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VOLUME 17 NO 1

STUDIES TO IMPROVE THE LOW TEMPERATURE PERFORMANCE OF PALM OIL PRODUCTS

OOI, T L; TEOH, C M; YEONG, S K; MAMOT, S AND SALMIAH, A

ABSTRACT

The objectives of this research were to find some additives suitable for reducing the pour points and cloud points of palm oil products and hence, improve their low temperature performance. All the additives used showed satisfactory results, with greater reduction in the pour points and cloud points in POME, PKOME, POMEPOo and PKOMESOo. The biggest depression in pour point was about 7.5°C (addition of 1.0% DHFA and 1.0% PP to POME).

ENHANCEMENT OF COLD STABILITY OF PALM OIL METHYL ESTERS

OOI, T L; TEOH, C M; YEONG, S K; MAMOT, S AND SALMIAH, A

ABSTRACT

As with palm oil, palm oil methyl esters (POME) have poor cold stability. This drawback has limited their use in low temperatures. The objectives of this research were to identify some additives suitable for reducing the pour point and cloud point of POME to improve its low temperature performance. Of the additives used, EP produced the most promising results. The biggest reduction in pour point was about 15.0°C (additional of 2% EP to POME) while the biggest depression in cloud point was about 6.4°C (additional of 4% to POME).

STRESS DEVELOPMENT AND ITS DETECTION IN YOUNG OIL PALM IN NORTH KEDAH, MALAYSIA

IAN E HENSON; MOHD ROSLAN MD NOOR; MOHD HANIFF HARUN; ZURAIDAH YAHYA AND SITI NOR AISHAH MUSTAKIM

ABSTRACT

Various methods of detecting and quantifying stress in oil palm are briefly reviewed. Stress is defined loosely as any environmental condition leading to reduced productivity and loss of yield. Common environmental stresses include those induced by water deficit, water logging, low atmospheric humidity, high temperatures, nutrient deficiency and low radiation. Different stress-including factors are frequently combined; e.g. water deficit and high temperature stress, water deficit and nutrient stress; high temperature and low atmospheric humidity stress.Results are presented of measurements made on young field palms planted in a dry region in north Kedah, Malaysia. The measurement period spanned wet and dry seasons. Short-term stress responses evaluated were: i) changes in canopy surface temperatures relative to air temperatures, ii) changes in spear leaf extension rates , and iii) changes in the ratio of actual to potential evapotranspiration.The responses are related to soil water supply, solar radiation, atmospheric vapour pressure deficit and potential evapotranspiration rate. The potential for using canopy surface-air temperature difference ( T) and spear leaf extension measurements as a means to monitor irrigation need is discussed.

NMODELLING SEASONAL VARIATION IN OIL PALM BUNCH PRODUCTION USING A SPREADSHEET PROGRAMME

IAN E HENSON

ABSTRACT

Annual cycling in oil palm bunch yield is an almost invariable phenomenon even in regions that lack marked seasonal changes in climatic factors, such as radiation or rainfall, likely to have a large influence on yield. Furthermore, such cycles persist even under irrigated conditions. While yield-based endogenous feedback mechanisms have been invoked to partly account for such behaviour, the likely time-lags involved are not generally consistent with the regular annual cycles that are frequently observed.Using data obtained from a long-term on a peat soil with a good year-round water supply, the role of various development factors in contributing to the resultant yield patterns, was examined. The factors were: a) frond emergence interval (FEI), b) rate of inflorescence and bunch development (FEBR; defined by the number of days from frond emergence to bunch ripening), c) the proportion of nodes with bunches (NWB; mainly a function of sex ration and abortion incidence) and d) single bunch weight (SBW). Frond emergence, male and female inflorescence numbers, abortion and single bunch weight all exhibited regular annual variation in the trial.Yields were simulated using a spreadsheet with the aim of dissecting out the contribution and relative significance of each factor. Even with all factors held constant, there was variation in monthly yield, although it was erratic and failed to result in the single annual peak characteristic of observed yield patterns. Regular annual peaks were, however, obtained by introducing sinusoidal oscillations in the amplitudes of the four factors either individually or in combination. Amplitudes were tested that represented a range of probable behaviour from mild to maximum variation. The best agreement between simulated and observed yields over an 8.5-year period (r2 =0.6) was obtained by varying NWB (using an amplitude of 50%) while similarly good agreements were achieved by appropriate variations in FEI and in FEBR. SBW had only a small effect.Combining factors did not appreciably improve the correlations over those obtained by the factors individually, although in some cases it resulted in similarly high correlations being achieved using lower amplitudes.These findings show that all the development processes examined played some role in accounting for annual yield circles but the results still leave open the question of what factor(s) are responsible for the cycling of each of the underlying processes.

