Search Results (18)

Elaeis oleifera and Elaeis guineensis, two oil palm species capable of intercrossing to produce interspecific Elaeis oleifera × Elaeis guineensis (O × G) hybrids, exhibit genetic variability in key agronomic traits such as fruit development, oil accumulation, and bunch composition. This variability influences the productivity and oil quality of the resulting hybrids. Harvesting, a critical practice in oil palm production, significantly impacts oil yield and quality. Therefore, this study aimed to ascertain the optimum harvest point (OHP) in widely cultivated O × G hybrids and its correlation with genetic backgrounds. The O × G cultivars, “Coari × La Mé” (C × LM), “Manaos × Compacta” (M × C), and “Brazil × Djongo” (B × DJ), were examined to identify notable changes during various phenological stages of bunch ripening using the O × G BBCH scale, a standardized system for describing plant growth stages based on phenological development. The research was conducted in the Southwest Colombian oil palm zone during dry and rainy seasons. Observations revealed distinctive fruit coloration patterns and increased bunch weights throughout the maturation process. However, final fruit coloration did not consistently align with maximum oil rates, indicating it as an unsuitable descriptor for OHP. The C × LM cultivar exhibited the shortest ripening period (173 days after anthesis, DAA), while M × C showed the longest at 207 DAA, followed by B × DJ at 187 DAA. Pollination efficiency varied among cultivars, with C × LM and M × C displaying higher proportions of parthenocarpic fruits. Findings suggest harvesting can occur for all cultivars between phenological stages 807 and 809—corresponding to late maturity stages in fruit development—regardless of the time of year, when maximum oil per bunch is attained. Fruit opacity, fruit cracking, and fruit detachment at stages 807 and 809 were identified as pivotal descriptors for determining the right OHP, albeit unique to each cultivar. Implementing two of these three descriptors by field workers will likely result in the highest oil yields for O × G cultivars. In conclusion, this research provides valuable insights into optimizing oil palm harvest practices, emphasizing the importance of considering genetic variability and phenological indicators for determining the optimum harvest point in interspecific O × G hybrids. Full article

Lethal Wilt is a limiting disease for oil palm cultivation in the eastern and central zones of Colombia. In the eastern zone, it caused the eradication of approximately 8700 ha of oil palm between 2010 and 2022, with economic losses of more than 185 million dollars. Studies conducted by Cenipalma reported that the pathogen causing this disease is Candidatus Liberibacter, which is possibly transmitted by Haplaxius crudus (Van Duzee). The adults feed on the foliage of the palms and move between them, spreading the pathogen in the plantation. A strategy to contribute to the management of LW is establishing cultivars resistant to the insect vector; however, no resistant cultivars or sources of resistance have been identified in the country’s commercial cultivars or germplasm collections. Therefore, this work aimed to design and validate a methodology to characterize the oil palm genotypes Elaeis guineensis and Elaeis oleifera and interspecific OxG hybrids against adults of H. crudus, evaluating resistance through antixenosis and antibiosis to identify genotypes with possible sources of resistance. An arena with leaflets of the different genotypes in free-choice tests was used to assess antixenosis. For antibiosis, entomological sleeves were installed on the palm leaves, which were infested with adults of H. crudus from a breeding unit. The results of antixenosis and antibiosis in both the first phase (design) and the second phase (validation) indicated greater preference and survival for the genotypes of E. guineensis and lower preference and survival for the interspecific hybrids and E. oleifera. In the genotype E. guineensis, the average mortality was reached after 30 days, while in E. oleifera and the hybrids, it occurred between the third and fourth days. The results of this research provide a reproducible methodology for the evaluation of oil palm germplasms against H. crudus and sucking insects for the selection of sources of resistance for incorporation into breeding programs. Full article

