Identification and expression analysis of histone modification gene (HM) family during somatic embryogenesis of oil palm

Background Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis, Jacq.) is an important vegetable oil-yielding plant. Somatic embryogenesis is a promising method to produce large-scale elite clones to meet the demand for palm oil. The epigenetic mechanisms such as histone modifications have emerged as critical factors during somatic embryogenesis. These histone modifications are associated with the regulation of various genes controlling somatic embryogenesis. To date, none of the information is available on the histone modification gene (HM) family in oil palm. Results We reported the identification of 109 HM gene family members including 48 HMTs, 27 HDMs, 13 HATs, and 21 HDACs in the oil palm genome. Gene structural and motif analysis of EgHMs showed varied exon–intron organization and with conserved motifs among them. The identified 109 EgHMs were distributed unevenly across 16 chromosomes and displayed tandem duplication in oil palm genome. Furthermore, relative expression analysis showed the differential expressional pattern of 99 candidate EgHM genes at different stages (non-embryogenic, embryogenic, somatic embryo) of somatic embryogenesis process in oil palm, suggesting the EgHMs play vital roles in somatic embryogenesis. Our study laid a foundation to understand the regulatory roles of several EgHM genes during somatic embryogenesis. Conclusions A total of 109 histone modification gene family members were identified in the oil palm genome via genome-wide analysis. The present study provides insightful information regarding HM gene’s structure, their distribution, duplication in oil palm genome, and also their evolutionary relationship with other HM gene family members in Arabidopsis and rice. Finally, our study provided an essential role of oil palm HM genes during somatic embryogenesis process.

The Antiplaque Efficacy and Effectiveness of Activated Charcoal Toothpaste of Elaeis guineensis in Smokers

Plaque on the teeth of smokers comes from cigarette smoke tar that settles on the surface of the teeth and roots of the teeth, causing the tooth surface to become rough and easier to stick with food debris and germs that will react making it easier for plaque to form. This study was aims to determine the safety and effectiveness of removing plaque in palm shell activated charcoal toothpaste with a concentration of 12% calcium carbonate combination of 25%. The content of calcium carbonate as an abrasive against the dental plaque of active smokers. The method used was measurement the plaque index score according to Turesky before and after using toothpaste on 20 panelists of active smokers. The decrease in plaque index in the use of toothpaste by using Wilcoxon's non-parametric statistical test, namely P = 0.000 (Sig <0.05). The results showed that toothpaste in the first week was able to reduce dental plaque by 59% compared to positive control by 45% and without activated charcoal by 34%. Toothpaste and positive control in the second week were able to remove dental plaque by 100%, while toothpaste without activated charcoal and calcium carbonate was only able to remove dental plaque by 68%. It can be concluded that palm shell activated charcoal toothpaste with a concentration of 12% combined with 25% calcium carbonate is safe and effective in removing plaque on the teeth of smokers.Keywords: dental plaque, efficacy, palm shells

Factors Affecting Productivity of Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) at Various Afdelings in Bah Jambi Farm PT. Perkebunan Nusantara IV

North Sumatra Province, where the second-highest oil palm productivity in Indonesia, has successfully reached fresh fruit bunches (FFB) production of 5,775,631.82 tons in 2016. However, the level of oil palm productivity tends to be unstable and low. The purpose of this study was to identify and analyze factors influencing the level of oil palm productivity at the Bah Jambi Plantation PTPN IV, Simalungun Regency, North Sumatra Province. The method used in this study was the qualitative descriptive analysis method by collecting secondary data at research locations at 4 Afdeling Kebun Bah Jambi PT. Nusantara IV Plantation. The results of correlation and regression analysis showed that soil factor such as organic C, soil pH, cation exchange capacity and the availability of soil N, P, K and Mg is the most dominant factors in influencing the amount of oil palm productivity which have determination coefficient (R2) more than 90%. Meanwhile, climate factors such as evapotranspiration, duration of light exposure, wind speed and rainfall have the most role in influencing oil palm productivity which has a coefficient of determination (R2) of 95%, 94%, 88% and 33%.

Formula Development of Red Palm (Elaeis guineensis) Fruit Extract Loaded with Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Containing Creams and Its Anti-Aging Efficacy in Healthy Volunteers

Palm fruits (Elaeis guineensis) comprise antioxidants that can be used as skin care agents. This study developed a cosmeceutical cream containing E. guineensis extract, loaded with solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), and assessed its efficacy on female volunteers. The E. guineensis extract exhibited a good antioxidant activity with high levels of vitamin E, β-carotene, and palmitic acid. Day and night creams containing E. guineensis fruit extract, loaded with SLNs, were formulated and exhibited acceptable physical characteristics and good stability. Subsequently, their clinical efficacy and safety were evaluated on female volunteers. Both creams were non-irritating and had good cutaneous compatibility. Skin hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin elasticity, melanin index, and skin texture were measured before and 30 min after the first application, as well as after 7, 14, and 30 days of daily application. A satisfactory survey was implemented using a questionnaire, and volunteer satisfaction scores were high for the product’s performance. Overall, the results showed that skin hydration, TEWL, cutaneous elasticity, and melanin index were improved, compared to the baseline data, after 30 days. Thus, the formulated facial day and night creams made the skin moist, reduced wrinkles, increased elasticity, and cleared the skin to the consumers’ satisfaction.

