genus 'Ca. Phytoplasma', justifying its recognition as the reference strain of a new taxon, 'Candidatus Phytoplasma wodyetiae'. Virtual RFLP profiles of the R16F2n/R2 portion of the 16S rRNA gene and the pattern similarity coefficient value (0.74) supported the delineation of 'Ca. Phytoplasma wodyetiae' as the sole representative subgroup A member of a new phytoplasma ribosomal group, 16SrXXXVI.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/microbiology*
Fulltext Using satellite-measured relative humidity for prediction of Metisa plana's population in oil palm plantations: A comparative assessment of regression and artificial neural network models

Ruslan SA, Muharam FM, Zulkafli Z, Omar D, Zambri MP

PLoS One, 2019;14(10):e0223968.
PMID: 31626637 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223968

Metisa plana (Walker) is a leaf defoliating pest that is able to cause staggering economical losses to oil palm cultivation. Considering the economic devastation that the pest could bring, an early warning system to predict its outbreak is crucial. The state of art of satellite technologies are now able to derive environmental factors such as relative humidity (RH) that may influence pest population's fluctuations in rapid, harmless, and cost-effective manners. This study examined the relationship between the presence of Metisa plana at different time lags and remote sensing (RS) derived RH by using statistical and machine learning approaches. Metisa plana census data of cumulated larvae instar 1, 2, 3, and 4 were collected biweekly in 2014 and 2015 in an oil palm plantation in Muadzam Shah, Pahang, Malaysia. Relative humidity values derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite images were apportioned to 6 time lags; 1 week (T1), 2 weeks (T2), 3 week (T3), 4 weeks (T4), 5 week (T5) and 6 weeks (T6) and paired with the respective census data. Pearson's correlation was carried out to analyse the relationship between Metisa plana and RH at different time lags. Regression analyses and artificial neural network (ANN) were also conducted to develop the best prediction model of Metisa plana's outbreak. The results showed relatively high correlations, positively or negatively, between the presences of Metisa plana with RH ranging from 0.46 to 0.99. ANN was found to be superior to regression models with the adjusted coefficient of determination (R2) between the actual and predicted Metisa plana values ranging from 0.06 to 0.57 versus 0.00 to 0.05. The analysis on the best time lags illustrated that the multiple time lags were more influential on the Metisa plana population than the individual time lags. The best Metisa plana prediction model was derived from T1, T2 and T3 multiple time lags modelled using the ANN algorithm with R2 value of 0.57, errors below 1.14 and accuracies above 93%. Based on the result of this study, the elucidation of Metisa plana's landscape ecology was possible with the utilization of RH as the predictor variable in consideration of the time lag effects of RH on the pest's population.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/parasitology*
Fulltext Mating Compatibility and Restriction Analysis of Ganoderma Isolates from Oil Palm and Other Palm Hosts

Jing CJ, Seman IA, Zakaria L

Trop Life Sci Res, 2015 Dec;26(2):45-57.
PMID: 26868709 MyJurnal

Mating compatibility and restriction analyses of Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) regions were performed to determine the relations between Ganoderma boninense, the most common species associated with basal stem rot in oil palm and Ganoderma isolates from infected oil palm, two ornamental palms, sealing wax palm (Cyrtostachys renda) and MacArthur palm (Ptychosperma macarthurii), an isolate from coconut stump (Cocos nucifera), Ganoderma miniatocinctum, Ganoderma zonatum and Ganoderma tornatum. The results showed that G. boninense was compatible with Ganoderma isolates from oil palm, G. miniatocinctum and G. zonatum, Ganoderma isolates from sealing wax palm, MacArthur palm and coconut stump. G. boninense was not compatible with G. tornatum. Therefore, the results suggested that the G. boninense, G. miniatocinctum, G. zonatum, and Ganoderma isolates from oil palm, ornamental palms and coconut stump could represent the same biological species. In performing a restriction analysis of the ITS regions, variations were observed in which five haplotypes were generated from the restriction patterns. An unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) cluster analysis showed that all the Ganoderma isolates were grouped into five primary groups, and the similarity values of the isolates ranged from 97% to 100%. Thus, a restriction analysis of the ITS regions showed that G. boninense and the Ganoderma isolates from other palm hosts were closely related. On the basis of the mating compatibility test and the restriction analysis of the ITS regions performed in this study, a diverse group of Ganoderma species from oil palm and other palm hosts are closely related, except for G. tornatum and Ganoderma isolates from tea and rubber.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae
Fulltext Basal Stem Rot of Oil Palm: The Pathogen, Disease Incidence, and Control Methods

