Aims: Intercropping system in oil palm plantation is recognized as one of a nature-based solution as well as a promising sustainable practice. This study aimed to observe the advantages of existing intercropping system in one of North Sumatra’s oil palm plantation. It is achieved by analyzing the population of soil bacteria and fungi in oil palm intercropping fields with sorghum and cassava, compared with the non-intercropping field that using Mucuna bracteata (MB) as a common legume cover crop in oil palm plantations. Methodology and results: Soil samples were collected from the weeded circle and windrow area (the area between palms within the row). The results showed that the highest and the lowest soil bacteria populations were in sorghum (1.7 ± 1.4 × 108 CFU/g) and MB (1.7 ± 0.4 × 107 CFU/g), while the highest and the lowest soil fungi populations were in sorghum (4.3 ± 2.9 × 106 CFU/g) and cassava (2.1 ± 0.8 × 106 CFU/g). Conclusion, significance and impact of study The intercropping system in this study showed a significant difference in the bacteria population, while the fungi population had no difference compared to the non-intercropping system. The bacterial and fungi population results also indicate that the intercropping system potentially enhances the soil's biological activity as an indicator of improved soil health. It is also followed by a slightly higher soil organic carbon value in intercropping system. This research suggests that further studies should be done to identify specific soil functional microbes (nutrients fixers and solubilizers). The future research will be used as a reference for promising biofertilizer agents in supporting sustainable crop production.
Palm Oil ; Soil Microbiology

Aims: This study was designed to examine the enzyme activity of selected virulent isolates of Ganoderma boninense against oil palm. In a separate in vitro assessment, the effect of macronutrients on the mycelial growth of four selected Ganoderma spp. was also tested. Methodology and results: The study involved a comparison of ligninolytic enzymes; lignin peroxidase (LiP), manganese peroxidase (MnP) and laccase (Lac) profiling of eight isolates of G. boninense, categorized into three levels of aggressiveness, with two control isolates (G. boninense PER71 and G. tornatum NPG1) using solid-state fermentation (SSF). The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that the isolates had a significant production of ligninolytic enzymes on day 80. The most aggressive isolate, ET61 had the highest Lac production. As for the macronutrient test, mycelial growth for all the Ganoderma spp. was highly affected by potassium (K). Conclusion, significance and impact of study The findings of this study elucidated the characteristics of G. boninense in relation to enzyme production for the degradation of oil palm lignin and the identification of essential nutrients involved in the survival and growth of Ganoderma spp. The study provides vital information on the pathogenic characteristics of G. boninense isolates involved in biomass degradation along with the role of nutrient on the growth of Ganoderma spp. that may influence basal stem rot (BSR) management in the field.
Enzymes ; Ganoderma ; Palm Oil

Aims: Insect pests are one of the major constraints of oil palm production in Malaysia. However, synthetic chemical insecticides are the most common method for its control, despite their negative effects on non-target organisms and the development of resistance. Therefore, the present study is aimed to identify novel indigenous isolates of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) in oil palm soil as part of integrated pest management (IPM) of oil palm insect pests. Methodology and results: The potential of EPF were isolated from the soil collected from the oil palm plantation in UPM using a mealworm beetle larva (Tenebrio molitor) as an insect bait. Seven Metarhizium anisopliae and two Purpureocillium lilacinum isolates were identified by morphological characterization (macroscopic and microscopic observation) and molecular identification using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ITS region amplification). Conclusion, significance and impact of study To our knowledge, this is the first time P. lilacinum has been found in the soil of an oil palm plantation or any other host in Malaysia. Furthermore, both of the isolates M. anisopliae and P. lilacinum may be potentially considered as biological control candidates for major insect pests in oil palm.
Entomophthorales--genetics ; Palm Oil ; Insecticides

BACKGROUND: Cooking oils used for long periods of frying are subject to oil deterioration. Total polar compounds (TPC) is the general parameter used to quantify oil deterioration wherein the maximum allowable TPC of cooking oil is 25%. The time it takes to reach 25% TPC was defined as the frying life of oil.

OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to determine the effect of oil type and frying temperature on frying life.

METHODS: The frying lives of coconut, canola, and palm oil as well as the oils heated at 150ºC, 170ºC, and 190ºC were determined. Spectrophotometric analysis was performed and TPC values were calculated from absorbance using the equation: y = -2.7865x2 + 23.782x + 1.0309.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS: The mean frying lives were 20.24h, 10.80h, and 13.49h for coconut, canola, and palm oil, respectively. Regardless of oil types, the mean frying lives were 16.23h, 11.93h, and 13.82h at the following frying temperatures namely; 150ºC, 170ºC, and 190ºC , respectively. Two-way ANOVA showed a significant difference in the frying lives of the three oil types and those of the three frying temperatures.