Soil contamination from oil spills in the canton of Francisco de Orellana in Ecuador is the biggest contamination problem in the region. It affects the quality of resources and poses health risks to the surrounding communities. To find an economical and efficient alternative for the remediation of soils contaminated with total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs), the application of oil palm bagasse was proposed. This is a locally available industrial waste. The methodology of the study was based on the application of six treatments (G-A, G-B, O-A, O-B, M-A, M-B) belonging to the bagasse of Elaeis guineensis and Elaeis oleifera, in two percentages of concentration, 98:2 and 96:4, during a period of 20 days. To determine the efficacy of the treatments, the bagasse of the two palms was characterized. In addition, the initial physicochemical characterization of the soil and the final characterization after the treatments were carried out. Soil characterization included analyses of macronutrients, micronutrients, metals, pH, EC and TPH. The results of the initial characterization revealed that the concentrations of electrical conductivity and TPH were more than 70 and 50 times the values established in the 97-A ministerial agreement, respectively. However, after the final characterization, the effectiveness of the treatments in reducing metal concentrations was observed. Likewise, conductivity levels were reduced by more than 10 times. As for TPH, the G-B treatment stood out by achieving a 56% removal of this pollutant. Full article

Water deficiency and potential drought periods could be important ecological factors influencing cultivation areas and productivity once different crops are established. The principal supply of vegetable oil for oil crops is oil palm, and new challenges are emerging in the face of climatic changes. This study investigated the photosynthetic performance of 12 genotypes of Elaeis exposed to drought stress under controlled conditions. The assay included genotypes of Elaeis guineensis, Elaeis oleifera, and the interspecific O×G hybrid (E. oleifera × E. guineensis). The principal results showed that the E. guineensis genotype was the most efficient at achieving photosynthesis under drought stress conditions, followed by the hybrid and E. oleifera genotypes. The physiological parameters showed good prospects for vegetal breeding with different O×G hybrids, mainly because of their ability to maintain the equilibrium between CO₂ assimilation and stomatal aperture. We validated 11 genes associated with drought tolerance, but no differences were detected. These results indicate that no allelic variants were represented in the RNA during sampling for the validated genotypes. In conclusion, this study helps to define genotypes that can be used as parental lines for oil palm improvement. The gas exchange data showed that drought stress tolerance could define guidelines to incorporate the available genetic resources in breeding programs across the early selection in nursery stages. Full article

Palm oil, derived from Elaeis guineensis, is a critical component of the global edible oil and industrial fat market. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the sustainability of the palm oil chain, focusing on industrial applications, environmental implications, and economic sustainability. The processing of palm oil, from fruit pulp to refined oil, is detailed, highlighting the importance of refining in maintaining quality and extending application ranges. While palm oil offers health benefits because of its rich fatty acid composition and antioxidant properties, its production poses significant environmental challenges. This review underscores ongoing efforts to balance technological and culinary demands with environmental stewardship and sustainable economic growth. Emerging trends, including interspecific hybrids such as E. guineensis and E. oleifera, are discussed for their potential to increase sustainability and productivity. Full article

Interspecific hybrid crude palm oil (HCPO) HIE OxG derived from crossbred African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) and American Caiaué (Elaeis oleifera) is prominent for its fatty acid and antioxidant compositions (carotenoids, tocopherols, and tocotrienols), lower production cost, and high pest resistance properties compared to crude palm oil. Biodegradable and sustainable encapsulants derived from vegetable byproducts were used to formulate HCPO nanoparticles. Nanoparticles with hybrid crude palm oil and jackfruit seed flour as a wall material (N-JSF) and with hybrid crude palm oil and jackfruit axis flour as a wall material (N-JAF) were optimized using a 2² experimental design. They exhibited nanoscale diameters (<250 nm) and were characterized based on their zeta potential, apparent viscosity, pH, color, and total carotenoid content. The nanoparticles demonstrated a monodisperse distribution, good uniformity, and stability (polydispersity index < 0.25; zeta potentials: N-JSF −19.50 ± 1.47 mV and N-JAF −12.50 ± 0.17 mV), as well as high encapsulation efficiency (%) (N-JSF 86.44 ± 0.01 and N-JAF 90.43 ± 1.34) and an optimal carotenoid retention (>85%). These nanoparticles show potential for use as sustainable and clean-label HCPO alternatives in the food industry. Full article

