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This study aimed to determine the interaction of water-soluble pigment sources and sago starch concentration on the yogurt quality, especially in increasing the antioxidant and stability. This research applied extraction using aquades: citric acid (95:5) at 10 °C to 12 °C for 120 min. The red rose extract was then analyzed using FTIR and LC-MS measurements. A randomized completed block design factorial was applied with three replications. This research consisted of two factors; the first was adding different sources of pigment (anthocyanin) with four levels (control, rose petal, mulberry, and sappan wood). The second factor was sago starch concentration (2 %, 4 %, and 6 %). The results represent the interaction of pigment sources and sago starch concentration on physicochemical and sensorial properties. The best treatment was A3G3 (rose pigment and 6 % sago starch) with a viscosity of 40.0 d-Pass, pH 4.20, total dissolved solid 8.33 °Brix, total titrated acid 0.60 %, protein 2.19 %, fat content 1.92 %, total anthocyanin 47.94 mg g-1, antioxidants 80.10 % (increase 92.3 %). Furthermore, the organoleptic test resulted in appearance, tends to be attractive, aroma was quite like, viscosity tended to be thick, and good enough taste.

Land use affects changes in peak discharge so that it has the potential to cause or prevent flooding. Sago has morphological characteristics that have the potential to absorb more water. This study aimed to determine the magnitude of the change in peak discharge in the upstream watershed after sago planting. Observations were made on the three growth phases of sago palms (initial, middle, and mature phases). The research stages included calculating the runoff coefficient value under sago stands at three growth phases. Peak discharge of the existing conditions (settlements, rice fields, mixed gardens, shrubs, sand dunes, forests, and water bodies) was estimated after three scenarios of sago land use. The scenarios consisted of 25% of the land area planted with sago (scenario 1), 50% for scenario 2, and 100% for scenario 3. The data were analyzed quantitatively by comparing peak discharge in the existing conditions with scenario results. The results showed that the peak discharge in the existing conditions was 52.36 m³ hour-1. Peak discharge in the initial phase of scenario 1 was 18.94 m³ hour-1, scenario 2 was 37.88 m³ hour-1, and scenario 3 was 75.77 m3 hour-1. Peak discharge in the middle phase of scenario 1 was 19.01 m3 hour-1, scenario 2 was 38.02 m³ hour-1, and scenario 3 was 76.04 m³ hour-1. Peak discharge in the mature phase of scenario 1 was 6.38 m³ hour, scenario 2 was 12.76 m³ hour-1, and scenario 3 was 26.55 m³ hour-1. The peak discharge in the upstream watershed decreased after the scenarios with the use of sago land for all growth phases, except for scenario 3 of the initial and middle phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under high soil water levels, an imbalance occurs in the utilization of photosynthate between supporting vegetative growth and storage as starch. This results in a reduction in the density of dry matter in the stem and increased plant size. On the other hand, biomass yield and starch yield are considered to be low. This study examined the response of sago palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) seedlings to 50 and 80% soil water levels. To determine the response of the plant, several parameters were observed during the experiment: N, P, and K uptake, leaf photosynthesis, plant morphological growth, and sugar content in plants. It was found that the sago palm was able to show good growth performance under both 50 and 80% soil water levels. However, 50% soil water level is preferable due to trends in N, P, and K uptake, leaf photosynthetic rate, morphological growth performance, and also because no loss of starch is evident in the petiole or root. Core Ideas: Sago palm has prospects as a plant cultivated for land conservation and development in peatland.High groundwater levels promote a trend for higher photosynthetic rate of sago palm.Fifty percent soil water level is the most beneficial condition for supporting growth performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores how ecological change transforms children and child‐rearing among Indigenous Marind in West Papua. Marind children become 'anim' (persons) by immersing themselves within the ecology of sago palms and their suckers, or 'sago children'. Conversely, deforestation and oil palm expansion – the defining traits of the place, period, and production mode I term 'Papuan Plantationocene' – subvert the mutual maturation of humans and sago by confining children to the oppressive environment of the village and preventing them from supporting sago's growth through sago transplanting and felling. Meanwhile, oil palm itself is alternately characterized by Marind as a vulnerable child subjected to totalizing human control and as a figure of hope for future Marind generations. The article provides a deeper and broader consideration of 'childhood' beyond the human in understanding how monocrop capitalist production reconfigures the form and possibility of multispecies social reproduction for people and plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sago palm is an emerging crop for starch production which is predominately found in southeast