A STUDY ON THERMAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PHASE CHANGE MATERIAL (PCM) IN GYPSUM BOARD FOR BUILDING APPLICATION

ROZANNA, D; SALMIAH, A; CHUAH, T G; MEDYAN, R; THOMAS CHOONG, S Y AND SA'ARI, M

ABSTRACT

Using fatty acids as phase change materials (PCMs), it is possible to store a large amount of thermal energy in a small mass and with a narrow temperature transition. Passive solar heating and cooling can be done by three methods - simple immersion, direct incorporation and encapsulation. This study investigated the effect of using a lauric-stearic acids eutectic mixture at 75.5:24.5 w/w as PSM in gypsum board. The eutectic mixture had a melting point of 34.1ºC and latent heat of 171.1 kJ kg-1 respectively. Gypsum boards were immersed 1 hr in PCM and the thermal characteristics before and after immersion were investigated. The 12.5 mm board absorbed 38.0% PCM and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that the melting point and latent heat were 34.0ºC and 50.28 kJ kg-1, respectively. For 6 mm board, PCM absorption was 39.2% with the melting point of 34.0 ºC and the latent heat of 52.87 kJ kg-1. From the results, the thermal characteristics of the PCM-gypsum boards were similar to those of the PCM.

PALM DIESEL: AN OPTION FOR GREENHOUSE GAS MITIGATION IN THE ENERGY SECTOR

CHOO YUEN MAY; MA AH NGAN; CHAN KOOK WENG AND YUSOF BASIRON

ABSTRACT

The fast diminishing energy reserves coupled with increasing energy consumption as a nation develops and greater environmental awareness have led to an intensified search for viable alternate sources of energy. Natural and renewable resource such as vegetable oils can be chemically transformed into clean-burning biodiesel. Biodiesel is a fuel substitute that is biodegradable and can contribute to alleviating environmental pollution. Research and development efforts have demonstrated that palm diesel (palm oil methyl esters) is a good source for energy production. Palm diesel produced using patented PORIM/PETRONAS production technology has been extensively tested as a diesel substitute in a wide range diesel engines including stationary engines, passenger cars, buses and trucks. Palm diesel exhibits fuel properties comparable to those of petroleum diesel and can be used directly in unmodified diesel engines. The production and usage of palm diesel has great environmental impact with its closed carbon cycle. A fuel switch from fossil fuel to palm diesel will contribute greatly to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that lead to global warming. Therefore, palm diesel production, because of its contribution to lover GHC emissions, can generate carbon credits under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol 1997. The financial incentives, like the attractive carbon credit scheme, would bring about an additional positive impact on the economic viability of palm diesel production as a renewable fuel. Furthermore, exhaustive field trials have also shown that diesel engines running on palm diesel do not emit black smoke. There are also reductions in carbon particulates, carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide. The effort and initiative to utilize palm oil as an alternative energy source are also in line with the Malaysian Governement's five-fuel diversification policy to include renewable energy as the fifth fuel.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING THE POPULATION DENSITY OF ORYCTES RHINOCEROS IN A ZERO-BURN OIL PALM REPLANT

