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In monoculture-dominated landscapes, recovering biodiversity is a priority, but effective restoration strategies have yet to be identified. In this study, we experimentally tested passive and active restoration strategies to recover taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity of woody plants within 52 tree islands established in an oil palm landscape. Large tree islands and higher initial planted diversity catalyzed diversity recovery, particularly functional diversity at the landscape level. At the local scale, results demonstrated that greater initial planting diversity begets greater diversity of native recruits, overcoming limitations of natural recruitment in highly modified landscapes. Establishing large and diverse tree islands is crucial for safeguarding rare, endemic, and forest-associated species in oil palm landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grading of oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB) plays a vital role in the postharvest operation as it directly influences the extraction rate of oil palm, thereby ensuring quality control in the estate and mill. Currently, manual grading based on visual assessment is employed, but it has limitations mainly due to subjective judgment-influenced factors such as visual resemblance, light intensities, and differences in colors across ripeness categories. Hence, an automated oil palm fruit grading system in postharvest technology is proposed to enhance the grading process and improve productivity while maintaining operational cost efficiency. This work involves developing an improved object detection model based on the You Only Look Once model to accurately identify four grades of oil palm FFB, namely, ripe, unripe, underripe, and overripe. The proposed model incorporated several improvements, including a hybrid feature extractor comprising mobile inverted bottleneck module and densely connected neural network. Additionally, it employs a spatial pyramid pooling structure to expand the receptive field and utilizes the complete intersection over union function for bounding box regression. The results indicate that the proposed model obtains a remarkable mAP of 94.37% and an F1-score of 0.89. Besides, the model performs real-time detection at a faster rate of 4.8 FPS on a limited-capacity embedded device, NVIDIA Jetson Nano. The comprehensive experimental results confirm the superiority of the proposed model over various detection models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil palm mesocarp fiber (OPMF), a biomass waste generated during the production of palm oil is rich in polysaccharides that can be converted to value-added product. The potential of cellulose from OPMF as a prebiotic represents an innovative exploration of biomass waste, which has never been undertaken. This study aims to investigate the effect of supplementation of OPMF in the medium on the growth of probiotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Lactobacillus casei and enteropathogenic E. coli, and to ascertain the potential OPMF as prebiotic by quantifying prebiotic activity score (PAS). The research was designed using a Randomized Complete Block Design with a single factor and three replications. The factor was the concentration of OPMF extract added to the growth medium, with seven treatment levels: P0 as control (no addition), P1 (1% glucose), P2 (2% prebiotic inulin), P3 (2% OPMF extract), P4 (4% OPMF extract), P5 (6% OPMF extract), P6 (8% OPMF extract), and P7 (10% OPMF extract) (w/v). The results showed that supplementation of OPMF extract significantly supported the growth of both of probiotics used in this study (p < 0.05) similar to on the prebiotic inulin. The growth of S. cerevisiae was the highest on the 8% OPMF extract, with the PAS value of 1.90. In addition, the growth of L. casei on OPMF extract at the minimal concentration of 6% and on inulin were higher significantly than on glucose, with the PAS in the range of 1.98–2.47. In contrast, the growth of E. coli on the OPMF extract and on inulin were lower than on glucose (p < 0.05). Conclusion, the growth of L. casei on OPMF extract was higher than S. cerevisiae, at a minimal concentration of 6%. Therefore, OPMF extract was potential as prebiotic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil palm cultivation has experienced explosive expansion in recent decades. Although the oil palm boom has serious environmental and socioeconomic consequences, only environmental issues have garnered attention in public discussion and synthesis studies. In this study, we synthesize the literature on the socioeconomic impacts of oil palm expansion across various observation units and spatial and temporal scales, which is of significant relevance to policymakers, researchers, and the wider public. Our review demonstrates that oil palm expansion is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it has significantly helped both producing and non-producing countries' economies by facilitating the (re)export of crude palm oil and its byproducts