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A view from a different angle: investigating the significance of rattan spines from a small mammals’ visual point of view using imageJ

Nik Fadzly, Asyraf Mansor, Rahmad Zakaria, Syed Ahmad Edzham

Sains Malaysiana, 2014;43:973-976.

Rattans are one of the most unique and economically important plants for most tropical countries. There is however, a lack of interest in the specific study of the rattan spines. In this paper, we tested a new hypothesis concerning the functional role of rattan spines. We proposed that rattan spines also serve as a visual deterrent against herbivores or seed predators. In our proposed method we used an Imaging software, ImageJ, to measure the spine area of four species of rattan (Calamus insignis, Myrialepis schortechinii, Plectocomiopsis geminiflorus and Calamus caesius) from two different orientations (root to shoot and vice versa). Our results showed that rattan spines were very heterogeneous and highly variable between different species. One common trait that the rattan spines share is that spine area measurements of shoot to root (ShR) are larger than root to shoot (RH) orientation. We propose that the downwards spine angle might be specifically designed to discourage climbing leaf and seed predators.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae
Transcriptomic data of mature oil palm basal trunk tissue infected with Ganoderma boninense

Othman NQ, Sulaiman S, Lee YP, Tan JS

Data Brief, 2019 Aug;25:104288.
PMID: 31453289 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2019.104288

To date, Ganoderma boninense is known to be the causal agent of basal stem rot (BSR) disease in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis). This disease causes rotting in the roots, basal and upper stem of oil palm. Infection causes progressive destruction of the basal tissues at the oil palm trunk and internal dry rotting, particularly at the intersection between the bole and trunk. Molecular responses of oil palm during infection are not well study although this information is crucial to strategize effective measures to control or eliminate BSR. Here we report three sets of transcriptome data from samples of near-rot section of basal stem tissue of oil palm tree infected with G. boninense (IPIT), healthy section of basal stem tissue of the same G. boninense infected palm (IPHT) and the healthy section of basal stem tissue of the healthy palm (HPHT). The raw reads were deposited into NCBI database and can be accessed via BioProject accession number PRJNA530030.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae
Fulltext Draft Genome Sequence of a Phytopathogenic Ganoderma sp. Strain That Causes Basal Stem Rot Disease on Oil Palm in Sabah, Malaysia

Voo CLY, Yeo DET, Chong KP, Rodrigues KF

Microbiol Resour Announc, 2020 Jan 02;9(1).
PMID: 31896636 DOI: 10.1128/MRA.01240-19

Basal stem rot (BSR) disease on Elaeis guineens is known to be caused by members of the pathogenic fungal genus Ganoderma, especially the species Ganoderma boninense This species affects oil palm plantation in Sabah, Malaysia. The genome sequence (52.28 Mbp) will add to the representation of this genus, especially in regard to BSR disease.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae
Fulltext Effect of Charging Parameter on Fruit Battery-Based Oil Palm Maturity Sensor

Misron N, Kamal Azhar NS, Hamidon MN, Aris I, Tashiro K, Nagata H

Micromachines (Basel), 2020 Aug 25;11(9).
PMID: 32854336 DOI: 10.3390/mi11090806

Oil palm is one of the key industries highly observed in Malaysia, due to its high demand both whether locally or internationally. The oil extraction rate (OER) in palm oil production is used as an element to identify the performance of the mills, estates and producers. In view of this, there are specific instrument or sensor needs to be implemented at the mills especially during the reception of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) transported from the field for oil content processing. This paper aims to study and propose the use of a fruit battery-based oil palm maturity sensor to analyse the effect of the sensor to various parameters. The study utilizes a charging method with different parameters, including a moisture content test on the palm oil samples. Three types of parameters are tested along with the different grades of oil palm fruit from different bunches, such as the load resistance, charging voltage and charging time. The repeatability data of the samples are obtained with the used list of values in each parameter. The results show that the parameters tested for the unripe, under ripe and ripe samples can affect the sensor sensitivity.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae
Investigation of Requisites for the Optimal Mycelial Growth of the Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes), on Oil Palm Biomass in Malaysia