NORMAN KAMARUDIN; MOHD BASRI WAHID AND RAMLE MOSLIM

ABSTRACT

The environment (abiotic and biotic factors) influences the survival of an organism. This study revealed several significant relationships between the population of Oryctes rhinoceros and the environment and physical characteristics of its habitat in an oil palm replant. Firstly, lower populations of O. rhinoceros occurred in areas with cover crops over the decomposing chipped trunks. Secondly, high moisture content in the trunks was essential for the survival and satisfactory development of O. rhinoceros. Thirdly, there was a negative relationship between the number of developing pupae against the hardness of the trunk chips. This indicates that most of the pupae developed in the softer, decomposing chips. The larval population hastened the release of the trunk nutrients to the soil, especially K and Mg. Higher soil pH indirectly reduced the larval population of O. rhinoceros, possibly by promoting the growth of the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium, which infected the larvae. This was reflected by the low number of adult beetles which emerged from the plots with high pH. Finally, rainfall induced the breeding of O. rhinoceros as shown by the high positive correlation between rainfall and the number of early instar larvae. Knowledge of some of these factors would enable planters to manipulate the habitat and its microclimate in order to manage the pest more effectively.

ILLEGITIMACY IN OIL PALM BREEDING - A REVIEW

CORLEY, R H V

ABSTRACT

Shell thickness and molecular marker data indicate that illegitimacy and contamination are more widespread in oil palm breeding programmes than is usually acknowledged. Before the discovery of the mode of inheritance of shell thickness, no markers were available to detect illegitimacy. Once shell thickness could be used as a market, it became clear that control of pollination needed improvement. However, in present day programmes anomalous segregation ratios and contamination with the wrong fruit forms still occur from time to time, and work with molecular markers shows that illegitimacy may occur even when fruit form segregation is correct. Where there is illegitimacy, family selection will be unreliable, and inadvertent inbreeding may take place. Now that molecular karkers are widely available, it should be standard practice in oil palm breeding to test all crosses for legitimacy. The requirements for this are discussed.

VOLUME 17 NO 1

THE INFLUENCE OF CLIMATIC CONDITIONS ON GAS AND ENERGY EXCHANGES ABOVE A YOUNG OIL PALM STAND IN NORTH KEDAH, MALAYSIA

IAN E HENSON AND MOHD HANIFF HARUN

ABSTRACT

Measurements of fluxes of CO2, latent heat and sensible heat were made above a three-year-old oil palm canopy in north Kedah, Malaysia where there is a regular dry season of three months or more annually. The results indicate substantially lower levels of CO2 flux and latent heat flux (evapotranspiration) and substantially increased levels of sensible heat flux in the middle of the annual dry season in February, than in the succeeding wetter months of April to June. Canopy conductance for water vapour was likewise low during the drought and increased subsequently. The use of these results as an aid to quantifying the responses of oil palm to water deficits is discussed.

SPECTROSCOPIC IDENTIFICATION OF GEOMETRICAL ISOMERS OF a AND b-CAROTENES FROM PALM OIL

BONNIE TAY YEN PING AND GWENDOLINE EE CHENG LIAN

ABSTRACT

To date, all identification of palm carotenoids are tentative based on electronic absorption spectra, comparison of the elution sequence with past studies and authentic standards. This study reports isolation of individual major isomers of palm carotenes using a semi-preparative C30 column. The results of MS, 1H NMR of four isolated peaks, assigned as Fraction 1 (a mixture of 13 and 13' cis a-carotene), Fraction 2 (13 cis b-carotene), Fraction 3 (all trans a-carotene) and Fraction 4 (cis b-carotene) supported the identification of their structures.

DNA

RAZMAH GHAZALI; LAI CHOON MEI; NORIN ZAMIAH KASSIM SHAARI; MOHTAR YUSOF AND SALMIAH AHMAD

ABSTRACT

PRELIMINARY STUDY ON MICROBIAL DEGRADATION OF FLEXIBLE POLYURETHANE FOAMS -PHYSICO-MECHANICAL AND WEIGHT CHANGES DURING FUNGAL DETERIORATION

The ability of the fungus, Aspergillus niger, to utilize palm-based flexible polyurethane foam as food was determined via the petri-dish test. A commercial polyurethane foam was used as the control. A dense fungal growth was detected by visual examination of foams inoculated on minimal nutrient agar (MNA) but not on the mineral salts agar (MSA). The weight changes for all samples were analysed after four weeks. Both the palm-based and commercial flexible polyurethane foams incubated on MNA suffered significant weight losses while slight increases were recorded by the samples incubated on MSA. Under a SEM, dense fungal growth was observed covering the samples incubated on MNA but none on the samples incubated on MSA. Instead, the presence of spores on the latter indicated that the fungus had not germinated sufficiently to degrade the polyurethanes. The compression strength for all the samples increased with time. The increase in hardness was more in the palm-based polyurethanes than in the commercial ones. This study showed that palm-based flexible foam can be degraded by Aspergillus niger in the presence of sufficient nutrients.