Asia. Its expansion has potential danger to ecologically sensitive terrestrial ecosystems. This work aims to provide expansion strategies for sustainable sago plantation expansion based on the increase in sago starch demand. Mathematical optimisation model of the class linear programming is developed. The total land area available for expansion under the different land types is considered. The developed model determines the optimised area under each land type to be used for sago plantation expansion based on the trade-off between expansion cost and carbon emissions. ε-constraint method is used in solving the multi-objective problem. Unlike the other methods, ε-constraint enables to generate a range of optimal solutions. A case study with different land use types - disturbed tropical forest, disturbed peatland and swampy shrubland were considered to demonstrate the proposed model. Pareto frontier is presented between expansion cost and carbon emission using ε constraint method, providing a range of expansion strategies to the decision maker. The results show that the annualised expansion cost and the annual carbon emission that is inevitable to meet the expected demand is 1.15 M USD and 4.25 t CO2-eq/ha/y. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sago palms are the main food crops in eastern part of Indonesia. Sago productivity can reach 20 to 40 per ha per year, and the trees can be harvested when they are 10 years of age. Due to long duration before harvesting it is important that sago growers could grow annual food crops. The objective of study is to determine the growth of sago palm intercropped with eggplants, and how intercropping aff ects each crop grown as monoculture. The study was carried out from March to July 2018 at Tanjung Peranap Village, Meranti Island District, Riau Province, Indonesia. The experiment was organized in a completely randomized block design with two replications, with sago palm and eggplant as monoculture and as inter cropping. The results demonstrated that young sago palm did not suppress eggplant growth and vice versa. Therefore, eggplants can be planted between young sago palms.

Sago palm is an important indigenous crop grown in Southeast Asia. Its main product, sago starch, has the potential to be an alternative source of starch when compared to traditional starch derived from maize, sweet potato, cassava etc. Despite its potential, sago has remained as wild forest trees in swampy areas and unutilised for decades. Recently, Malaysia and Indonesia have shown interest in establishing estate plantations of sago palms. Although such a development may be welcomed, it is advisable to exercise caution during expansion of sago plantations. It is highly likely that unplanned expansions may result in large scale clearing of the tropical and peatland forests that are densely concentrated. In this respect, the vulnerability of these sensitive ecosystems during sago plantation expansions must be carefully accounted for. Therefore, in order to ensure planned and minimal sago plantation expansion, decision support tools that help to strategies land use changes (LUC) is crucial. Thus, this work presents a mathematical optimisation model of the type mixed integer linear programming (MILP) to plan for sago plantation expansions. The proposed model determines whether land expansion would be required when demands increase, accounting for the cost involved in expansion. A simple sago value chain has been solved to illustrate the proposed model. The results show that the optimised results avoided 4.3 % - 9.3 % of possible land area under expansion; 2.96 - 4.05 times of CO2 emission and 120.16 % - 189.14 % of cost savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sago palm is an emerging important food and energy source in the Philippines. There is limited information on the nature of its distribution in the Philippines. This study presents a phylogenetic tree hinting of the possible influence of geographical distribution to Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) polymorphism in sago palm. Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) Analysis was employed to assess intra-individual heterogeneity and genetic divergence within the sago morphotypes. The variables under observation were armature type (spiny or non-spiny), maturity, and environment, and combination of these variables yielded eight morphotype samples. Deduced gene sequences of the samples showed a relatively low mean GC% of 50.5%, compared to expected 65.8% from the Metroxylon salomonense (Warb.) Becc. outgroup. This phenomenon was attributed to possible cytosine methylation that led to mutability of GC base pair. Furthermore, branching pattern of ITS sequence divergence for both Neighbour-Joining and Maximum Likelihood methods was observed to be influenced by geographic distribution as non-spiny samples collected from Prosperidad clustered into a monophyletic group with the M. salomonense (Warb.) Becc. Outgroup from Papua New Guinea while the spiny samples from Tagum City diverged into a different group. The sago palm spine is a morphological trait that could be used for the differentiation of sago morphotypes within a small population of limited diversity. This trait is of particular interest in breeding due to its possible influence on important agronomic traits such as yield and resistance to pests and diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a