The Impact of Different Drying Techniques on the Physicochemical and Quality Characteristics of Oil Palm Fruit Mesocarp (Elaeis guineensis)

Drying is one of the traditional means of preserving food. However, various drying methods can influence the nutritional and bioactive constituents of the food product. This study is aimed at evaluating the effect of different drying methods on the proximate composition, physicochemical properties, and minor constituents of palm oil fruit mesocarp. Two varieties of fresh oil palm fruit (dura and tenera) were processed to separate the mesocarp from the other part of the fruit. The fresh fruit mesocarp was divided into five groups and subjected to different drying methods. Proximate and physicochemical characteristics of the oil palm fruit mesocarp were determined. The dried mesocarp had low moisture content (1.49-3.28%), high crude fat content (78.10-90.60%), carbohydrate (4.41-15.12%), crude protein (0.93-3.40%), and ash (0.53-1.15%). The free fatty acid (FFA) (1.06-3.54) and acid value (AV) (2.17 to 8.83 mgKOH/g) were lower because the samples were heated at 100°C for 30 min. The lower pH, FFA, AV, titratable acidity, moisture content, and high antioxidant activity of the oil palm fruit products could be an indication of shelf stability against microbial contamination and rancidity.

Modelación del agua subterránea en plantaciones de palma de aceite y pastizales mediante técnicas geofísicas

Se realizó una investigación durante la temporada de lluvias, con el objetivo de caracterizar mediante tomografía de resistividad eléctrica (TRE), la distribución del agua subterránea en tres áreas cultivadas con palma de aceite (Elaeis Guineensis Jacq.) de 5, 11 y 25 años de edad, y se compararon con pastizales aledaños. En cada área se realizaron 5 perfiles con arreglo dipolo-dipolo en dirección NE-SW, que abarcaron 40 metros de pastizal y 80 metros dentro de las plantaciones, con separación electródica de 5 metros, y 20 metros entre perfiles. A través de un resistivímetro Syscal Junior de IRIS INSTRUMENT, se calculó la distribución de la resistividad eléctrica de un gran número de medidas de resistividad aparente del subsuelo, que permitió generar una imagen eléctrica que muestra la distribución de la resistividad verdadera del subsuelo. En cada línea se realizó la inversión de datos a través del software Res2Dinv, para generar un modelo 2D, donde se observa un patrón de resistividad eléctrica de mayor a menor según la profundidad del terreno, lo que supone la presencia arenas, limos, aluviones, arcillas y gravas en toda el área. El nivel de la zona saturada es más profundo en las plantaciones de palma con respecto al pastizal, particularmente en plantaciones de 25 años. Se concluye que, a pesar de las lluvias de la temporada, la zona de saturación en el subsuelo es más profunda en plantaciones de palma de aceite que en pastizales, lo que sugiere que el cultivo abate más agua que los pastizales aledaños.

Estimación de la superficie cultivada de Palma Aceitera mediante interpretación visual de imágenes satelitales durante los años 2016-2020

Actualmente en el Perú no existe una cifra oficial sobre la cantidad exacta de hectáreas de palma aceitera (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), por ello, este trabajo apunta a generar información sobre el aumento del cultivo desde el año 2016 hasta el 2020, en las regiones de Ucayali, San Martín, Huánuco y Loreto, mediante la interpretación visual de las imágenes satelitales bianuales y mensuales pantropicales de Planet NICFI, junto con el uso del software QGIS 3.10.2 y la extensión (plugin) Planet. En total, se encontraron 85 122,95 ha en el año 2016; 86 866,18 ha en el año 2017; 91 357,80 ha en el año 2018; 94 656,40 ha en el año 2019 y 95 048,37 ha en el año 2020 en las 4 regiones estudiadas, siendo Ucayali la región con mayor cantidad de hectáreas de palma aceitera, con 44 077,82 ha para el año 2020, seguida de San Martín con 35 151,74 ha, Loreto con 13 568,94 ha y Huánuco con 2 249,87 ha. También se generó la información cartográfica sobre las 16 plantas de procesamiento de palma aceitera encontradas y finalmente, estos resultados se llevaron a una aplicación en Google Earth Engine para su divulgación.

Selection of Elite dura-Type Parents to Produce Dwarf Progenies of Elaeis guineensis Using Genetic Parameters

The low annual growth rate of the stipe in oil palm progenies is desirable to increase these crops’ productive and economic life. Recurrent reciprocal selection (R.R.S.) has allowed the development of oil palm populations through several breeding cycles with an increased frequency of favorable alleles associated with traits of interest. The present study evaluated families derived from Deli dura × African dura crosses. For 12 years, the yield, vegetative characteristics, and the amount of oil in seven dura progenies were assessed to estimate, from the information collected, the genetic parameters, heritability, and phenotypic correlations among quantitative genetic traits of high-yielding dwarf progenies. The analysis was carried out using analysis of variance, followed by a comparison of means for all estimated traits. The effect of the progenies was highly significant (p ≤ 0.01) for most traits. The yield values, expressed in fresh fruit bunches (FFB) for the progenies, ranged from 165 to 208 kg per palm per year. The oil-to-bunch ratio (O/B) ranged from 17% to 19%, with an overall average of 18%. One of the essential characteristics in this study was the vertical growth of the stipe. Progenies P6 and P7 were identified as those with the lowest annual increase in height, with values of 0.29 and 0.33 m year−1. The values indicate that these are slow-growing cultivars with a high FFB yield and O/B. The highest heritabilities were found for the vegetative trait height (71.62%) and the number of leaflets (46.64%). The development of dura parents with slow growth characteristics in combination with a high bunch and oil production allows extending the productive life of the crop to more than 35 years, providing added value to obtaining differentiated cultivars of oil palm.