CONCLUSION: Coconut oil had a longer mean frying life than both palm and canola oil. In terms of frying temperature, the longest mean frying life was observed in the oils heated at 150ºC, followed by the oils heated at 190ºC. There was a significant interaction between oil type and frying temperature observed in the study.

Coconut Oil ; Rapeseed Oil ; Palm Oil ; Frying temperature

Aims: The development of an effective biocontrol formulation for inhibition of Ganoderma boninense, a well-known destructive pathogen in oil palm plantation is important to prolong the palm’s lifespan and reduce the losses due to this disease. In this paper, we present some new bioformulations with combination of different types of biocontrol agents in managing basal stem rot (BSR) disease. Methodology: The effectiveness of the treatments designed as T1 (Trichoderma harzianum + Lecanicillium spp. + Streptomyces sundarbansensis + Pseudomonas aeruginosa), T2 (Penicillium simplicissimum + Lecanicillium sp. + S. sundarbansensis + P. aeruginosa), T3 (P. simplicissimum + P. aeruginosa) and T4 (LEStani®) was evaluated through treatment on the oil palm seedlings artificial infected by G. boninense and the results were expressed in disease severity index (DSI), bole severity index (BSI) and ergosterol content. Conclusion, significance and impact of study All tested treatments (T1-T4) managed to control the severity of the Ganoderma infection from continuously increasing when the treatments were applied either one month before or after artificial inoculation. The disease severity of infected seedlings without treatments had increased for almost 2-fold at the end of the trial. Moreover, T1 had the greatest inhibition of G. boninense with the lowest ergosterol content (a bioindicator of Ganoderma colonization) detected (676.67 g/mL), which is about 1.9-fold lower than control (1273.33 ug/mL) without treatments and a BSI score of 1. Based on the effectiveness among the four tested biocontrol formulations, T1 is the most promising formulation to be further evaluated in the field for control of BSR disease. However, more research is needed in the future to estimate the effective amount for application in open environment.
Palm Oil ; Biological Control Agents ; Ganoderma

Aims: The primary aim of this study was to utilize abundant palm oil mill effluent (POME) waste and turn it into a value-added product of biomass fuel with high calorific energy value (CEV) via fermentation and drying process, then simultaneously reduce abundant liquid waste. Methodology and results: POME is available abundantly in Malaysia and only a small portion of it is utilized to produce other value-added products. In this study, fermentation of POME in the presence of bacteria (Lysinibacillus sp.) and fungus (Aspergillus flavus) separately at 37 °C, 180 rpm for 5 days, followed by overnight oven-drying at 85 °C was conducted. Four fermentation medium conditions were performed, viz.: (1) autoclaved POME, (2) autoclaved POME with the addition of Lysinibacillus sp., (3) autoclaved POME with the addition of A. flavus and (4) POME as it is (non-sterile). Conclusion, significance and impact of study Among all conditions, fermentation utilizing autoclaved POME in the presence of A. flavus evinced the highest CEV of 25.18 MJ/kg. The fermentation in the presence of Lysinibacillus sp. strain revealed high COD and BOD removal efficiency of 59.20% and 320.44 mg/L as well as the highest reduction of oils and grease among other groups with the value of 15.84%. Future research directions are proposed for the elucidation of co-fermentation in the presence of both Lysinibacillus sp. and A. flavus.
Palm Oil ; Biomass ; Biofuels ; Waste Disposal, Fluid

Aims: Palm kernel cake (PKC) is a high-protein, high-energy food that is widely utilized in the animal feed business. However, the high fibre and limited amino acid content of untreated PKC were the main issues for it to be used as animal feed, particularly in non-ruminants. To improve the quality of PKC, this study combined the use of solid-state fermentation (SSF) and consortia of fungi and bacteria to treat the PKC. Methodology and results: Two fungi, Emericella nidulans (4DP5) and Cladosporium herbarum (7DF12) and three strains of bacteria, Bacillus subtilis, which were active mannanase producers, were used in different combinations to reduce the hemicellulose content and improve the crude protein content of PKC in a lab-scale solid-state fermentation. PKC inoculated separately with five types of mixed culture treatments were allowed to ferment. The fermentation conditions were 20% inoculum (w/v), 85-92% humidity, pH 7.0 and PKC particle size 0.8 mm. PKC treatments with two fungi, E. nidulans (4DP5) and C. herbarum (7DF12), as well as a fungus-bacterium combination, E. nidulans (4DP5) and B. subtilis, outperformed the other three treatments. The crude protein levels were increased by 3.34% and 1.86%, respectively, due to these treatments. Furthermore, the level of aflatoxins produced increased marginally but remained within the permissible limits. Conclusion, significance and impact of study The treated PKC has more sugar and crude protein and less than 20 parts per billion (ppb) of aflatoxin, making it appropriate for animal consumption. The SSF technique of combining fungi and Bacilli enhanced the nutritional and market value of PKC substantially, which can be upscaled.
Aspergillus nidulans ; Cladosporium ; Bacillus subtilis ; Palm Oil ; Fermentation