Zakaria L

Plant Dis, 2023 Mar;107(3):603-615.
PMID: 35819350 DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-02-22-0358-FE

Basal stem rot of oil palm caused by Ganoderma boninense is the most serious disease of oil palm in Malaysia, Indonesia, and other oil-palm-producing countries. Economic losses caused by the disease can be up to USD500 million a year. For many years, basal stem rot was found to infect older palm trees of more than 25 to 30 years in age. Only in the 1950s, the disease began to appear in much younger palm trees, 10 to 15 years old, and, in the last decade or so, palm trees as young as 1 year were infected by the disease. The highest incidence occurs in coastal areas of Southeast Asia but the disease has now infected oil palm in inland areas, mainly oil palm planted in peat soils. Disease incidence is also high in areas previously growing coconut or forest. Basal stem rot infection and spread occur through root-to-root contact, and basidiospores that colonize the roots also play a role. In the early stages of infection by G. boninense, the pathogen behaves as a biotroph and later as a necrotroph, secreting cell-wall-degrading enzymes and triggering host defense responses. Genes, gene products, and metabolic pathways involved in oil palm defense mechanisms against G. boninense have been identified and these metabolites have the potential to be used as markers for early detection of the disease. Integrated disease management used to control basal stem rot includes cultural practices, chemical control, and application of biocontrol agents or fertilizers. Early detection tools have also been developed that could assist in management of basal stem rot infections. Development of resistant or tolerant oil palm is still at an early stage; therefore, the existing integrated disease management practices remain the most appropriate methods for managing basal stem rot of oil palm.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae*
Gasification of palm empty fruit bunch in a bubbling fluidized bed: a performance and agglomeration study

Lahijani P, Zainal ZA

Bioresour Technol, 2011 Jan;102(2):2068-76.
PMID: 20980143 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2010.09.101

Gasification of palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) was investigated in a pilot-scale air-blown fluidized bed. The effect of bed temperature (650-1050 °C) on gasification performance was studied. To explore the potential of EFB, the gasification results were compared to that of sawdust. Results showed that maximum heating values (HHV) of 5.37 and 5.88 (MJ/Nm3), dry gas yield of 2.04 and 2.0 (Nm3/kg), carbon conversion of 93% and 85 % and cold gas efficiency of 72% and 71 % were obtained for EFB and sawdust at the temperature of 1050 °C and ER of 0.25. However, it was realized that agglomeration was the major issue in EFB gasification at high temperatures. To prevent the bed agglomeration, EFB gasification was performed at temperature of 770±20 °C while the ER was varied from 0.17 to 0.32. Maximum HHV of 4.53 was obtained at ER of 0.21 where no agglomeration was observed.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/chemistry*
Optical fibre chemical sensor for trace vanadium(V) determination based on newly synthesized palm based fatty hydroxamic acid immobilized in polyvinyl chloride membrane

Isha A, Yusof NA, Ahmad M, Suhendra D, Yunus WM, Zainal Z

Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc, 2007 Aug;67(5):1398-402.
PMID: 17141557

Fatty hydroxamic acid (FHA) immobilized in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has been studied as a sensor element of an optical fibre chemical sensor for V(V). By using this instrument, V(V) in solution has been determined in the log concentration range of 0-2.5 (i.e. 1.0-300 mg/L). The detection limit was 1.0 mg/L. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of the method for the reproducibility study at V(V) concentration of 200 mg/L and 300 mg/L were calculated to be 2.9% and 2.0%, respectively. Interference from foreign ions was also studied at 1:1 mole ratio of V(V):foreign ions. It was found that, Fe(III) ion interfered most in the determination of vanadium(V). Excellent agreement with ICP-AES method was achieved when the proposed method was applied towards determination of V(V).