characterization, comparison and analysis of in-situ spectral reflectance of Sago and other palms (coconut, oil palm and nipa) to ascertain on which part of the electromagnetic spectrum these palms are distinguishable from each other. The analysis also aims to reveal information that will assist in selecting which band to use when mapping Sago palms using the images acquired by these sensors. The datasets used in the analysis consisted of averaged spectral reflectance curves of each palm species measured within the 345 - 1045 nm wavelength range using an Ocean Optics USB4000-VIS-NIR Miniature Fiber Optic Spectrometer. This in-situ reflectance data was also resampled to match the spectral response of the 4 bands of ALOS AVNIR-2, 3 bands of ASTER VNIR, 4 bands of Landsat 7 ETM+, 5 bands of Landsat 8, and 8 bands of Worldview-2 (WV2). Examination of the spectral reflectance curves showed that the near infra-red region, specifically at 770, 800 and 875 nm, provides the best wavelengths where Sago palms can be distinguished from other palms. The resampling of the in-situ reflectance spectra to match the spectral response of optical sensors made possible the analysis of the differences in reflectance values of Sago and other palms in different bands of the sensors. Overall, the knowledge learned from the analysis can be useful in the actual analysis of optical satellite images, specifically in determining which band to include or to exclude, or whether to use all bands of a sensor in discriminating and mapping Sago palms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photosynthetic activities of the sago palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) were studied to find out its sensitivity to changes in ambient air temperature. The minimum ambient air temperature designed for the experiment was 25-29 °C, while the higher end was 29-33 °C. Several photosynthetic parameters were studied to support our analysis in sago photosynthetic activity, including diurnal leaf gas exchange, assimilation rate vs. CO2 concentration, leaf greenness, leaf chlorophyll content, and photosynthetic rate vs. irradiance. We found that sago palm photosynthetic activity tends to be more sensitive to minimum than to maximum ambient air temperature. The plants exposed to higher air temperatures had dark green leaf color associated with higher rates of diurnal photosynthesis, chlorophyll content, and rubisco limited photosynthetic activity. They also exhibited higher trend in optimum irradiance absorption level. Consequently, maximum light energy dissipation occurred at higher temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sago is a starchy food processed from the pith of the sago palm. Although it is their staple in the lean time between the harvests of more savory options, the Abelam people of Papua New Guinea do not relish it. The interlude between yam harvests has been called the “hungry time” (though there is plenty to eat) both because of the perceived unpalatability of sago and the monotony of a sago-based diet. But the sago palm has many advantages: it is long-lived, requires little attention, and can be harvested almost any time. It serves both as seasonal fare and as an emergency food supply for hard times, insuring against crop failure and providing food security. Sago protected the Abelam during the severe drought of 1997–98 and its aftermath, and is now supplementing their diet as they recover from the 2015 El Niño drought. Why, then, is it so disparaged? This article argues that Abelam traditionally regarded themselves as “People of the Yam,” viewing sago as prototypically “Not Yam.” Sago grows in less preferred environments with little effort. Its consistency and taste, symbolism, and imagery are all in direct opposition to the yam. By acting as a foil for the yam, sago allows Abelam to reinforce their distinctiveness as a people. Disdaining sago provides an avenue for expressing self-identity and valorizing a preferred food. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Two raw materials, sago palm bark (SPB) and date pits, were utilized as precursors to prepare high porosity activated carbon (AC). The porosity of these two raw materials was compared with that of commercial AC made from coconut shells. The physicochemical activation method was used for AC preparation, and it consisted of two steps, carbonization and activation. The activation process was performed using zinc chloride (ZnCl2) as an activation agent. N2 adsorption-desorption analysis was carried out to characterize the porosity of AC. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was conducted for the two raw materials. The adsorbent made from SPB, which showed the maximum surface area of 1634 m²/g at the 700 °C activation temperature for one hour, while the surface area of prepared AC from date pits was 1367 m²/g. Both prepared ACs had a larger surface area than commercial AC made with coconut shell (1348 m²/g). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three types of microwave-assisted diluted solvents were employed using 0.1 N H2SO4(MSA), 0.1 N NaOH (MSH), and 0.01 N NaHCO3(MSB). These solvents were evaluated as possible pretreatment routes for sago palm bark (SPB) with their effects on the pretreated substrate. A variety of analyses, consisting of fiber analysis, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), were performed to understand the pretreatment effects on the chemical and physical characteristics of SPB and pretreatment liquor. The thermal analysis has revealed that higher hemicellulose degradation was also found in MSA pretreatment. In the analyses of the pretreatment liquid for the extracted monomeric sugar, a higher amount of glucose was found (9 mg/g) using MSH pretreatment and the highest xylose level was found (4 mg/g) using MSA pretreatment. The analysis of the formation of inhibitors has shown that acetic acid was only found in the MSH pretreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Sago starch is one of the main carbohydrate sources in many South East Asian countries and Papua New Guinea. To produce sago starch, several activities such as plantation, harvesting, starch processing and road transportation are involved in the sago value chain. During the extraction of sago starch from sago palm, a large amount of water is required. The resulting wastewater is often discharged to the environment without proper treatment. In addition, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is emitted over the entire value chain. Hence, water footprint (WFP) and carbon footprint (CFP) should be considered in the optimal synthesis of a sustainable sago value chain. In addition, workplace footprint (WPFP), which measures work-related casualties, also needs to be taken into consideration. To balance the economic performance of the value chain with these footprints, a fuzzy multi-footprint optimisation (FMFO) approach is developed in this work. An industrial case study is then solved to illustrate the application of the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the growth of sago palm (Metroxylon saguRottb.), primary suckers appear from the main stem (MS) of transplanted suckers. Then, secondary suckers appear from the primary suckers. After the MS (trunk) is first harvested 10 and several years after transplantation, trunks can be harvested persistently using the primary, secondary, and subsequent suckers, which are designated as derivative suckers, growing with the MS. However, little knowledge exists about the growth behavior of derivative suckers. This study clarified how derivative suckers, especially the primary and secondary suckers, spread in the horizontal direction, and how they form a plant with the MS during the creeping growth stage. Most derivative suckers crept in the direction of about 70° subtended by the mother stem. However, two primary suckers that appeared early after transplantation crept in an obtuse angle to the creeping direction of the MS. As the reason for this obtuse angle direction, we considered the following four factors: (1) the existence of petiole, (2) distance from the sucker to the ground surface, (3) enlargement of the MS, and (4) space for sucker growth. The growth behaviors of the two primary suckers and the other derivative suckers differed. Therefore, in sago palm cultivation, the two primary suckers which appeared first from the MS were very important for formation of the framework of the plant with the MS, in terms of efficient utilization of space for the growth of derivative suckers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sago biomass is an agro-industrial waste produced in large quantities, mainly in the Asia-Pacific region and in particular South-East Asia. This work focuses on using sago biomass to obtain cellulose as the raw material, through chemical processing using acid hydrolysis, alkaline extraction, chlorination and bleaching, finally converting the material to pharmaceutical grade carboxymethyl sago cellulose (CMSC) by carboxymethylation. The cellulose was evaluated using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Field Emission Scanning ElectronicMicroscopy (FESEM). The extracted cellulose was analyzed for cellulose composition, and subsequently modified to CMSC with a degree of substitution (DS) 0.6 by typical carboxymethylation reactions. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the crystallinity of the sago cellulose was reduced after carboxymethylation. FTIR and NMR studies indicate that the hydroxyl groups of the cellulose fibers were etherified through carboxymethylation to produce CMSC. Further characterization of the cellulose and CMSC were performed using FESEM and DSC. The purity of CMSC was analyzed according to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International standards. In this case, acid and alkaline treatments coupled with high-pressure defibrillation were found to be effective in depolymerization and defibrillation of the cellulose fibers. The synthesized CMSC also shows no toxicity in the cell line studies and could be exploited as a pharmaceutical excipient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maximizing the amount of monomeric sugar yield from lignocellulosic materials requires an effective pretreatment process and identification of an optimal enzyme loading for cost-effectiveness. In this work, a microwave-diluted sulfuric acid pretreatment was applied prior to enzymatic hydrolysis of sago palm bark (SPB). Characterization of the solid fraction was completed before and after the pretreatment process. Analysis of SPB ash showed a presence of 6.8% silica. There was a 32% reduction in lignin content, an increased crystallinity from 29% to 47%, and clear damage and fragmentation to the surface structure of