Sudheer S, Ali A, Manickam S

Int J Med Mushrooms, 2016;18(10):935-943.
PMID: 27910761

Rigorous research has been carried out regarding the cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum using different agricultural residues. Nevertheless, large-scale cultivation and the separation of active compounds of G. lucidum are still challenges for local farmers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of oil palm waste fibers such as empty fruit bunch fibers and mesocarp fibers as effective substrates for the growth of G. lucidum mycelia to study the possibility of solid-state cultivation and to determine the optimum conditions necessary for the growth of mycelia of this mushroom on these waste fibers. Various parameters such as temperature, pH, humidity, and carbon and nitrogen compositions required for the optimum growth of mycelia have been determined. Oil palm fibers are a vivid source of lignocellulose, and their availability in Malaysia is high compared to that of sawdust. G. lucidum is a wood-rotting fungi that can easily decay and utilize this lignocellulose biomass, a major agricultural waste in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/growth & development; Arecaceae/microbiology*; Arecaceae/ultrastructure
Fulltext Whole-Genome Sequence of Endophytic Plant Growth-Promoting Escherichia coli USML2

Tharek M, Sim KS, Khairuddin D, Ghazali AH, Najimudin N

Genome Announc, 2017 May 11;5(19).
PMID: 28495774 DOI: 10.1128/genomeA.00305-17

Escherichia coli strain USML2 was originally isolated from the inner leaf tissues of surface-sterilized phytopathogenic-free oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.). We present here the whole-genome sequence of this plant-endophytic strain. The genome consists of a single circular chromosome of 4,502,758 bp, 4,315 predicted coding sequences, and a G+C content of 50.8%.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae
Biochemical characterisation during seed development of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis)

Kok SY, Namasivayam P, Ee GC, Ong-Abdullah M

J Plant Res, 2013 Jul;126(4):539-47.
PMID: 23575803 DOI: 10.1007/s10265-013-0560-8

Developmental biochemical information is a vital base for the elucidation of seed physiology and metabolism. However, no data regarding the biochemical profile of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) seed development has been reported thus far. In this study, the biochemical changes in the developing oil palm seed were investigated to study their developmental pattern. The biochemical composition found in the seed differed significantly among the developmental stages. During early seed development, the water, hexose (glucose and fructose), calcium and manganese contents were present in significantly high levels compared to the late developmental stage. Remarkable changes in the biochemical composition were observed at 10 weeks after anthesis (WAA): the dry weight and sucrose content increased significantly, whereas the water content and hexose content declined. The switch from a high to low hexose/sucrose ratio could be used to identify the onset of the maturation phase. At the late stage, dramatic water loss occurred, whereas the content of storage reserves increased progressively. Lauric acid was the most abundant fatty acid found in oil palm seed starting from 10 WAA.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/growth & development; Arecaceae/metabolism*; Arecaceae/chemistry
Profiling of metabolites in oil palm mesocarp at different stages of oil biosynthesis

Neoh BK, Teh HF, Ng TL, Tiong SH, Thang YM, Ersad MA, et al.

J Agric Food Chem, 2013 Feb 27;61(8):1920-7.
PMID: 23384169 DOI: 10.1021/jf304561f

Oil palm is one of the most productive oil producing crops and can store up to 90% oil in its fruit mesocarp. However, the biosynthetic regulation and drivers of palm mesocarp development are still not well understood. Multiplatform metabolomics technology was used to profile palm metabolites during six critical stages of fruit development in order to better understand lipid biosynthesis. Significantly higher amino acid levels were observed in palm mesocarp preceding lipid biosynthesis. Nucleosides were found to be in high concentration during lipid biosynthesis, whereas levels of metabolites involved in the tricarboxylic acid cycle were more concentrated during early fruit development. Apart from insights into the regulation of metabolites during fruit development in oil palm, these results provide potentially useful metabolite yield markers and genes of interest for use in breeding programs.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/growth & development*; Arecaceae/metabolism*; Arecaceae/chemistry
Fulltext Two new species of Urothoe (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Gammaridea) from the East Johor Islands Archipelago, Malaysia

Azman BA, Melvin CW

Zookeys, 2011.
PMID: 21594101 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.87.817

Two new species of urothoid amphipods from Pulau Sibu and Pulau Tinggi, Johor are described and illustrated. The specimens of Urothoe sibuensis new species were collected by vertical haul plankton net and is distinctively different from other existing Urothoe species by these combination of special characters; similar gnathopods 1-2 with short and stout propodus expanded into poorly defined palms; large eyes and epimeron 3 smooth. Urothoe tinggiensis new species as collected using an airlift suction sampler at seagrass area is characterized by its different gnathopodal configuration with setose dactylus of 5th pereopod; eyes minute; carpus is wider than merus in the 5th pereopod; subquadrate coxa 4; merus and carpus of pereopods 6-7 are linear.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae
Constructions of expression vectors of polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) and transient expression of transgenes in immature oil palm embryos

Ariffin N, Abdullah R, Rashdan Muad M, Lourdes J, Emran NA, Ismail MR, et al.