In Colombia, plantings with the oil palm hybrid between Elaeis oleifera × Elaeis guineensis, known as O × G hybrid, have increased due to its tolerance to bud rot. Despite this, different degrees of foliar necrosis, chlorosis, and leaf blight have been reported in some cultivars; therefore, this work aimed to diagnose this problem. We visited plantation plots with palms exhibiting the mentioned symptoms and collected 21 samples of affected tissues in different disease states. The affected tissues were examined and seeded in a culture medium. Pathogenicity tests were performed and the isolates were characterized by culture and morphological and molecular features. Curvularia, Colletotrichum, Phoma, and 25 Pestalotiopsis-like fungi were isolated from the foliar lesions. In the pathogenicity tests, the symptoms observed in the field were reproduced with MFTU01-1, MFTU12, and MFTU21 isolates, which were identified at the species level through a sequence analysis of three genes (ITS, TUB2, and TEF1-α) as Pestalotiopsis arengae with an identical level of 99% based on the results of BLAST and phylogenetic tree analyses. The remaining 22 Pestalotiopsis-like non-pathogenic isolates were identified as species of Neopestalotiopsis and Pseudopestalotiopsis. The direct association of P. arengae with the disease was confirmed via molecular detection in affected tissues in 15 of 21 samples collected for this evaluation. This is the first report of P. arengae as the causal agent of foliar lesions in O × G hybrid oil palm in Colombia. Full article

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is an economically important tropical oil crop widely cultivated in tropical zones worldwide. Being a tropical crop, low-temperature stress adversely affects the oil palm. However, integrative leaf transcriptomic and proteomic analyses have not yet been conducted on an oil palm crop under cold stress. In this study, integrative omics transcriptomic and iTRAQ-based proteomic approaches were employed for three oil palm varieties, i.e., B × E (Bamenda × Ekona), O × G (E. oleifera × Elaeis guineensis), and T × E (Tanzania × Ekona), in response to low-temperature stress. In response to low-temperature stress at (8 °C) for 5 days, a total of 5175 up- and 2941 downregulated DEGs in BE-0_VS_BE-5, and a total of 3468 up- and 2443 downregulated DEGs for OG-0_VS_OG-5, and 3667 up- and 2151 downregulated DEGs for TE-0_VS_TE-5 were identified. iTRAQ-based proteomic analysis showed 349 up- and 657 downregulated DEPs for BE-0_VS_BE-5, 372 up- and 264 downregulated DEPs for OG-0_VS_OG-5, and 500 up- and 321 downregulated DEPs for TE-0_VS_TE-5 compared to control samples treated at 28 °C and 8 °C, respectively. The KEGG pathway correlation of oil palm has shown that the metabolic synthesis and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites pathways were significantly enriched in the transcriptome and proteome of the oil palm varieties. The correlation expression pattern revealed that TE-0_VS_TE-5 is highly expressed and BE-0_VS_BE-5 is suppressed in both the transcriptome and proteome in response to low temperature. Furthermore, numerous transcription factors (TFs) were found that may regulate cold acclimation in three oil palm varieties at low temperatures. Moreover, this study identified proteins involved in stresses (abiotic, biotic, oxidative, and heat shock), photosynthesis, and respiration in iTRAQ-based proteomic analysis of three oil palm varieties. The increased abundance of stress-responsive proteins and decreased abundance of photosynthesis-related proteins suggest that the TE variety may become cold-resistant in response to low-temperature stress. This study may provide a basis for understanding the molecular mechanism for the adaptation of oil palm varieties in response to low-temperature stress in China. Full article