SPB after the pretreatment. Inhibitors were not detectable in the liquor after the microwave-acid pretreatment. The enzymatic hydrolysis of SPB was employed by adding 6 to 42 FPU/g of cellulase and 50 U/g of ß-glucosidase to identify the optimal cellulase loading at fixed ß-glucosidase loading. The maximum total monomeric sugar yield and total reducing sugar (using DNS method) at 77 mg/g and 378 mg/g were achieved using 24 FPU/g of cellulose, respectively. Thus, this enzyme loading can be recommended for further microwave-acid pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of SPB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sago palm infested with different scale insects, among them the cottony camellia scale, Pulvinaria floccifera (Westwood), is the most serious pest of Sago palm. This study was conducted to demonstrate the number of generations of this pest and the effect of parasitic and meteorological factor on its population. The present study was carried out in the Farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut university, during two successive seasons of 2013/2014 and 2014/2015. The obtain results of both seasons showed that half monthly observation of this insect had one peak of seasonal activity per year, which was recorded in the 1st of March. The highest percentage of the total monthly mean count was also recorded during March. (20.69, 19.09 % out of the total year count). The pest has one generation in each of the tow studied seasons. Concerning, the monthly variation rate in the population (M.V.R), the obtained results showed that the favorable times for this insect were from November to May of the first year and October to June of the second year. One parasitoid species was only found Microterys flavus (Howard). The percentages of parasitism ranged from 5.81% in October to 17.65% in August and 6.01% in April to 12.99% in July during the first and the second season of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The native sago starch has limited use in the food industry because of its undesirable physical and chemical properties. Therefore, modification of sago starch was needed to improve the undesirable properties. In this study, the effect modification with 1% (v/v) potassium hydroxide (KOH) towards the sago starch gel was investigated. The phenolic compound reduction was also studied to see the effectiveness of enzyme treatment on sago starch by using 1U enzyme amyloglucosidase. The properties of gel that being determined were the texture, color, granule size and swelling power. The gel sago starch produced, resulting the texture which meets the requirement of starch in the food industry based on the gel hardness, cohesiveness, adhesiveness, gumminess, springiness and resilience. The color of the modified starch and enzymatic treatment starch was whiter with high L* value = 52.84 ± 0.20 than the native sago starch because of the decreasing in phenolic compound on sago starch which was 45.55 ± 0.17 mg/ml. Granule size was also larger compared to the native starch and shows the higher swelling power of sago starch reaching, 6.82 ± 0.1. Overall, sago starch gel produced after modification with KOH was better in terms of texture, color, and granule size and swelling power and thus allowed the modified sago starch used in food industry as a thickener, gelling agent and stabilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass generation of bagasse wastes from every 100 kg of sago starch pith being processed are likely to pollute the water when they are discarded into rivers. The increase of livestock production increases manure production and improper management of these manures will pollute the soil and environment, and causing diseases outbreak. Co-composting of sago bagasse and chicken manure could serve as a viable alternative of managing these wastes. In order to reduce pollution, the objective of this study was to co-compost sago bagasse and chicken manure slurry to obtain a high quality organic fertilizer. The sago bagasse was thoroughly mixed with chicken manure slurry, chicken feed, and molasses in polystyrene boxes. Co-compost temperature readings were taken 3 times daily. Nitrogen and P concentrations increased (1.46 and 0.12%, respectively), whereas C content decreased (48.6%) throughout the co-composting. The CEC increased from 45.7 to 68.3 cmol kg-1 indicating humified organic material. By the end of co-composting, humic acid and ash contents also increased from 7.3 to 10.0% and 7.1 to 11.6%, respectively. The pH of the co-compost increased from 4.78 to 7.21. The final co-compost had no foul odour, but it had low heavy metals content, and a desired amount of nutrients. Seed germination indices of phytotoxicity test were above 80% of final co-compost. Co-compost product with balanced nutrients content can be produced by co-composting sago bagasse and chicken manure slurry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article highlights the state of the Bonda highlanders in India's Khairiput C.D. in the district of Malkangiri, Odisha, which lifestyle have largely remained unaffected by the outside world, making it possible for them to continue core practices of archaic beliefs and socio-cultural values. Topics discussed include their source of livelihood, the importance of the Sago Palm Tree to the tribe and their practices on collecting seedlings, transplanting and growing the tree.