Plasmid, 2011 Sep;66(3):136-43.
PMID: 21827784 DOI: 10.1016/j.plasmid.2011.07.002

Polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) is a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bioplastic group with thermoplastic properties is thus high in quality and can be degradable. PHBV can be produced by bacteria, but the process is not economically competitive with polymers produced from petrochemicals. To overcome this problem, research on transgenic plants has been carried out as one of the solutions to produce PHBV in economically sound alternative manner. Four different genes encoded with the enzymes necessary to catalyze PHBV are bktB, phaB, phaC and tdcB. All the genes came with modified CaMV 35S promoters (except for the tdcB gene, which was promoted by the native CaMV 35S promoter), nos terminator sequences and plastid sequences in order to target the genes into the plastids. Subcloning resulted in the generation of two different orientations of the tdcB, pLMIN (left) and pRMIN (right), both 17.557 and 19.967 kb in sizes. Both plasmids were transformed in immature embryos (IE) of oil palm via Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Assays of GUS were performed on one-week-old calli and 90% of the calli turned completely blue. This preliminary test showed positive results of integration. Six-months-old calli were harvested and RNA of the calli were isolated. RT-PCR was used to confirm the transient expression of PHBV transgenes in the calli. The bands were 258, 260, 315 and 200 bp in size for bktB, phaB, phaC and tdcB transgenes respectively. The data obtained showed that the bktB, phaB, phaC and tdcB genes were successfully integrated and expressed in the oil palm genome.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/embryology; Arecaceae/genetics*; Arecaceae/metabolism
Fulltext Improvement in sensitivity of an inductive oil palm fruit sensor

Misron N, Harun NH, Lee YK, Sidek RM, Aris I, Wakiwaka H, et al.

Sensors (Basel), 2014;14(2):2431-48.
PMID: 24496313 DOI: 10.3390/s140202431

Among palm oil millers, the ripeness of oil palm Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFB) is determined through visual inspection. To increase the productivity of the millers, many researchers have proposed with a new detection method to replace the conventional one. The sensitivity of such a sensor plays a crucial role in determining the effectiveness of the method. In our preliminary study a novel oil palm fruit sensor to detect the maturity of oil palm fruit bunches is proposed. The design of the proposed air coil sensor based on an inductive sensor is further investigated to improve its sensitivity. This paper investigates the results pertaining to the effects of the air coil structure of an oil palm fruit sensor, taking consideration of the used copper wire diameter ranging from 0.10 mm to 0.18 mm with 60 turns. The flat-type shape of air coil was used on twenty samples of fruitlets from two categories, namely ripe and unripe. Samples are tested with frequencies ranging from 20 Hz to 120 MHz. The sensitivity of the sensor between air to fruitlet samples increases as the coil diameter increases. As for the sensitivity differences between ripe and unripe samples, the 5 mm air coil length with the 0.12 mm coil diameter provides the highest percentage difference between samples and it is amongst the highest deviation value between samples. The result from this study is important to improve the sensitivity of the inductive oil palm fruit sensor mainly with regards to the design of the air coil structure. The efficiency of the sensor to determine the maturity of the oil palm FFB and the ripening process of the fruitlet could further be enhanced.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae
Fulltext Future climate effects on suitability for growth of oil palms in Malaysia and Indonesia