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/chemistry*
Starch from the Sago (Metroxylon sagu) Palm Tree-Properties, Prospects, and Challenges as a New Industrial Source for Food and Other Uses

Karim AA, Tie AP, Manan DMA, Zaidul ISM

Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf, 2008 Jul;7(3):215-228.
PMID: 33467803 DOI: 10.1111/j.1541-4337.2008.00042.x

The common industrial starches are typically derived from cereals (corn, wheat, rice, sorghum), tubers (potato, sweet potato), roots (cassava), and legumes (mung bean, green pea). Sago (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) starch is perhaps the only example of commercial starch derived from another source, the stem of palm (sago palm). Sago palm has the ability to thrive in the harsh swampy peat environment of certain areas. It is estimated that there are about 2 million ha of natural sago palm forests and about 0.14 million ha of planted sago palm at present, out of a total swamp area of about 20 million ha in Asia and the Pacific Region, most of which are under- or nonutilized. Growing in a suitable environment with organized farming practices, sago palm could have a yield potential of up to 25 tons of starch per hectare per year. Sago starch yield per unit area could be about 3 to 4 times higher than that of rice, corn, or wheat, and about 17 times higher than that of cassava. Compared to the common industrial starches, however, sago starch has been somewhat neglected and relatively less attention has been devoted to the sago palm and its starch. Nevertheless, a number of studies have been published covering various aspects of sago starch such as molecular structure, physicochemical and functional properties, chemical/physical modifications, and quality issues. This article is intended to piece together the accumulated knowledge and highlight some pertinent information related to sago palm and sago starch studies.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae
Cassava/sugar palm fiber reinforced cassava starch hybrid composites: Physical, thermal and structural properties

Edhirej A, Sapuan SM, Jawaid M, Zahari NI

Int J Biol Macromol, 2017 Aug;101:75-83.
PMID: 28288881 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.03.045

A hybrid composite was prepared from cassava bagasse (CB) and sugar palm fiber (SPF) using casting technique with cassava starch (CS) as matrix and fructose as a plasticizer. Different loadings of SPF (2, 4, 6 and 8% w/w of dry starch) were added to the CS/CB composite film containing 6% CB. The addition of SPF significantly influenced the physical properties. It increased the thickness while decreasing the density, water content, water solubility and water absorption. However, no significant effect was noticed on the thermal properties of the hybrid composite film. The incorporation of SPF increased the relative crystallinity up to 47%, compared to 32% of the CS film. SEM micrographs indicated that the filler was incorporated in the matrix. The film with a higher concentration of SPF (CS-CB/SPF8) showed a more heterogeneous surface. It could be concluded that the incorporation of SPF led to changes in cassava starch film properties, potentially affecting the film performances.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/chemistry*
Modeling of reaction kinetics for transesterification of palm-based methyl esters with trimethylolpropane

Kamil RN, Yusup S

Bioresour Technol, 2010 Aug;101(15):5877-84.
PMID: 20304636 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2010.02.084

A mathematical model describing chemical kinetics of transesterification of palm-based methyl esters with trimethylolpropane has been developed. The model was developed by utilizing nonlinear regression method, which is an efficient and powerful way to determine rate constants for both forward and reverse reactions. A comparison with previous study which excludes the reverse reactions was made. The model was based on the reverse mechanism of transesterification reactions and describes concentration changes of trimethylolpropane, monoesters and diesters production. The developed model was validated against data from the literature. The reaction rate constants were determined using MATLAB version 7.2 and the ratios of rate constants obtained were well in agreement with those reported in the literature. A good correlation between model simulations and experimental data was observed. It was proven that both methods were able to predict the rate constants with plausible accuracy.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/chemistry*
Utilization of palm kernel cake for production of beta-mannanase by Aspergillus niger FTCC 5003 in solid substrate fermentation using an aerated column bioreactor