Environmental conditions are crucial for crops’ growth, development, and productivity. One of the most important physiological factors associated with the production of crops is the use of solar radiation for the photosynthesis process, which determines the amount of assimilates available for crop growth and yield. Three age classes (4, 6, and 14 years) and three planting densities (143, 128, and 115 palms ha⁻¹) were evaluated in a commercial interspecific Elaeis Oleifera x Elaeis guineensis hybrid Coari x La Mé. The light interception patterns and the photosynthetic performance were determined. Measurements were taken of the leaf area, the number of leaves, and incident and photosynthetically transmitted active radiation. Also, photosynthetic rates, light, and yield were measured. The canopy extinction coefficient (Kc) was estimated using the Monsi and Saeki model. Under the evaluated conditions, the average Kc value for 4-year-old palms was 0.44; for the 6-year-old group of palms, the average value was 0.40, and 0.32 for the 14-year-old palms, with coefficients of determination (R²) greater than 0.8. A pattern associated with the age of the crop was observed, where the Kc decreased in groups of adult palms. The results showed increased Kc as the planting density decreased. No statistically significant differences were observed between planting densities or ages in the light and CO₂ curves regarding photosynthesis. The leaf level in which the measurement was made influenced photosynthesis. Thus, the highest values of the photosynthesis parameters were observed in leaf 17. The crop yield tended to stabilize 8 years after planting under 143 and 128 palms per hectare, but 14 years after planting, the Fresh fruit bunch (FFB) production was still growing under 115 palms per hectare. The results showed that, up to year 14 after planting, the highest cumulative yield was achieved with 115 palms per hectare. This was partly caused by a sharp decline in production observed under 128 palms per hectare, which could indicate that in the long production cycle of the OxG hybrids, the 115-palms-per-hectare planting density would result in higher cumulative FFB production. Furthermore, the results showed that the optimum planting density for the hybrids of the present study would be 120 palms ha⁻¹, corresponding to a planting distance of 9.8 m between plants. Full article

In this study, we used SNP markers to access the genetic components occurrence of genetic differentiation resulting from the selection processes applied to collect and maintain the germplasm bank of Elaeis oleifera (Kunth) Cortés from the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. A set of 1667 higher quality SNPs—derived from a previous GBS study—was used for genomic characterization and calculation of genetic parameters. There is differentiation in the distribution of alleles between populations for 78.52% of the tested loci. Genotypic diversity test results indicated strong evidence of genotypic differentiation between populations. Sixteen out of the nineteen tested deviated significantly from the expected allele frequencies in HWE, reinforcing the hypothesis that there was maybe a selection in the evaluated populations. A group of 568 loci with a higher probability of being under selection effects were selected, both directional and stabilizing. In total, 1546 and 1274 SNPs aligned in the genomes of E. oleifera and E. guineensis Jacq., respectively. These markers showed a wide distribution throughout the genome of the two species. In conclusion, the E. oleifera GB from the Brazilian Amazon rainforest has specific genetic structures and good genetic variability within populations. Full article

American oil palm (Elaeis oleifera) is an important source of dietary oil that could fulfill the increasing worldwide demand for cooking oil. Therefore, improving its production is crucial and could be realized through breeding and genetic engineering approaches aiming to obtain high-yielding varieties with improved oil content and quality. The fatty acid composition and particularly the oleic/linoleic acid ratio are major factors influencing oil quality. Our work focused on a fatty acid desaturase (FAD) enzyme involved in the desaturation and conversion of oleic acid to linoleic acid. Following the in silico identification and annotation of Elaeis oleifera FAD2, its molecular and structural features characterization was performed to better understand the mechanistic bases of its enzymatic activity. EoFAD2 is 1173 nucleotides long and encodes a protein of 390 amino acids that shares similarities with other FADs. Interestingly, the phylogenetic study showed three distinguished groups where EoFAD2 clustered among monocotyledonous taxa. EoFAD2 is a membrane-bound protein with five transmembrane domains presumably located in the endoplasmic reticulum. The homodimer organization model of EoFAD2 enzyme and substrates and respective substrate-binding residues were predicted and described. Moreover, the comparison between 24 FAD2 sequences from different species generated two interesting single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with the oleic/linoleic acid contents. Full article

The developmentally programmed loss of a plant organ is called abscission. This process is characterized by the ultimate separation of adjacent cells in the abscission zone (AZ). The discovery of an American oil palm (Elaeis oleifera) variant that does not shed its has allowed for the study of the mechanisms of ripe fruit abscission in this species. A comparative transcriptome analysis was performed to compare the fruit AZs of the non-shedding E. oleifera variant to an individual of the same progeny that sheds its ripe fruit normally. The study provides evidence for widespread perturbation to gene expression in the AZ of the non-shedding variant, compared to the normal fruit-shedding control, and offers insight into abscission-related functions. Beyond the genes with known or suspected roles during organ abscission or indehiscence that were identified, a list of genes with hormone-related functions, including ethylene, jasmonic acid, abscisic acid, cytokinin and salicylic acid, in addition to reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism, transcriptional responses and signaling pathways, was compiled. The results also allowed a comparison between the ripe fruit abscission processes of the African and American oil palm species at the molecular level and revealed commonalities with environmental stress pathways. Full article