In the study, we used oil palm residues (empty fruit bunch, EFB) as raw material to produce cellulosic ethanol by pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation. Firstly, the pretreatment of EFB with alkali, alkali/hydrogen peroxide and the effects on the components and enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose were studied. The results show that dilute alkali was the suitable pretreatment method and the conditions were first to soak the substrate with 1% sodium hydroxide with a solid-liquid ratio of 1:10 at 40 degrees C for 24 h, and then subjected to 121 degrees C for 30 min. Under the conditions, EFB solid recovery was 74.09%, and glucan, xylan and lignin content were 44.08%, 25.74% and 13.89%, respectively. After separated with alkali solution, the pretreated EFB was washed and hydrolyzed for 72 h with 5% substrate concentration and 30 FPU/g dry mass (DM) enzyme loading, and the conversion of glucan and xylan reached 84.44% and 89.28%, respectively. We further investigated the effects of substrate concentration and enzyme loading on enzymatic hydrolysis and ethanol batch simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF). The results show that when enzyme loading was 30 FPU/g DM and substrate concentration was increased from 5% to 25%, ethanol concentration were 9.76 g/L and 35.25 g/L after 72 h fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae (inoculum size 5%, V/V), which was 79.09% and 56.96% of ethanol theory yield.
Alkalies ; chemistry ; Biofuels ; Ethanol ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Lignin ; chemistry ; Palm Oil ; Plant Oils

Palm kernel oil is a vegetable oil derived from Elaeis guineensis and widely used in neonatal settings for skin care. It is a good emollient with a beneficial effect in moisturizing the skin and preventing transdermal heat and water loss. However, it's putative roles in the prevention or treatment of fatty acid defificiency is still controversial. So is its function in the improvement of neurological development from its longchain polyunsaturated fatty acids? We set out in this review to verify whether its empiric use in this context has any scientific justification and is recommendable. Although there is evidence that it has emollient and moisturizing properties necessary for softening the skin and restoring elasticity, controversy subsists on its other nutritional and neurodevelopmental properties.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Palm Oil ; Plant Oils ; pharmacology ; Skin ; drug effects ; Skin Care

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of infant formula containing palm oil on the nutrient absorption and defecation in infants.

METHODSA search in Cochrane Library, PubMed, OVID, Springer, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Vip Chinese Periodical Database, Wanfang Chinese Periodical Database and Chinese Bio-medicine Database was performed to identify relevant English and Chinese language articles between January 1990 and March 2009. Two reviewers independently performed data extraction and appraised using Jadad instrument. Double data were input and analyzed by software of Review Manager 4.2 recommended by Cochrane Collaboration. Intestinal nutrient absorption, electrolyte content of fecal excretion, in vivo calcium deposition, and defecation were included as the target outcomes. These outcomes were evaluated as the combined standardized mean difference (SMD) and relative risk (RR) value and 95% CI of them.

RESULTSThirteen articles were included. Three articles meeting inclusion criteria were analyzed for the effects between infant formula containing palmitic acid at the Sn-2 positions and palmitic acid at the Sn-1, 3 positions; five articles were analyzed for the effects between infant formula containing palmitic acid at the Sn-1, 3 and without palmitic acid; another five articles were analyzed for the effects between infant formula containing palmitic acid at the Sn-2 positions and without palmitic acid. Absorption of fat and calcium was higher, the Ca(2+) of fecal excretion was lower when the infant formula provided palmitic acid at the Sn-2 positions or without palmitic acid than that determined when formula containing palmitic acid at the Sn-1 and Sn-3 positions was given (P < 0.01). The bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) increased at 3, 6 months when the infant formula without palmitic acid as compared with using the formula containing palmitic acid at the Sn-1 and Sn-3 positions (P < 0.01). The formation of calcium soaps in stool was reduced, the BMC increased when the infant formula provided palmitic acid at the Sn-2 positions as compared with using the infant formula without palmitic acid (P < 0.01). The incidence of soft stools was higher, and the incidence of hard stools was lower when the infant formula provided palmitic acid at the Sn-2 positions or without palmitic acid than that when formula containing palmitic acid at the Sn-1 and Sn-3 positions was used (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAbsorption of fat and calcium was lower, the Ca(2+) of fecal excretion was higher, the BMC was reduced, the incidence of hard stools increased when the infant formula provided the palmitic acid at the Sn-1 and Sn-3 positions as compared with using formula contained palmitic acid at the Sn-2 positions or without palmitic acid. However, this conclusion should be used cautiously because of the limited quality of studies included into the analysis.

Defecation ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Formula ; chemistry ; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Intestinal Absorption ; Palm Oil ; Palmitic Acid ; Plant Oils