Rice and sago are today important staples for many subsistence farmers and nomadic hunter-gatherers living in interior Borneo, but the cultural antiquity of these staples remains poorly understood. This study examines a 2300 yr sedimentary record from a palaeochannel near the village of Pa’Dalih in the southern Kelabit Highlands. Pollen and phytolith evidence indicate significant use of the sago palm Eugeissona near the channel during this period. Oryza phytoliths likely belonging to domesticated rice varieties are also recorded, although rice may have been used to a lesser extent than the sago palms. A rise in cultural activity takes place between c. 1715 and 1600 cal. BP, shown by increased frequency of fires. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Recovery planning is a key component of many threatened species conservation initiatives and can be a powerful awareness raising tool. One of the largest impediments to conservation efforts in the Pacific region however, is the lack of ecological data and its subsequent effects on the development of feasible and useful recovery plans for threatened species. Without these plans, the understaffed, underfunded and often technically ill-equipped conservation agencies face huge difficulties in planning, prioritizing and conducting conservation activities to adequately protect biodiversity. The Fiji sago palm, Metroxylon vitiense, is an endemic endangered palm species whose survival is heavily dependent on a feasible species recovery plan. It is geographically restricted and threatened by habitat destruction and overexploitation for thatch for the tourism industry and palm heart consumption by local consumers. Despite its threatened status, M. vitiense is not currently protected by national or international legislation. Recent field surveys and extensive stakeholder consultation have resulted in the production of a species recovery plan highlighting the importance of the species and advocating sustainable harvesting rather than complete bans to promote conservation. This article summarizes the recovery plan and its current effects on the status of M. vitiense in Fiji. We also discuss the role of different stakeholders in the conservation of M. vitiense, including the absence of significant behavioral changes by the largest consumer - the tourism industry, and the importance of recovery plans for biodiversity conservation in the Pacific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Sago palm is considered to be an ideal crop for starch-based sweetener and alcohol fuel feedstock since there is negligible competition between food and fuel in Indonesia and land resources were under-utilized. Starch accumulates in the pith of the sago trunk. Composition of dried sago pith is mainly starch and fiber components. Direct conversion of sago pith into fermentable sugar will reserve the water and save the energy for starch extraction and drying. This research investigated the effects of sago pith pretreatment as heating in water and in dilute sulfuric acid using microwave heating and autoclaving. Liquefaction of starch was conducted using α-amylase on 95°C, and enzyme consortium between dextrozyme (amyloglucosidase and pullunase), cellulase dan xylanase on 50°C for saccharification process. Changes on structures were monitored by microscopy examination, and filtrate characteristics. Conversion process which included the pretreatment was carried out by microwave heating in water or in dilute acid, starch, and fiber hydrolysis into fermentable sugar. The results shows that direct heating of sago pith in water by microwave treatment can swell and gelatinize the starch, make the fiber more amorphous and more susceptible for enzyme reaction. Heating in dilute acid directly converted the starch and fiber into depolymerized products and gave more simple sugars (DP of 1.11-2.56) compared to autoclaved heating of sago pith (DP of 2.00-2.11). Microwaved-treatment produced lower DP of sugars during liquefaction (DP of 3.8-13.3) compared to autoclaved heating (DP of 7.3), but expressed some higher DP of sugar during saccharification (DP 3.1-3.8) compared to autoclaved heating (DP of 3.0). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents information on a study which investigated morbidity and case fatality of cycad palm toxicosis in dogs including its putative prognostic factors. Information on cycad palms is provided particularly its toxicity in cycasin. Criteria for case selection and methods are presented such as data collection and statistical analysis. Results are discussed leading to conclusions of higher case fatality than previously published and charcoal's protective effect as emergency treatment.

