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Micromorphology of pejibaye leaflets Bactris gasipaes (Arecaceae) var. diamonds-10. Bactris gasipaes is widely cultivated for the consumption of palm hearts and fruits. The present work describes the micro morphological characteristics of leaflets from adult plants of B. gasipaes, thornless variety Diamantes-10, collected in the Diamantes Experimental Station in Guápiles, Costa Rica. We collected 25 leaflets and analyses were performed with a combination of microscopy techniques: light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy to study their structure. Our results showed that leaflets have abundant epicuticular wax on adaxial and abaxial surfaces. Analyses from the epidermis indicated that it is composed of isodiametric cells, and it is also evident that hypodermis cells have rectangular shape and are larger than the other epidermal cells. We observed stomata on both surfaces, but they were more abundant in the abaxial surface. On the other hand, the epidermis showed the presence of trichomes with three different morphologies. In the parenchyma, cells are large and not well defined, and we observed the presence of astroesclereids, and compact groups of fiber bundles between parenchyma cells. The central vein has several vascular bundles, arranged in a continuous manner, and they are surrounded by sclerotic tissue; some of these fibers presented live protoplasts. All minor veins showed the same anatomy as the central vein. In these veins, the vessel elements of protoxylem and metaxylem showed scalariform ornaments on their walls. Phloem is located towards the adaxial surface of the vein and we observed sieve and companion cells surrounded by fibers and parenchyma cells. The companion cells presented branched plasmodesmata attached to a sieve element, and in these elements we found protein bodies called P-protein. The main anatomical difference in the leaflets of the var. Diamantes-10, compared to the other varieties of B. gasipaes K, is the lack of thorns; the other morphological features seem to be conserved. Rev. Biol. Trop. 64 (3): 1273-1285. Epub 2016 September 01. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phoenix sylvestris (wild date palm) plays an important role in the diet of the inhabitants of tribal area of southern Rajasthan. There is a lacuna in the study of its nutritional value and its potential as an alternative source of food. In the present study the quantitative determination of proximate composition of carbohydrate, protein, lipid, minerals and vitamins present in the palm heart of Phoenix sylvestris has been done by standard analytical techniques. The palm heart of Phoenix sylvestris showed highest amount of carbohydrate (11.63%), crude protein (10.93%), crude fiber (3.24%), reducing sugar (2.68%), crude lipid (2%) and small amount of ash (1.2%). The palm heart of Phoenix sylvestris also has a high energy value (108.24 kcal/100 g). It is rich in Vitamin B3 (1.34 mg/100 g) and Vitamin C (5.52 mg/100 g). This study concluded that the palm heart of Phoenix sylvestris contained highest amount of carbohydrate, protein and lowest amount of minerals as compared to palm heart of Euterpe spp. The results revealed that palm heart of Phoenix sylvestris is a good nutrient supplement and is opulent in carbohydrate, crude protein, vitamin B complex, vitamin C and vitamin K. It can be used as good alternative source of cabbage or vegetable and to alleviate hunger and malnutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than 200 scientific publications and Internet sources dealing with trade in palm products in north-western South America are reviewed. We focus on value chains, trade volumes, prices, and recent developments for some of the most important raw materials derived from native palms. Trade in palm products takes place at local, regional, national, and international levels. For local communities and individual households palm products may play a key role as the most important or only source of cash income. Most of these palm products are inadequately or not at all captured in trade statistics at the local and regional economic levels. Only products such as vegetable ivory and palm heart are monitored statistically, mainly because they are exported. Most raw materials derived from palms are extracted from the wild, and mainly by destructive harvesting. Reduced availability and rising prices on local and regional markets reflect incipient resource depletion. Only in vegetable ivory more or less sustainable wild harvesting methods prevail. Palm heart is increasingly being harvested from orchards and non-sustainable exploitation of wild populations is loosing ground. The international market for native palm oils and pulp (esp. Euterpe oleracea or açaí) is currently served almost exclusively from Brazil. Due to low oil contents and high production costs palm oils are currently used mainly for cosmetics. Based on their content of protein, starch, tocols, and carotenoids palm fruits have high nutritional value and represent a considerable potential for the development of functional foods, food supplements and animal fodder. Palms could undoubtedly play a more important role in the socio-economic development of north-western South America. Sustainability and marketing potential of palm products are negatively affected by the low income obtained by primary producers which often represents no more than 0.01-3% of the retail value. Poor governance, insecurity of land tenure and unequal sharing of profits endanger a sustainable long-term development of these valuable resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Brazil many kinds of native palms can provide hearth palm of good quality and among them stands out the guarirobeira (Syagrus oleracea (Mart.) J. Becc.), which has different flavor and great acceptance in the Cerrado region. The objective of this research was to determine the characteristics of guariroba palm heart, with relationship to the moisture, ash, total lipids, proteins, reducer and no-reducer sugars, acidity, ascorbic acid, total phenol, pH, total fiber and iron, phosphorus, calcium, sodium and potassium minerals. It was also verified the effect of processing (blanching, acidification and freezing) in the frozen product. Significant differences (P<0.05) was noted among average values found in frozen and raw samples, with contents (g 100g-1) respectively, for moisture, of 87.68 and 90.56; ash, 0.96 and 0.73; and lipids, 0.44 and 0.24; besides the occurrence of decreasing energy value from 11.64 to 9.97kcal 100g-1 in the integral sample. The citric acid use in the processing of guariroba palm heart decreased the pH of 5.8 to 4.5, and was efficient for avoid browning. The guariroba palm heart still be a good source of e fiber and total phenol after freezing, in addition to offer high contents of vitamin C and iron mineral. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of fertilization, packing type, and temperature on palm heart quality. The work, carried out in January, 2005, evaluated the post harvest quality of peach palm heart in response to two fertilization procedures: chemical and organic fertilizer; two packing procedures: a thermosealed low-density polyethylene bag and a tray of expanded polystyrene, covered with a film of polyvinyl chloride): and three temperatures: 5, 10 and 20 °C. The palm heart fertilized organically showed better appearance and acidity than the inorganic product (pH 6,45 vs 6,24, respectively) during the first six days in storage (dis). However, it showed a decline in appearance, including yellowing, acidification, and undesirable odors after 12 dis. The palm heart packed in plastic bags at 5 °C was properly preserved until the end of the storage period. The tray of expanded polystyrene was not appropriate for the preservation of peach palm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illegal extraction of non-timber forest products in the tropics is widespread, and many protected areas face the challenge of balancing conservation needs with cultural practices related to the use and extraction of animals and plants. We studied the illegal wild palm heart extraction of Geonoma edulis, locally known as súrtuba, in Volcán Poás and Braulio Carrillo National Parks in Costa Rica. Through 96 questionnaires administered in three communities bordering these national parks, and by semistructured interviews with poachers and park managers, this study examined extraction and consumption motives, patterns, and frequencies. This palm is sought out by the communities for use during Holy Week to satisfy cultural traditions, for its associated nutritive value, and because of its unique bitter flavor, not comparable to domesticated palm heart. Whereas the majority of the respondents consume it during Holy Week (55.2%), a substantial number (27.1%) consume G. edulis palm heart at least once a month. The majority extract once a year (58%); however, a minority (2.1%) rely on C. edulis for economic subsistence. This accounts for 72.6% of the reported extraction (over 4,500 palms per year) and is supplying a year-round market for nontraditional use. Our results show that what most likely began as a cultural tradition has become an uncontrolled, nontraditional source of income. Additional efforts should determine the feasibility of limited extraction outside protected areas to satisfy traditional use. Such an effort entails the decentralization of biodiversity policies and innovative methods to implement protective measures, as well as incentives for community involvement in the management of this palm heart species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was carried out to establish how the infection by palm heart bacteriosis occurs in the field, during the years 2004 and 2005 at Los Diamantes experimental station in Guápiles, Costa Rica, with the aim to establish how the infection takes place in this disease in the field. The literature indicates that the bacteria Pantoea stewartii in association with the fungus Fusarium sp. are the pathogenic agents of the disease known as "bacteriosis of the pejibaye palm heart". Three inoculation experiments were carried out on 4-mo old plants of two varieties and the behavior of the disease observed in the field. Inoculation consisted of sprays on the foliage and injection into the leaf sheets, with and without wounds. For inoculation, extracts of macerations of diseased leaves, soil from diseased plantations, and suspensions of bacteria and fungus cultivated in the laboratory were used. Both varieties, inoculated artificially, were equally susceptible. Under field conditions, Diamantes-10 was far less susceptible to the disease because is less attractive to the vector (Metamasius hemipterus). The inoculation with leaf macerate sprayed over the foliage was the most effective (up to 100%); injection into the leaf sheet was also effective (up to 56.2%). Plants infected, transplanted to full sun and well drained soil, with Metamasius hemipterus absent, recovered completely from the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field trial was carried out at the Experimental Station "Los Diamantes" (Guápiles, Costa Rica) from October 2003 to November 2005. The objective was to evaluate the effect of different plant densities (3.333, 5.000 and 6.666 plants/ha), diverse methods of fertilization (chemical, organic and chemical-organic) and two spatial disposition of plants in the field (rectangular and triangular), on the growth of the peach palm for palm heart production. The variables considered were stem diameter and height as well as leaf and sprout numbers, as plant production indicators. The evaluation period covered only the first 25 months of growth after planting in the open field. The number of leaves, plant height and stem diameter did not show relevant differences of response to the treatments. After 15 months, only the number of sprouts diminished as the population density increased. The effect of the fertilization became evident after the first harvest, 20 months after fields planting, due to the increased competition among more developed older plants. At this time chemical fertilizers caused an increased number and vigour of the sprouts. But the agronomical practices, evaluated 25 months after planting, did not produce any influence on the number of palm hearts harvested or on the physical characteristics of the foliar and caulinar sections of the heart of palm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article demonstrates an economic and ecological profile of açaí palm heart production in the Amazon estuary, particularly those on the island of Marajó. It also examined the economic costs and returns of palm heart extraction, palm heart canning, as well as palm heart distribution. Several factors are shown that lead players in each sector to carry out nonsustainability practices. An analysis reveals how the frequency of palm heart harvest affects açaí population structure and palm heart productivity. Then, an assessment is considered concerning the economic potential of forest management approaches which are designed to provide a constant supply of palm hearts.