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq. and Elaeis Oleifera Cortes) is one of the most important oil crops in the world. Colombia is the fourth-largest oil palm producer worldwide. However, oil palm diseases are a significant factor affecting yield. Thielaviopsis paradoxa (De Seynes) Höhn is a pathogen that affects young palm trees, causing spear rot. Four disease establishment methods were studied to replicate, in a controlled environment, the symptoms of the disease found in the field. Young palm trees were inoculated with a suspension of endoconidia using either local infiltration, drip, scissor cut, or direct contact with agar blocks bearing mycelia and conidia. The effects of the inoculation methods were studied in dose-method-disease severity experiments conducted in a greenhouse under controlled conditions. All four methods resulted in T. paradoxa infections and the development of symptoms of the disease. The disease severity was correlated with the method and dose of inoculation. In trials to test Koch’s postulates, T. paradoxa was isolated from areas of disease progression in the inoculated trees, but the teleomorph Ceratocystis paradoxa (Dade) Moreau was not observed. A photographic record of the infection process at different times post-infection was compiled. Given that establishing the disease through artificial inoculation is essential for assessing plant pathogenesis, this study determined that the local infiltration method (1 × 10⁶ endoconidia mL⁻¹) and a 3–7 day incubation period were critical for the development of symptoms as severe as those observed in natural infections in the field. Full article

Interspecific OxG hybrids of African palm Elaeis guineensis Jacq. and the American palm Elaeis oleifera Cortes produce high-oleic palm oil (HOPO) with low saturated fatty acid content. OxG hybrids are highly productive, grow slowly, and are resistant to bud rot disease. However, OxG hybrid pollen presents low viability and germinability, so assisted pollination is a must. Hybrids can produce parthenocarpic or seedless fruits, with the exogenous application of plant growth regulators. Thus, naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) effects on parthenocarpic fruits induction, bunch formation, and oil quality were evaluated. The OxG hybrid Coari x La Mé was used. NAA doses, frequency, number of applications, and the phenological stages for the treatments were defined. A total dose of 1200 mg L⁻¹ NAA applied three or four times produced bunches with better fruit set, similar average bunch weight, and oil to dry mesocarp than those obtained with assisted pollination. At a semi-commercial scale, 1200 mg L⁻¹ NAA induced bunches that consisted of 93% or more of seedless fruits. Bunch number (2208 ± 84 versus 1690 ± 129) and oil to bunch (32.2 ± 0.7 versus 25.3 ± 0.8) were higher in the NAA induced bunches than in the assisted pollination. However, the average bunch weight was lower (12.2 ± 0.4 versus 14.9 ± 0.6). NAA increased oil to bunch in 36% (8.7 ± 0.1 versus 6.4 ± 0.3). Thus, with this technology, it is plausible to reach more than 10 tons per hectare per year of HOPO. Potentially, without increasing the planted oil palm area, OxG hybrids and NAA applications could alone meet the world’s fats and oil demands. Full article

The consumers’ opinion concerning conventional palm (Elaeis guineensis) oil is negatively affected by environmental and nutritional issues. However, oils extracted from drupes of interspecific hybrids Elaeis oleifera × E. guineensis are getting more and more interest, due to their chemical and nutritional properties. Unsaturated fatty acids (oleic and linoleic) are the most abundant constituents (60%–80% of total fatty acids) of hybrid palm oil (HPO) and are mainly acylated in position sn-2 of the glycerol backbone. Carotenes and tocotrienols are the most interesting components of the unsaponifiable matter, even if their amount in crude oils varies greatly. The Codex Committee on Fats and Oils recently provided HPO the “dignity” of codified fat substance for human consumption and defined the physical and chemical parameters for genuine crude oils. However, only few researches have been conducted to date on the functional and technological properties of HPO, thus limiting its utilization in food industry. Recent studies on the nutritional effects of HPO softened the initial enthusiasm about the “tropical equivalent of olive oil”, suggesting that the overconsumption of HPO in the most-consumed processed foods should be carefully monitored. Full article