POLYPLOIDY INDUCTION OF OIL PALM THROUGH COLCHICINE AND ORYZALIN TREATMENTS

MADON, M; CLYDE, M M; HASHIM, H; MOHD YUSUF, Y; MAT, H AND SARATHA, S

ABSTRACT

Germinated oil palm seeds were treated with two antimitotic chemicals, colchicines and oryzalin, to induce polyploidy. The colchicines concentrations used varied from 2.5 to 10.0 mM, and the oryzalin concentration from 15 mM. The incubation period vary inversely with the chemical concentration from 48 to 6 hr. Colchicine treatments produced nine tetraploids, two triploids and a number of mixoploids. The oryzalin treatments produced four triploids and many mixoploids of 2n+3n and 3n+4n. However, one-way ANOVA showed that none of the treatments were able to induce polyploidy efficiently. Flow cytometry was found to be the most efficient method for detecting induced changes in the genome size or polyploidy level compared to stomata and chromosome counts. One-way ANOVA showed no significant difference in the stomata density between polyploids and controls (2n) while for plant morphology, polyploids seemed to be significantly shorter than their respective controls.

BEST-DEVELOPED PRACTICES AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE OIL PALM INDUSTRY

CHAN KOOK WENG

ABSTRACT

The long-term economic viability of any crop production system is dependent on implementation of its best-developed practices (BDPs). Improperly managed, any resource can pollute the soil, water and air. The growing challenge for agriculture is to find ways to increase crop yields and improve nutrient use efficiency while stabilizing nutrients, replacing those removed in the harvested crop, recycling those in the crop residues and ultimately retaining them in the soil organic matter. Nutrient balance management is the most significant BDP that has evolved to be site-specific and cost-effective in palm oil production. The practice of nutrient balance management is, at the same time, accompanied by protection of the soil, water and air resources. This would result in not only protection from surface runoff and leaching but also in the reduction of gaseous emissions.

The management policies on BDPs now require plantations, firstly, to look at protection of the physical environment such as the air, soil and water. Secondly, to look at the impact of chemical environment such as pesticide usage, nutrient balance and soil organic matter on chemical pesticides in palm oil; and, thirdly, at maintaining the biological environment such as biodiversity, high yielding planting materials and reduced weeds, pests and diseases. There are also a host of other objectives imposed on the palm oil industry that arise from the globalization of its trade. They include challenges such as overall ecosystem protection, food security and sustainability with the aim of slowing down climate change by stabilizing greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations. This implies using less energy inputs on resources like pesticides and fertilizers.

From this review of the important future challenges, there is no reason why the oil palm production system, using the latest BDPs, cannot sustain its high yield while protecting the environment. As per Article 2 in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the triple requirements of ecosystem protection (ecological), food security (social) and sustainable economic development (economic) can be met. There is now a need for the oil palm industry to demonstrate this inherent strength of high productivity without undue imposition on the limited world resources.

DNA FINGERPRINTING OF OIL PALM - CHOICE OF TISSUES

LIM, C C ABD RAO, V

ABSTRACT

DNA profiling, now commonly used in forensic investigations, can also be used for genetic identification of plants. It is usually stated that for such purpose any tissue from an organism can be used since the DNA is the same throughout. This generalization was tested on the different tissues from oil palm seedlings using 17 PCR-based simple sequence repeat primers. The tissues were those routinely available to a DNA marker laboratory for early screening in a breeding programme. Contrary to the generalization, the different tissues did not always give identical DNA profiles but depended on the primers used. This could be due to dissimilar DNA methylation of the different tissues resulting in quantitative polymorphism detected by some of the primers. While such primers may be useful for tracking changes, such as during development in tissue culture, only the more robust markers would be suitable for routine marker assisted selection in breeding.