Abdeshahian P, Samat N, Hamid AA, Yusoff WM

J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol, 2010 Jan;37(1):103-9.
PMID: 19937085 DOI: 10.1007/s10295-009-0658-0

The production of beta-mannanase from palm kernel cake (PKC) as a substrate in solid substrate fermentation (SSF) was studied using a laboratory column bioreactor. The simultaneous effects of three independent variables, namely incubation temperature, initial moisture content of substrate and airflow rate, on beta-mannanase production were evaluated by response surface methodology (RSM) on the basis of a central composite face-centered (CCF) design. Eighteen trials were conducted in which Aspergillus niger FTCC 5003 was cultivated on PKC in an aerated column bioreactor for seven days under SSF process. The highest level of beta-mannanase (2117.89 U/g) was obtained when SSF process was performed at incubation temperature, initial moisture level and aeration rate of 32.5 degrees C, 60% and 0.5 l/min, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed that the quadratic terms of incubation temperature and initial moisture content had significant effects on the production of beta-mannanase (P < 0.01). A similar analysis also demonstrated that the linear effect of initial moisture level and an interaction effect between the initial moisture content and aeration rate significantly influenced the production of beta-mannanase (P < 0.01). The statistical model suggested that the optimal conditions for attaining the highest level of beta-mannanase were incubation temperature of 32 degrees C, initial moisture level of 59% and aeration rate of 0.5 l/min. A beta-mannanase yield of 2231.26 U/g was obtained when SSF process was carried out under the optimal conditions described above.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/chemistry*
Xylanase production by Aspergillus niger FTCC 5003 using palm kernel cake in fermentative bioprocess

Abdeshahian P, Samat N, Yusoff WM

Pak J Biol Sci, 2009 Aug 01;12(15):1049-55.
PMID: 19943460

The production of xylanase from palm kernel cake as a substrate was studied in solid substrate fermentation. The simultaneous effects of three independent variables, namely incubation temperature, initial moisture content of substrate and air flow rate on xylanase production were evaluated by response surface methodology using central composite face centered design. A total of 18 experiments were carried out in which Aspergillus niger FTCC 5003 was cultivated on palm kernel cake in a column bioreactor for 7 days under incubation temperature, moisture level and aeration rate determined. Test results showed that the highest xylanase activity of 174.88 U g(-1) was produced at incubation temperature, initial moisture level and aeration rate of 25 degrees C, 60% and 1.5 L min(-1), respectively. The statistical analysis of the experimental results revealed that the linear effect of incubation temperature and quadratic term of initial moisture content had highly significant effects on xylanase production (p<0.01). Statistical results also showed that interaction effect between incubation temperature and initial moisture content as well as interaction effect between moisture level and aeration rate influenced the yield ofxylanase at probability levels of 95%. Optimum conditions determined by statistical model for attaining maximum xylanase production were incubation temperature of 25 degrees C, initial moisture level of 63% and aeration rate of 1.76 L min(-1). The xylanase activity of 192.50 U g(-1) was obtained when solid substrate fermentation was performed under the optimal circumstances.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/chemistry*
Studies on extraction of mannanase enzyme by Aspergillus terreus SUK-1 from fermented palm kernel cake

Rashid JI, Samat N, Yusoff WM

Pak J Biol Sci, 2013 Sep 15;16(18):933-8.
PMID: 24502150

Microbial mannanases have become biotechnologically important in industry but their application is limited due to high production cost. In presents study, the extraction of mannanase from fermented Palm Kernel Cake (PKC) in the Solid State Fermentation (SSF) was optimized. Local isolate of Aspergillus terreus SUK-1 was grown on PKC in (SSF) using column bioreactor. The optimum condition were achieved after two washes of fermented PKC by adding of 10% glycerol (v/v) soaked for 10 h at the room temperature with solvent to ratio, 1:5 (w/v).

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/metabolism*
Fulltext Establishing the evidence base for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem function in the oil palm landscapes of South East Asia

Foster WA, Snaddon JL, Turner EC, Fayle TM, Cockerill TD, Ellwood MD, et al.

Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 2011 Nov 27;366(1582):3277-91.
PMID: 22006968 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2011.0041

The conversion of natural forest to oil palm plantation is a major current threat to the conservation of biodiversity in South East Asia. Most animal taxa decrease in both species richness and abundance on conversion of forest to oil palm, and there is usually a severe loss of forest species. The extent of loss varies significantly across both different taxa and different microhabitats within the oil palm habitat. The principal driver of this loss in diversity is probably the biological and physical simplification of the habitat, but there is little direct evidence for this. The conservation of forest species requires the preservation of large reserves of intact forest, but we must not lose sight of the importance of conserving biodiversity and ecosystem processes within the oil palm habitat itself. We urgently need to carry out research that will establish whether maintaining diversity supports economically and ecologically important processes. There is some evidence that both landscape and local complexity can have positive impacts on biodiversity in the oil palm habitat. By intelligent manipulation of habitat complexity, it could be possible to enhance not only the number of species that can live in oil palm plantations but also their contribution to the healthy functioning of this exceptionally important and widespread landscape.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/physiology*
Fulltext Impact strength and flexural properties enhancement of methacrylate silane treated oil palm mesocarp fiber reinforced biodegradable hybrid composites

Eng CC, Ibrahim NA, Zainuddin N, Ariffin H, Yunus WM

ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:213180.
PMID: 25254230 DOI: 10.1155/2014/213180

Natural fiber as reinforcement filler in polymer composites is an attractive approach due to being fully biodegradable and cheap. However, incompatibility between hydrophilic natural fiber and hydrophobic polymer matrix restricts the application. The current studies focus on the effects of incorporation of silane treated OPMF into polylactic acid (PLA)/polycaprolactone (PCL)/nanoclay/OPMF hybrid composites. The composites were prepared by melt blending technique and characterize the composites with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). FTIR spectra indicated that peak shifting occurs when silane treated OPMF was incorporated into hybrid composites. Based on mechanical properties results, incorporation of silane treated OPMF enhances the mechanical properties of unmodified OPMF hybrid composites with the enhancement of flexural and impact strength being 17.60% and 48.43%, respectively, at 10% fiber loading. TGA thermogram shows that incorporation of silane treated OPMF did not show increment in thermal properties of hybrid composites. SEM micrographs revealed that silane treated OPMF hybrid composites show good fiber/matrix adhesion as fiber is still embedded in the matrix and no cavity is present on the surface. Water absorption test shows that addition of less hydrophilic silane treated OPMF successfully reduces the water uptake of hybrid composites.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/chemistry*
Fulltext Selective‐logging and oil palm: multitaxon impacts, biodiversity indicators, and trade‐offs for conservation planning

Edwards DP, Magrach A, Woodcock P, Ji Y, Lim NT-, Edwards FA, et al.

Ecol Appl, 2014;24(8):2029-49.
PMID: 29185670 DOI: 10.1890/14-0010.1

Strong global demand for tropical timber and agricultural products has driven large-scale logging and subsequent conversion of tropical forests. Given that the majority of tropical landscapes have been or will likely be logged, the protection of biodiversity within tropical forests thus depends on whether species can persist in these economically exploited lands, and if species cannot persist, whether we can protect enough primary forest from logging and conversion. However, our knowledge of the impact of logging and conversion on biodiversity is limited to a few taxa, often sampled in different locations with complex land-use histories, hampering attempts to plan cost-effective conservation strategies and to draw conclusions across taxa. Spanning a land-use gradient of primary forest, once- and twice-logged forests, and oil palm plantations, we used traditional sampling and DNA metabarcoding to compile an extensive data set in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo for nine vertebrate and invertebrate taxa to quantify the biological impacts of logging and oil palm, develop cost-effective methods of protecting biodiversity, and examine whether there is congruence in response among taxa. Logged forests retained high species richness, including, on average, 70% of species found in primary forest. In contrast, conversion to oil palm dramatically reduces species richness, with significantly fewer primary-forest species than found on logged forest transects for seven taxa. Using a systematic conservation planning analysis, we show that efficient protection of primary-forest species is achieved with land portfolios that include a large proportion of logged-forest plots. Protecting logged forests is thus a cost-effective method of protecting an ecologically and taxonomically diverse range of species, particularly when conservation budgets are limited. Six indicator groups (birds, leaf-litter ants, beetles, aerial hymenopterans, flies, and true bugs) proved to be consistently good predictors of the response of the other taxa to logging and oil palm. Our results confidently establish the high conservation value of logged forests and the low value of oil palm. Cross-taxon congruence in responses to disturbance also suggests that the practice of focusing on key indicator taxa yields important information of general biodiversity in studies of logging and oil palm.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/physiology*
Fulltext The impact of local surface changes in Borneo on atmospheric composition at wider spatial scales: coastal processes, land-use change and air quality