Paterson RR, Kumar L, Taylor S, Lima N

Sci Rep, 2015;5:14457.
PMID: 26399638 DOI: 10.1038/srep14457

The production of palm oil (PO) is highly profitable. The economies of the principal producers, Malaysia and Indonesia, and others, benefit considerably. Climate change (CC) will most likely have an impact on the distribution of oil palms (OP) (Elaeis guineensis). Here we present modelled CC projections with respect to the suitability of growing OP, in Malaysia and Indonesia. A process-oriented niche model of OP was developed using CLIMEX to estimate its potential distribution under current and future climate scenarios. Two Global Climate Models (GCMs), CSIRO-Mk3.0 and MIROC-H, were used to explore the impacts of CC under the A1B and A2 scenarios for 2030, 2070 and 2100. Decreases in climatic suitability for OP in the region were gradual by 2030 but became more pronounced by 2100. These projections imply that OP growth will be affected severely by CC, with obvious implications to the economies of (a) Indonesia and Malaysia and (b) the PO industry, but with potential benefits towards reducing CC. A possible remedial action is to concentrate research on development of new varieties of OP that are less vulnerable to CC.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae
Fulltext Characterizing haploinsufficiency of SHELL gene to improve fruit form prediction in introgressive hybrids of oil palm

Teh CK, Muaz SD, Tangaya P, Fong PY, Ong AL, Mayes S, et al.

Sci Rep, 2017 06 08;7(1):3118.
PMID: 28596562 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-03225-7

The fundamental trait in selective breeding of oil palm (Eleais guineensis Jacq.) is the shell thickness surrounding the kernel. The monogenic shell thickness is inversely correlated to mesocarp thickness, where the crude palm oil accumulates. Commercial thin-shelled tenera derived from thick-shelled dura × shell-less pisifera generally contain 30% higher oil per bunch. Two mutations, sh MPOB (M1) and sh AVROS (M2) in the SHELL gene - a type II MADS-box transcription factor mainly present in AVROS and Nigerian origins, were reported to be responsible for different fruit forms. In this study, we have tested 1,339 samples maintained in Sime Darby Plantation using both mutations. Five genotype-phenotype discrepancies and eight controls were then re-tested with all five reported mutations (sh AVROS , sh MPOB , sh MPOB2 , sh MPOB3 and sh MPOB4 ) within the same gene. The integration of genotypic data, pedigree records and shell formation model further explained the haploinsufficiency effect on the SHELL gene with different number of functional copies. Some rare mutations were also identified, suggesting a need to further confirm the existence of cis-compound mutations in the gene. With this, the prediction accuracy of fruit forms can be further improved, especially in introgressive hybrids of oil palm. Understanding causative variant segregation is extremely important, even for monogenic traits such as shell thickness in oil palm.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/genetics*
Modification of oil palm fronds lignin by incorporation of m-cresol for improving structural and antioxidant properties

Sa'don NA, Rahim AA, Ibrahim MNM, Brosse N, Hussin MH

Int J Biol Macromol, 2017 Nov;104(Pt A):251-260.
PMID: 28602987 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.06.038

Lignin extracted from oil palm fronds (OPF) underwent chemical modification by incorporating m-cresol into the lignin matrix. This study reports on the physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity of unmodified autohydrolyzed ethanol organosolv lignin (AH EOL) and the modified autohydrolyzed ethanol organosolv lignin (AHC EOL). The lignin samples were analyzed by FTIR, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, 2D NMR: HSQC spectroscopy, CHN analysis, molecular weight distribution analysis; GPC and thermal analysis; DSC and TGA. The lignin modification has reduced the hydrophobicity of its complex structure by providing better quality lignin with smaller fragments and higher solubility rate in water (DAHCEOL: 42%>DAHEOL: 25%). It was revealed that the modification of lignin has improved their structural and antioxidant properties, thus venture their possible applications.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/chemistry*
Fulltext Evidence-based gene models for structural and functional annotations of the oil palm genome

Chan KL, Tatarinova TV, Rosli R, Amiruddin N, Azizi N, Halim MAA, et al.

Biol. Direct, 2017 Sep 08;12(1):21.
PMID: 28886750 DOI: 10.1186/s13062-017-0191-4