Xylitol can be obtained from lignocellulosic materials containing xylose. However, the fraction of lignoeellulose converted through dilute acid hydrolysis contains compounds that inhibit the fermenting micro-organisms. These inhibitors can be removed from the hydrolysate by detoxification method, prior to fermentation. This study describes effectiveness of overliming process to reduce the toxicity of hydrolysates generated from pre-treatment of sago trunk for xylitol production. The overliming pH 9 and 10 was studied and the results showed that pH 9 was showed 20% of sugar loss, which is low compared to pH 10. Candida tropicalis strain was used to evaluate the fermentability of overlimed sago trunk hydrolysate at pH 9 and non-overlimed hydrolysate medium. Meanwhile, Xylitol accumulation and productivity in the overlimed medium was found to be higher than the non-treated medium. The maximum production of xylitol was increased up to 74% and converted within 76 h. The results obtained improved the fermentation process when compared with the non-treated medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Tropical peatland is a vast potential land source for biological production, but peatland is a major natural source of greenhouse gases, especially methane (CH4). It is important to evaluate the changes in greenhouse gas emissions induced by cultivation practices for sustainable agricultural use of tropical peatland. We investigated the effects of fertilizer application and the groundwater level on CH4 and carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes in an Indonesian peat soil. The crop cultivated was sago palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.), which can grow on tropical peat soil without drainage and yield great amounts of starch. CH4 emission through sago palm plants was first estimated by collecting gas samples immediately after cutting sago suckers using the closed chamber method. The CH4 fluxes ranged from negative values to 1.0mgCm−2 h−1. The mean CH4 flux from treatment with macroelements (N, P, and K) and microelements (B, Cu, Fe, and Zn) applied at normal rates did not differ significantly from that of the No fertilizer treatment, although increasing the application rates of macroelements or microelements by 10-fold increased the CH4 flux by a factor of two or three. The relationship between CH4 flux and the groundwater table was regressed to a logarithmic equation, which indicated that to maintain a small CH4 flux, the groundwater table should be maintained at <−45cm. The CO2 fluxes ranged between 24 and 150mgCm−2 h−1, and were not significantly affected by either fertilizer treatments or the groundwater level. The inclusion of sago palm suckers in a chamber increased CH4 emission from the peat soil significantly. Thus, gas emissions mediated by certain kinds of palm plants should not be disregarded. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The effects of different levels of sago palm pith as energy source on nutrient utilization and rumen fermentation characteristics of Thai native cattle were investigated. Four rumen-fistulated bulls with average body weight (BW) of 263± 10 kg were randomly assigned according to a 4x4 Latin Square Design. Plicatulum hay (Paspalum plicatulum Michx.) was offered to each animal ad libitum with 0.50 kg/h/d of soybean meal. The dietary treatments were sago palm pith supplementation at the rate of 0, 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75% of BW (T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively). The results showed that the total DMI (49.77, 52.61 and 52.83 g/BWkg0.75/d, respectively) and OMI (46.40, 49.30 and 49.74 g/BWkg0.75/d, respectively) were not significantly different between T2, T3 and T4, but all were significantly (P<0.05) higher than T1 (41.56 and 38.47 g/ BWkg0.75/d, respectively). Apparent digestibility of DM and OM were lowest in T1 (43.63 and 48.03%, respectively), followed by T2 (51.86 and 55.29%, respectively), and T3 (55.48 and 59.07%, respectively) and highest in T4 (62.91 and 66.23%, respectively). Higher rumen NH3-N and BUN levels were found in the T1 (7.14 and 15.74 mg/dl, respectively) compared to the other treatments, while rumen pH and blood glucose levels were within normal range. Under the conditions of this study, different levels of sago palm pith as a supplementary energy source resulted in a positive effect on nutrient utilization of Thai native cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous trials have revealed variable responses of sago palm ( Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) to fertilizer application, particularly nitrogen (N). In the present study, we quantified the fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) of sago palm for the first time using 15N-labeled fertilizer in pot and field experiments. The pot experiment was conducted in Japan using a 2:1 mixture of sand to Philippine soil. The field experiment was conducted in Leyte in the Philippines. Both experiments consisted of three replicates in each of three treatments: control, 15N urea at 50 kg N ha−1 and 15N urea at 100 kg N ha−1. The N uptake of sago palm increased significantly, but inconsistently with increasing N application. The few instances of a significant increase in N uptake did not translate into significant improvements in growth parameters, except for the number of leaflets in the pot experiment. The FUE values for sago seedlings (< 6 months) in the pot experiment treated with 50 and 100 kg N ha−1 were 10.5 and 13.2%, respectively, whereas for the 2-year-old sago palms in the field, the corresponding FUE values were 14.8 and 12.0%. The FUE values were similar at the two levels of N application in both experiments. Sago growth parameters appeared to be insensitive to N application, suggesting that the form of N and the timing of N fertilization are important factors for sago palms. Therefore, the use of N fertilizer in sago production can only be justified after determining and fully understanding the response of sago palm to N application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sago starch is a cheap form of starch which is isolated from sago palm (Metroxylon spp.) and is available in abundance in South East Asian countries. Given its low cost, Sago starch has great potential to be used as a substitute for other forms of starch. The objectives of this work were to study the effects of paste concentration on the rheological behaviour of sago starch paste, their texture properties and their freeze thaw stability compared to other types of starch. The rheological properties of sago starch were investigated at different paste concentrations (3-8 wt %). The textural properties of the samples were investigated by examining the gel strength of the samples. The percent syneresis of sago starch was also studied to examine the freeze-thaw stability of the material. The freeze thaw stability of sago starch with the addition of certain biopolymers were also characterized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: With a deep concern over the probable global food shortage in the years to come, underutilized plant resources are now being extensively tapped by scientists throughout the world. In this regard, sago palm is gaining much importance as a crop par excellence and a starch crop of the 21st century, due to its being an extremely sustainable plant with an ability to thrive in most soil conditions. The review focuses on sago palm as an invaluable resource of starchy foods and of innumerable other products of significant commercial value such as modified starches, lactic acid, cyclodextrins, and ethanol. Several important aspects of the properties and applications of sago palm-derived products that could be exploited commercially are also covered. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article discusses the uses of the palms of the genus Metroxylon by the people of Vanuatu. Inhabitants of Vanuatu use the sago palms of Metroxylon in the making of roofing material for their traditional houses. Most of the people of Vanuatu have no knowledge of the nutritional uses of sago. Vegetable salt can also be extracted from Metroxylon since certain parts of the plant are rich in salt.