Pyle JA, Warwick NJ, Harris NR, Abas MR, Archibald AT, Ashfold MJ, et al.

Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 2011 Nov 27;366(1582):3210-24.
PMID: 22006963 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2011.0060

We present results from the OP3 campaign in Sabah during 2008 that allow us to study the impact of local emission changes over Borneo on atmospheric composition at the regional and wider scale. OP3 constituent data provide an important constraint on model performance. Treatment of boundary layer processes is highlighted as an important area of model uncertainty. Model studies of land-use change confirm earlier work, indicating that further changes to intensive oil palm agriculture in South East Asia, and the tropics in general, could have important impacts on air quality, with the biggest factor being the concomitant changes in NO(x) emissions. With the model scenarios used here, local increases in ozone of around 50 per cent could occur. We also report measurements of short-lived brominated compounds around Sabah suggesting that oceanic (and, especially, coastal) emission sources dominate locally. The concentration of bromine in short-lived halocarbons measured at the surface during OP3 amounted to about 7 ppt, setting an upper limit on the amount of these species that can reach the lower stratosphere.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/physiology; Arecaceae/chemistry*
Fulltext Effects of oil palm shell coarse aggregate species on high strength lightweight concrete

Yew MK, Bin Mahmud H, Ang BC, Yew MC

ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:387647.
PMID: 24982946 DOI: 10.1155/2014/387647

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different species of oil palm shell (OPS) coarse aggregates on the properties of high strength lightweight concrete (HSLWC). Original and crushed OPS coarse aggregates of different species and age categories were investigated in this study. The research focused on two OPS species (dura and tenera), in which the coarse aggregates were taken from oil palm trees of the following age categories (3-5, 6-9, and 10-15 years old). The results showed that the workability and dry density of the oil palm shell concrete (OPSC) increase with an increase in age category of OPS species. The compressive strength of specimen CD3 increases significantly compared to specimen CT3 by 21.8%. The maximum achievable 28-day and 90-day compressive strength is 54 and 56 MPa, respectively, which is within the range for 10-15-year-old crushed dura OPS. The water absorption was determined to be within the range for good concrete for the different species of OPSC. In addition, the ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) results showed that the OPS HSLWC attain good condition at the age of 3 days.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae*
Fulltext Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals novel insights into transcriptional responses to phosphorus starvation in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) root

Kong SL, Abdullah SNA, Ho CL, Musa MHB, Yeap WC

BMC Genom Data, 2021 02 05;22(1):6.
PMID: 33568046 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-021-00962-7