BACKGROUND: Oil palm is an important source of edible oil. The importance of the crop, as well as its long breeding cycle (10-12 years) has led to the sequencing of its genome in 2013 to pave the way for genomics-guided breeding. Nevertheless, the first set of gene predictions, although useful, had many fragmented genes. Classification and characterization of genes associated with traits of interest, such as those for fatty acid biosynthesis and disease resistance, were also limited. Lipid-, especially fatty acid (FA)-related genes are of particular interest for the oil palm as they specify oil yields and quality. This paper presents the characterization of the oil palm genome using different gene prediction methods and comparative genomics analysis, identification of FA biosynthesis and disease resistance genes, and the development of an annotation database and bioinformatics tools.
RESULTS: Using two independent gene-prediction pipelines, Fgenesh++ and Seqping, 26,059 oil palm genes with transcriptome and RefSeq support were identified from the oil palm genome. These coding regions of the genome have a characteristic broad distribution of GC3 (fraction of cytosine and guanine in the third position of a codon) with over half the GC3-rich genes (GC3 ≥ 0.75286) being intronless. In comparison, only one-seventh of the oil palm genes identified are intronless. Using comparative genomics analysis, characterization of conserved domains and active sites, and expression analysis, 42 key genes involved in FA biosynthesis in oil palm were identified. For three of them, namely EgFABF, EgFABH and EgFAD3, segmental duplication events were detected. Our analysis also identified 210 candidate resistance genes in six classes, grouped by their protein domain structures.
CONCLUSIONS: We present an accurate and comprehensive annotation of the oil palm genome, focusing on analysis of important categories of genes (GC3-rich and intronless), as well as those associated with important functions, such as FA biosynthesis and disease resistance. The study demonstrated the advantages of having an integrated approach to gene prediction and developed a computational framework for combining multiple genome annotations. These results, available in the oil palm annotation database ( http://palmxplore.mpob.gov.my ), will provide important resources for studies on the genomes of oil palm and related crops.
REVIEWERS: This article was reviewed by Alexander Kel, Igor Rogozin, and Vladimir A. Kuznetsov.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/genetics*
Properties of cellulose nanocrystals from oil palm trunk isolated by total chlorine free method

Lamaming J, Hashim R, Leh CP, Sulaiman O

Carbohydr Polym, 2017 Jan 20;156:409-416.
PMID: 27842840 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.09.053

Cellulose nanocrystals were isolated from oil palm trunk by total chlorine free method. The samples were either water pre-hydrolyzed or non-water pre-hydrolyzed, subjected to soda pulping, acidified and ozone bleached. Cellulose and cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) physical, chemical, thermal properties, and crystallinity index were investigated by composition analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction. Water pre-hydrolysis reduced lignin (<0.5%) and increased holocellulose (99.6%) of ozone-bleached cellulose. Water pre-hydrolyzed cellulose exhibited surface fibrillation and peeling off after acid hydrolysis process compared to non-fibrillated of non-water pre-hydrolyzed cellulose. Water pre-hydrolysis improved final CNC crystallinity (up to 75%) compared to CNC without water pre-hydrolysis crystallinity (69%). Cellulose degradation was found to occur during ozone bleaching stage but CNC showed an increase in crystallinity after acid hydrolysis. Thus, oil palm trunk CNC can be potentially applied in pharmaceutical, food, medical and nanocomposites.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/chemistry*
Production of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) fronds lignin-derived non-toxic aldehyde for eco-friendly wood adhesive

Hazwan Hussin M, Samad NA, Latif NHA, Rozuli NA, Yusoff SB, Gambier F, et al.

Int J Biol Macromol, 2018 Jul 01;113:1266-1272.
PMID: 29548919 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.03.048

Lignocellulosic materials can significantly contribute to the development of eco-friendly wood adhesives. In this work, glyoxal-phenolic resins for plywood were prepared using organosolv lignin, which was isolated from black liquor recovered from organosolv pulping of oil palm fronds (OPF) and considered to be an alternative to phenol. Glyoxal, which is a dialdehyde obtained from several natural resources, was used as substitute for formaldehyde. The structure of organosolv lignin and the resins were characterized by FTIR and NMR, and for thermal stability by TGA and DSC. The resins were further studied for their viscosity, pH, solids content and gel times. The resins performance as wood adhesive was further established from mechanical test in terms of tensile strength and modulus of elasticity (MOE) to obtain the optimum ratios of organosolv lignin, which replaces phenol in organosolv lignin phenol glyoxal (OLPG) resins. The adhesive composition having 50% (w/w) of phenol substituted by organosolv lignin, termed as 50% OLPG showed highest adhesive strength compared to phenol formaldehyde (PF) commercial adhesive.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/chemistry*
High density SNP and DArT-based genetic linkage maps of two closely related oil palm populations

Gan ST, Wong WC, Wong CK, Soh AC, Kilian A, Low EL, et al.

