Displaying publications 121 - 140 of 411 in total

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  1. 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*
  2. 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*
  3. Mesoporous activated carbon prepared from NaOH activation of rattan (Lacosperma secundiflorum) hydrochar for methylene blue removal
    Islam MA, Ahmed MJ, Khanday WA, Asif M, Hameed BH
    Ecotoxicol Environ Saf, 2017 Apr;138:279-285.
    PMID: 28081490 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.01.010
    Hydrothermal carbonization of biomass wastes presents a promising step in the production of cost-effective activated carbon. In the present work, mesoporous activated carbon (HAC) was prepared by the hydrothermal carbonization of rattan furniture wastes followed by NaOH activation. The textural and morphological characteristics, along with adsorption performance of prepared HAC toward methylene blue (MB) dye, were evaluated. The effects of common adsorption variables on performance resulted in a removal efficiency of 96% for the MB sample at initial concentration of 25mg/L, solution pH of 7, 30°C, and 8h. The Langmuir equation showed the best isotherm data correlation, with a maximum uptake of 359mg/g. The adsorbed amount versus time data was well fitted by a pseudo-second order kinetic model. The prepared HAC with a high surface area of 1135m(2)/g and an average pore size distribution of 35.5Å could be an efficient adsorbent for treatment of synthetic dyes in wastewaters.
    Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae*
  4. Macaques can contribute to greener practices in oil palm plantations when used as biological pest control
    Holzner A, Ruppert N, Swat F, Schmidt M, Weiß BM, Villa G, et al.
    Curr Biol, 2019 10 21;29(20):R1066-R1067.
    PMID: 31639346 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.09.011
    Conversion of tropical forests into oil palm plantations reduces the habitats of many species, including primates, and frequently leads to human-wildlife conflicts. Contrary to the widespread belief that macaques foraging in the forest-oil palm matrix are detrimental crop pests, we show that the impact of macaques on oil palm yield is minor. More importantly, our data suggest that wild macaques have the potential to act as biological pest control by feeding on plantation rats, the major pest for oil palm crops, with each macaque group estimated to reduce rat populations by about 3,000 individuals per year (mitigating annual losses of 112 USD per hectare). If used for rodent control in place of the conventional method of poison, macaques could provide an important ecosystem service and enhance palm oil sustainability.
    Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae*
  5. Characterization and properties of cellulose microfibers from water hyacinth filled sago starch biocomposites
    Syafri E, Jamaluddin, Wahono S, Irwan A, Asrofi M, Sari NH, et al.
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2019 Sep 15;137:119-125.
    PMID: 31252021 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.06.174
    The cellulose microfibers (CMF) from water hyacinth (WH) fiber as a filler in sago starch (SS) biocomposites was investigated. The CMF was isolated by pulping, bleaching and acid hydrolysis methods. The addition of CMF in sago matrix was varied i.e. 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 wt%. Biocomposites were made by using solution casting and glycerol as a plasticizer. The biocomposites were also determined by tensile test, FTIR, X-Ray, thermogravimetric, SEM, and soil burial tests. The results show that the SS15CMF sample has the highest tensile strength of 10.23 MPa than those other samples. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images show that the strong interaction was formed between CMF WH and matrix. Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR) indicated that the functional group of biocomposites was a hydrophilic cluster. The addition of CMF WH in sago starch biocomposites lead to the moisture barrier, crystallinity, and thermal stability increased; it is due to the pure sago starch film was more rapidly degraded than its biocomposites.
    Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/chemistry*
  6. Fulltext The critical role of natural forest as refugium for generalist species in oil palm-dominated landscapes
    Guerrero-Sanchez S, Goossens B, Saimin S, Orozco-terWengel P
    PLoS One, 2021;16(10):e0257814.
    PMID: 34614000 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257814
    In Borneo, oil palm plantations have replaced much of natural resources, where generalist species tend to be the principal beneficiaries, due to the abundant food provided by oil palm plantations. Here, we analyse the distribution of the Asian water monitor lizard (Varanus salvator) population within an oil palm-dominated landscape in the Kinabatangan floodplain, Malaysian Borneo. By using mark-recapture methods we estimated its population size, survival, and growth in forest and plantation habitats. We compared body measurements (i.e. body weight and body length) of individuals living in forest and oil palm habitats as proxy for the population's health status, and used general least squares estimation models to evaluate its response to highly fragmented landscapes in the absence of intensive hunting pressures. Contrary to previous studies, the abundance of lizards was higher in the forest than in oil palm plantations. Recruitment rates were also higher in the forest, suggesting that these areas may function as a source of new individuals into the landscape. While there were no morphometric differences among plantation sites, we found significant differences among forested areas, where larger lizards were found inhabiting forest adjacent to oil palm plantations. Although abundant in food resources, the limited availability of refugia in oil palm plantations may intensify intra-specific encounters and competition, altering the body size distribution in plantation populations, contrary to what happens in the forest. We conclude that large patches of forest, around and within oil palm plantations, are essential for the dynamics of the monitor lizard population in the Kinabatangan floodplain, as well as a potential source of individuals to the landscape. We recommend assessing this effect in other generalist species, as well as the impact on the prey communities, especially to reinforce the establishment of buffer zones and corridors as a conservation strategy within plantations.
    Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/growth & development*
  7. 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*
  8. 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*
  9. 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*
  10. 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*
  11. 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
  12. 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*
  13. 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*
  14. Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) plantation on tropical peatland in South East Asia: Photosynthetic response to soil drainage level for mitigation of soil carbon emissions
    McCalmont J, Kho LK, Teh YA, Chocholek M, Rumpang E, Rowland L, et al.
    Sci Total Environ, 2023 Feb 01;858(Pt 1):159356.
    PMID: 36270353 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159356
    While existing moratoria in Indonesia and Malaysia should preclude continued large-scale expansion of palm oil production into new areas of South-East Asian tropical peatland, existing plantations in the region remain a globally significant source of atmospheric carbon due to drainage driven decomposition of peatland soils. Previous studies have made clear the direct link between drainage depth and peat carbon decomposition and significant reductions in the emission rate of CO2 can be made by raising water tables nearer to the soil surface. However, the impact of such changes on palm fruit yield is not well understood and will be a critical consideration for plantation managers. Here we take advantage of very high frequency, long-term monitoring of canopy-scale carbon exchange at a mature oil palm plantation in Malaysian Borneo to investigate the relationship between drainage level and photosynthetic uptake and consider the confounding effects of light quality and atmospheric vapour pressure deficit. Canopy modelling from our dataset demonstrated that palms were exerting significantly greater stomatal control at deeper water table depths (WTD) and the optimum WTD for photosynthesis was found to be between 0.3 and 0.4 m below the soil surface. Raising WTD to this level, from the industry typical drainage level of 0.6 m, could increase photosynthetic uptake by 3.6 % and reduce soil surface emission of CO2 by 11 %. Our study site further showed that despite being poorly drained compared to other planting blocks at the same plantation, monthly fruit bunch yield was, on average, 14 % greater. While these results are encouraging, and at least suggest that raising WTD closer to the soil surface to reduce emissions is unlikely to produce significant yield penalties, our results are limited to a single study site and more work is urgently needed to confirm these results at other plantations.
    Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae*
  15. Greenhouse gas emissions during plantation stage of palm oil-based biofuel production addressing different land conversion scenarios in Malaysia
    Kusin FM, Akhir NIM, Mohamat-Yusuff F, Awang M
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2017 Feb;24(6):5293-5304.
    PMID: 28004372 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-8270-0
    The environmental impacts with regard to agro-based biofuel production have been associated with the impact of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this study, field GHG emissions during plantation stage of palm oil-based biofuel production associated with land use changes for oil palm plantation development have been evaluated. Three different sites of different land use changes prior to oil palm plantation were chosen; converted land-use (large and small-scales) and logged-over forest. Field sampling for determination of soil N-mineralisation and soil organic carbon (SOC) was undertaken at the sites according to the age of palm, i.e. <5 years (immature), 5-20 and >21 years (mature oil palms). The field data were incorporated into the estimation of nitrous oxide (N2O) and the resulting CO2-eq emissions as well as for estimation of carbon stock changes. Irrespective of the land conversion scenarios, the nitrous oxide emissions were found in the range of 6.47-7.78 kg N2O-N/ha resulting in 498-590 kg CO2-eq/ha. On the other hand, the conversion of tropical forest into oil palm plantation has resulted in relatively higher GHG emissions (i.e. four times higher and carbon stock reduction by >50%) compared to converted land use (converted rubber plantation) for oil palm development. The conversion from previously rubber plantation into oil palm plantation would increase the carbon savings (20% in increase) thus sustaining the environmental benefits from the palm oil-based biofuel production.
    Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/growth & development
  16. Acetylation of oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber as an adsorbent for removal of crude oil
    Asadpour R, Sapari NB, Isa MH, Kakooei S
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2016 Jun;23(12):11740-50.
    PMID: 26944428 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-6349-2
    Removal of oil spillage from the environment is a global concern. Various methods, including the use of fibers as sorbents, have been developed for oil spill control. Oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fiber is a plant biomass that may be acetylated by acetic anhydride using N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) as a catalyst; here, the extent of acetylation may be calculated in terms of weight percent gain (WPG). The modified fiber was used to remove Tapis and Arabian crude oils. The optimum time, temperature, and catalyst concentration were 4 h, 120 °C, and 3 %, respectively, and these parameters could achieve an 11.49 % increase in WPG. The optimized parameters improved the adsorption capacity of OPEFB fibers for crude oil removal. The acetylated OPEFB fibers were characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy to observe the functional groups available and morphology. Kinetic and isotherm studies were conducted using different contact times and oil/water ratios. The rate of oil sorption onto the OPEFB fibers can be adequately described by the pseudo-second-order equation. Adsorption studies revealed that adsorption of crude oil on treated OPEFB fiber could be best described by the Langmuir isotherm model.
    Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/chemistry*
  17. 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*
  18. Fulltext Genetic Diversity Assessment of MPOB-Senegal Oil Palm Germplasm Using Microsatellite Markers
    Myint KA, Yaakub Z, Rafii MY, Oladosu Y, Samad MYA, Ramlee SI, et al.
    Biomed Res Int, 2021;2021:6620645.
    PMID: 33997027 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6620645
    Molecular characterization of oil palm germplasm is crucial in utilizing and conserving germplasm with promising traits. This study was conducted to evaluate the genetic diversity structures and relationships among 26 families of MPOB-Senegal oil palm germplasm using thirty-five microsatellite markers. High level of polymorphism (P = 96.26%), number of effective allele (N e = 2.653), observed heterozygosity (H o = 0.584), expected heterozygosity (H e = 0.550), total heterozygosity (H T = 0.666), and rare alleles (54) were observed which indicates that MPOB-Senegal germplasm has a broad genetic variation. Among the SSR markers, sMo00053 and sMg00133 were the most informative markers for discrimination among the MPOB-Senegal oil palm germplasm for having the highest private alleles and the rare alleles. For selection and conservation, oil palm populations with high rare alleles and Nei's gene diversity index should be considered as these populations may possess unique genes for further exploitation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/genetics*
  19. Fulltext Protein profiling and histone deacetylation activities in somaclonal variants of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)
    Yaacob JS, Loh HS, Mat Taha R
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2013;2013:613635.
    PMID: 23844406 DOI: 10.1155/2013/613635
    Mantled fruits as a result of somaclonal variation are often observed from the oil palm plantlets regenerated via tissue culture. The mantling of fruits with finger-like and thick outer coating phenotypes significantly reduces the seed size and oil content, posing a threat to oil palm planters, and may jeopardize the economic growth of countries that depend particularly on oil palm plantation. The molecular aspects of the occurrence of somaclonal variations are yet to be known, possibly due to gene repression such as DNA methylation, histone methylation and histone deacetylation. Histone deacetylases (HDACs), involved in eukaryotic gene regulation by catalyzing the acetyl groups are removal from lysine residues on histone, hence transcriptionally repress gene expression. This paper described the total protein polymorphism profiles of somaclonal variants of oil palm and the effects of histone deacetylation on this phenomenon. Parallel to the different phenotypes, the protein polymorphism profiles of the mantled samples (leaves, fruits, and florets) and the phenotypically normal samples were proven to be different. Higher HDAC activity was found in mantled leaf samples than in the phenotypically normal leaf samples, leading to a preliminary conclusion that histone deacetylation suppressed gene expression and contributed to the development of somaclonal variants.
    Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/genetics*
  20. Variations in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) progeny response to high aluminium concentrations in solution culture
    Cristancho RJ, Hanafi MM, Omar SR, Rafii MY
    Plant Biol (Stuttg), 2011 Mar;13(2):333-42.
    PMID: 21309980 DOI: 10.1111/j.1438-8677.2010.00378.x
    Aluminium (Al) phytotoxicity is an important soil constraint that limits crop yield. The objectives of this study were to investigate how growth, physiology, nutrient content and organic acid concentration is affected by Al, and to assess the degree of Al tolerance in different oil palm progeny (OPP). Four OPPs ['A' (Angola dura × Angola dura), 'B' (Nigerian dura × Nigerian dura), 'C' (Deli dura × AVROS pisifera) and 'D' (Deli dura × Dumpy AVROS pisifera)] were grown in different Al concentrations (0, 100 and 200 μm) in aerated Hoagland solution, pH 4.4, for 80 days. We observed a severe reduction (57.5%) in shoot dry weight, and root tips were reduced by 46.5% in 200 μm Al. In 'B' and 'C', the majority of macro- and micronutrients in plants were reduced significantly by 200 μm Al, with Mg being lowered by more than 50% in roots and shoots. The 200 μm Al treatment resulted in a 56.50% reduction in total leaf area, a 20% reduction in net photosynthesis and a 17% reduction in SPAD chlorophyll value in the third leaf. Root tips (0-5 mm) showed a significant increase in oxalic acid content with increasing Al concentration (∼ 5.86-fold); progeny 'A' had the highest concentration of oxalic acid. There was a significant interaction between Al concentration × OPP on total leaf number, root volume, lateral root length, Mg and K in root and shoot tissues, and Ca and N in shoots. The OPPs could be ranked in their tolerance to Al as: 'A' > 'D' > 'B' > 'C'.
    Matched MeSH terms: Arecaceae/drug effects*; Arecaceae/growth & development; Arecaceae/metabolism
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