BACKGROUND: Phosphorus (P), in its orthophosphate form (Pi) is an essential macronutrient for oil palm early growth development in which Pi deficiency could later on be reflected in lower biomass production. Application of phosphate rock, a non-renewable resource has been the common practice to increase Pi accessibility and maintain crop productivity in Malaysia. However, high fixation rate of Pi in the native acidic tropical soils has led to excessive utilization of P fertilizers. This has caused serious environmental pollutions and cost increment. Even so, the Pi deficiency response mechanism in oil palm as one of the basic prerequisites for crop improvement remains largely unknown.
RESULTS: Using total RNA extracted from young roots as template, we performed a comparative transcriptome analysis on oil palm responding to 14d and 28d of Pi deprivation treatment and under adequate Pi supply. By using Illumina HiSeq4000 platform, RNA-Seq analysis was successfully conducted on 12 paired-end RNA-Seq libraries and generated more than 1.2 billion of clean reads in total. Transcript abundance estimated by fragments per kilobase per million fragments (FPKM) and differential expression analysis revealed 36 and 252 genes that are differentially regulated in Pi-starved roots at 14d and 28d, respectively. Genes possibly involved in regulating Pi homeostasis, nutrient uptake and transport, hormonal signaling and gene transcription were found among the differentially expressed genes.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that the molecular response mechanism underlying Pi starvation in oil palm is complexed and involved multilevel regulation of various sensing and signaling components. This contribution would generate valuable genomic resources in the effort to develop oil palm planting materials that possess Pi-use efficient trait through molecular manipulation and breeding programs.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/genetics*; Arecaceae/metabolism*
Detection of Oil Palm Root Penetration by Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformed Ganoderma boninense, Expressing Green Fluorescent Protein

Govender N, Wong MY

Phytopathology, 2017 04;107(4):483-490.
PMID: 27918241 DOI: 10.1094/PHYTO-02-16-0062-R

A highly efficient and reproducible Agrobacterium-mediated transformation protocol for Ganoderma boninense was developed to facilitate observation of the early stage infection of basal stem rot (BSR). The method was proven amenable to different explants (basidiospore, protoplast, and mycelium) of G. boninense. The transformation efficiency was highest (62%) under a treatment combination of protoplast explant and Agrobacterium strain LBA4404, with successful expression of an hyg marker gene and gus-gfp fusion gene under the control of heterologous p416 glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase promoter. Optimal transformation conditions included a 1:100 Agrobacterium/explant ratio, induction of Agrobacterium virulence genes in the presence of 250 μm acetosyringone, co-cultivation at 22°C for 2 days on nitrocellulose membrane overlaid on an induction medium, and regeneration of transformants on potato glucose agar prepared with 0.6 M sucrose and 20 mM phosphate buffer. Evaluated transformants were able to infect root tissues of oil palm plantlets with needle-like microhyphae during the penetration event. The availability of this model pathogen system for BSR may lead to a better understanding of the pathogenicity factors associated with G. boninense penetration into oil palm roots.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/microbiology*
Induced expression of Ganoderma boninense Lanosterol 14α-Demethylase (ERG11) during interaction with oil palm

Lim FH, Rasid OA, Idris AS, As'wad AWM, Vadamalai G, Parveez GKA, et al.

Mol Biol Rep, 2023 Mar;50(3):2367-2379.
PMID: 36580194 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-08131-4

BACKGROUND: The basidiomycete fungus, Ganoderma boninense is the main contributor to oil palm Basal Stem Rot (BSR) in Malaysia and Indonesia. Lanosterol 14α-Demethylase (ERG11) is a key enzyme involved in biosynthesis of ergosterol, which is an important component in the fungal cell membrane. The Azole group fungicides are effective against pathogenic fungi including G. boninense by inhibiting the ERG11 activity. However, the work on molecular characterization of G. boninense ERG11 is still unavailable today.
METHODS AND RESULTS: This study aimed to isolate and characterize the full-length cDNA encoding ERG11 from G. boninense. The G. boninense ERG11 gene expression during interaction with oil palm was also studied. A full-length 1860 bp cDNA encoding ERG11 was successfully isolated from G. boninense. The G. boninense ERG11 shared 91% similarity to ERG11 from other basidiomycete fungi. The protein structure homology modeling of GbERG11 was analyzed using the SWISS-MODEL workspace. Southern blot and genome data analyses showed that there is only a single copy of ERG11 gene in the G. boninense genome. Based on the in-vitro inoculation study, the ERG11 gene expression in G. boninense has shown almost 2-fold upregulation with the presence of oil palm.
CONCLUSION: This study provided molecular information and characterization study on the G. boninense ERG11 and this knowledge could be used to design effective control measures to tackle the BSR disease of oil palm.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/genetics; Arecaceae/metabolism

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