A NEW SYSTEM FOR CONTINUOUS STERILIZATION OF OIL PALM FRESH FRUIT BUNCHES

K SIVASOTHY; ROHAYA MOHD HALIM AND YUSOF BASIRON

ABSTRACT

A system is proposed for continuous sterilization of oil palm fresh fruit bunches based on crushing bunches to facilitate steam penetration into bunches and subsequently heating the bunches using live steam at atmospheric pressure to an extent sufficient to facilitate stripping of the fruits. An attempt is made to evaluate this system using a pilot-scale set-up.

A COMPARISON OF THE DELI DUMPY AND POBÉ DWAFT SHORT STEMMED OIL PALMS AND THEIR OUTCROSSED PROGENIES

LUYINDULA, N; CORLEY, R H V AND MANTANTU, N

ABSTRACT

Deli Dumpy and Pobé Dwarf oil palm materials, from Malaysian and Ivory Coast respectively, were crossed with normal teneras, and the progenies tested in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in comparison with progenies without Dumpy or Dwarf genes. The semi-Dumpy progenies gave low yields, but with heavy bunches, while the semi-Dwarf material gave better yields but with smaller bunches; neither material gave particularly good bunch composition. The short stem character of both origins was heritable, the semi-Dwarf being shorter than the semi-Dumpy. However, the strong resistance to vascular wilt noted in pure Deli Dumpy was not observed in the descendants. Of the two origins, the Pobé Dwarf, with small fronds and high bunch index looks the more promising progenitor, as it should be suited to high density planting with consequent higher yields.

SAFETY EVALUATION FOR DERMAL AND OCULAR IRRITATION OF PALM DIHYDROXYSTEARIC ACID AS A COSMETICS INGREDIENT

ZAFARIZAL ALDRIN, A H; ROSNAH ISMAIL AND SALMIAH AHMAD

ABSTRACT

This paper describes the safety evaluation of threo-9, 10-dihydroxystearic acid (DHSA) as a cosmetic ingredient. The irritation potential of DHSA to the eye and skin was assessed using in vitro ocular and dermal irritation assays and confirmed by in vivo patch test. Its potential in inducing sensitization is confirmed by the in vivo human repeated insult patch test (HRIPT). In vitro studies showed no ocular or dermal irritation potential in using purified DHSA while in vivo studies showed the purified DHSA did not induce any significant cutaneous skin irritation, cumulative skin irritation or sensitization at 1% and 5%, respectively.

APPLICATION OF POLYAMINES IN OIL PALM (ELAEIS GUINEENSIS JACQ.) STOPS ADVANCE OF BUD ROT DISEASE

ROCHA, P J; MENDOZA, C AND CAYÓN, G

ABSTRACT

Bud rot complex (PC) is a disease that affects oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq). It is a gradual rot of the young tissue which can kill the palm if the meristem is affected. Certain predisposing factors seem involved in development of the disease. However, in Colombia, many sick palms recover naturally. Knowing the multiple effects of polyamines in cell division and morphogenesis processes, we proposed some relationships between the polyamine content and bud rot disease. The endogenous contents of polyamines (PA) putrescine, spermidine and spermine were determined, using HPLC, in meristematic and bud tissues from oil palms in different sanitary stages (healthy and sick palms). The PA content in meristems and buds gradually decreased in sick adult palms. Oil palms recovered when the PA content increased. Application of PA to the stems of oil palms suffering from the disease, sped up their recovery and maintained healthy palms in areas where the disease incidence was high. The findings reported here introduced a novel and complementary management practice against one of the most devastating diseases of oil palm in Latin America.

SHORT COMMUNICATION: CYTOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF OIL PALM POLLEN MOTHER CELLS (PCMS)

MADON, M; HESLOP-HARRISON, J S; SCHWARZACHER, T; MOHD RAFDI, M H AND CLYDE, M M

ABSTRACT

This short paper describes the cytological analysis of oil palm pollen mother cells (PMCs) in an effort to identify the pachytene and uninucleate microspore stages for application in other experiments. The chromosomal pachytene stage will be used in the localization of transgenes in transgenic palms while the uninucleate microspore stage will be utilized in microspore culture for haploid production.