The temporal availability of propagules is a critical factor in sustaining pioneer riparian tree populations along snowmelt-driven rivers because seedling establishment is strongly linked to seasonal hydrology. River regulation in semi-arid regions threatens to decouple seed development and dispersal from the discharge regime to which they evolved. Using the lower Tuolumne River as a model system, we quantified and modeled propagule availability for Populus fremontii (POFR), Salix gooddingii (SAGO), and Salix exigua (SAEX), the tree and shrub species that dominate near-channel riparian stands in the San Joaquin Basin, CA. A degree-day model was fit to field data of seasonal seed density and local temperature from three sites in 2002–2004 to predict the onset of the peak dispersal period. To evaluate historical synchrony of seed dispersal and seasonal river hydrology, we compared peak spring runoff timing to modeled peak seed release periods for the last 75 years. The peak seed release period began on May 15 for POFR (range April 23–June 10), May 30 for SAGO (range May 19–June 11) and May 31 for SAEX (range May 8–June 30). Degree-day models for the onset of seed release reduced prediction error by 40–67% over day-of-year means; the models predicted best the interannual, versus site-to-site, variation in timing. The historical analysis suggests that POFR seed release coincided with peak runoff in almost all years, whereas SAGO and SAEX dispersal occurred during the spring flood recession. The degree-day modeling approach reduce uncertainty in dispersal timing and shows potential for guiding flow releases on regulated rivers to increase riparian tree recruitment at the lowest water cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical peatlands in Sarawak are exploited on a large scale for crop plantations. After reclamation of primary forests, large amounts of gaseous and soluble organic compounds could be released from peatlands. These decomposing products are probably related to the composition and properties of peat humus. Furthermore, these properties might be influenced by land use and topography. Peat soils on the surface and beneath the water table were collected from the edge and the center of a peat dome under sago palm plantations located between two tributaries. The content of alkali-soluble carbon in peat soils and the degree of humification of peat were higher on the edge than in the center of the peat dome and in the deeper horizons compared with the surface horizons. A similar trend was also observed for the contents of carboxylic groups and aromatic constituents in humic acids. The opposite trend was observed for the viscosity of humic acids related to molecular weight. These results indicate that the degree of humification of peat progressed at sites located close to tributaries and in deeper horizons. Peat decomposition might presumably be promoted at locations along the tributaries because of the higher microbial activities supported by a higher mineral nutrient supply. Concurrently, the contents of carbohydrates were lower in the surface horizons than in the deep horizons, suggesting that peat decomposition is accelerated on the ground surface after reclamation. Reclamation of primary forests for the establishment of sago plantations has gradually changed the redox conditions and has promoted biodegradation of peat soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the relationships between starch concentrations and activities of starch synthetic enzymes in sago palms ( Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) under acid sulfate and mineral soil conditions. Plants grown naturally that had reached their maturated stage were sampled. We found that the growth in acid sulfate soil is lower than that in mineral soil and that starch granules were larger and there was more amylase activity in acid sulfate soil than in mineral soil. Lower amylase activity in mineral soil could eliminate the degradation of starch, making the smaller granules suitable for storing large amounts of starch in a limited space inside cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the importance of palm sago (Metroxylon sagu) in the social and subsistence practices of the Ilahita Arapesh in Papua New Guinea. Primary and secondary uses of sago; Growing of sago by the Arapesh; Consumption of the sago; Use of the sago as a gift; Use of sago in ritual.