J Appl Genet, 2018 Feb;59(1):23-34.
PMID: 29214520 DOI: 10.1007/s13353-017-0420-7

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is an outbreeding perennial tree crop with long breeding cycles, typically 12 years. Molecular marker technologies can greatly improve the breeding efficiency of oil palm. This study reports the first use of the DArTseq platform to genotype two closely related self-pollinated oil palm populations, namely AA0768 and AA0769 with 48 and 58 progeny respectively. Genetic maps were constructed using the DArT and SNP markers generated in combination with anchor SSR markers. Both maps consisted of 16 major independent linkage groups (2n = 2× = 32) with 1399 and 1466 mapped markers for the AA0768 and AA0769 populations, respectively, including the morphological trait "shell-thickness" (Sh). The map lengths were 1873.7 and 1720.6 cM with an average marker density of 1.34 and 1.17 cM, respectively. The integrated map was 1803.1 cM long with 2066 mapped markers and average marker density of 0.87 cM. A total of 82% of the DArTseq marker sequence tags identified a single site in the published genome sequence, suggesting preferential targeting of gene-rich regions by DArTseq markers. Map integration of higher density focused around the Sh region identified closely linked markers to the Sh, with D.15322 marker 0.24 cM away from the morphological trait and 5071 bp from the transcriptional start of the published SHELL gene. Identification of the Sh marker demonstrates the robustness of using the DArTseq platform to generate high density genetic maps of oil palm with good genome coverage. Both genetic maps and integrated maps will be useful for quantitative trait loci analysis of important yield traits as well as potentially assisting the anchoring of genetic maps to genomic sequences.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/genetics*
Facile production of nanostructured cellulose from Elaeis guineensis empty fruit bunch via one pot oxidative-hydrolysis isolation approach

Chen YW, Lee HV, Abd Hamid SB

Carbohydr Polym, 2017 Feb 10;157:1511-1524.
PMID: 27987863 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.11.030

Cellulose in nanostructures was successfully isolated from empty fruit bunch biomass via a novel one-pot oxidative-hydrolysis technique. The physicochemical properties of nanocellulose prepared via one-pot process have shown comparable characteristics as products isolated via conventional multistep purification approach (namely dewaxing, chlorite bleaching process, alkalization, and acid hydrolysis). The chemical composition study indicated that the one-pot oxidative-hydrolysis process successfully extracted cellulose (91.0%), with the remaining minority being hemicellulose and lignin (∼6%) in the final product. Crystallinity profile of one-pot treated product (80.3%) was higher than that of multistep isolated nanocellulose (75.4%), which indicated that the disorder region (amorphous) in cellulose fibers was successfully removed. In additional to that, the morphology study demonstrated that nanocellulose prepared by one-pot process rendered spider-web-like network nanostructure, with an average diameter of fibers at a range of 51.6±15.4nm. The nanocellulose product showed high thermal stability (320°C), which was ready for nanocomposite application. One-pot oxidative-hydrolysis technique is a simple and versatile route for the preparation of nanocellulose from complex biomass within 90°C and 6h period, with minimum wastewater as compared to the multistep process.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/chemistry*
Temporal changes in arthropod activity in tropical anthropogenic forests

Brandon-Mong GJ, Littlefair JE, Sing KW, Lee YP, Gan HM, Clare EL, et al.

Bull. Entomol. Res., 2018 Dec;108(6):792-799.
PMID: 29441836 DOI: 10.1017/S000748531800010X

Arthropod communities in the tropics are increasingly impacted by rapid changes in land use. Because species showing distinct seasonal patterns of activity are thought to be at higher risk of climate-related extirpation, global warming is generally considered a lower threat to arthropod biodiversity in the tropics than in temperate regions. To examine changes associated with land use and weather variables in tropical arthropod communities, we deployed Malaise traps at three major anthropogenic forests (secondary reserve forest, oil palm forest, and urban ornamental forest (UOF)) in Peninsular Malaysia and collected arthropods continuously for 12 months. We used metabarcoding protocols to characterize the diversity within weekly samples. We found that changes in the composition of arthropod communities were significantly associated with maximum temperature in all the three forests, but shifts were reversed in the UOF compared with the other forests. This suggests arthropods in forests in Peninsular Malaysia face a double threat: community shifts and biodiversity loss due to exploitation and disturbance of forests which consequently put species at further risk related to global warming. We highlight the positive feedback mechanism of land use and temperature, which pose threats to the arthropod communities and further implicates ecosystem functioning and human well-being. Consequently, conservation and mitigation plans are urgently needed.

Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/growth & development

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