and by creating employment opportunities. This has stimulated rural economies, led to rural poverty reduction, and improved food security and diets for rural households in producer countries. On the other hand, it has increased conflicts and tension between local communities and agro-industrial companies, worsened workers' conditions, and widened domestic economic inequality between producing and non-producing areas within a given producer country. Monetary quantification of the costs of oil palm's negative environmental and social impacts indicates that the loss of ecosystem services and social services far outweighs the benefits derived from the increased production of oil palm. The direct income benefits through harvest sales and employment are more evident in the Southeast Asia production frontier, where oil palm cultivation and marketing are relatively advanced and well-integrated into global value chains. The negative outcomes are observed in all oil palm production regions, with more negative effects on food security in the African production frontiers. We propose multiple actionable research and policy recommendations that may jointly lead to inclusive and sustainable socioeconomic (and environmental) outcomes in oil palm cultivation. The socioeconomic consequences of oil palm expansion at the global level, in the African and American production frontiers, and the role of gender in oil palm production systems remain understudied. Hence, studies should be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Independent oil palm smallholders in Indonesia contributed significantly to the sustainable of Crude Palm Oil (CPO) supply chain. On the other hand, sustainability in the process of implementing the supply chain system for independent smallholders is an issue that is extremely important for the success of the supply chain system for the CPO company. This study's objective is to develop an alternative business model with the goal of strengthening the interaction that already exists between independent farmers and cooperatives in ensuring the existence of a supply chain for raw materials and having access to financial resources, knowledge, and technology. The selection of the research location considered several factors, including the size of the area's oil palm plantations, the number of oil palm farmers who are self-sufficient, and the possibility of locating CPO plant. Study findings that, the new model by business canvas analysis as the upgraded model of existing model business recommended that it should be built based on the cooperative palm oil family which provides farmers with access to financial, replanting, intensification, and extensification and infrastructure by APKASINDO, BPDPKS, Bank, and other stakeholders to sustain the FFB supply chain in cooperation through a partnership program in a long-term scheme. This whole system was developed by corporate farming system based on the cooperative as the off taker of FFB farmers and develop mini plant CPO to produce cooking oil and biofuels and by product as the waste management system as the value added for farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of Lufenuron 50-EC pesticide in oil palm crops affects water quality and aquatic life. This study investigated the adsorption of Lufenuron 50-EC from an aqueous solution using activated carbon derived from oil palm shells (OPSs). Activated carbon (AC) was prepared through physical and chemical activation processes in carbon dioxide environments, using potassium hydroxide (KOH) as a chemical activating agent. The resulting AC was characterized using standard techniques. The most favorable operating parameters were physical activation at 900 °C for 2 h, achieving a BET surface area of 548 m2/g. For chemical activation, at 800 °C, 1 h, and an impregnation ratio (KOH/biochar) of 2:1 (w/w), a BET surface area of 90 m2/g was obtained, which was smaller than that achieved by physical activation. The use of KOH reduced the surface area but generated a high presence of functional groups on the AC surface, which is important for adsorption processes. The AC produced achieved high Lufenuron adsorption yields, reaching a maximum of 96.93%. AC produced at 900 °C with 2 h showed the best performance. Therefore, OPS is an excellent precursor for producing AC with favorable characteristics for pollutant adsorption in aqueous solutions, especially for the insecticide Lufenuron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the years, studies showed that hydrogels can be produced through synthetic route to overcome the limitations in obtaining natural-based hydrogels. Biomass resources offer potential alternatives as renewable feedstocks due to their outstanding biodegradability and biocompatibility. Oil palm mesocarp fiber (MF) is the biomass residue obtained after the pressing of palm fruits during palm oil extraction. There is approximately 11 % MF generated from palm fruits after oil extraction. However, the applications of MF are limited. This study aimed to investigate the development of hydrogels from holocellulose MF instead of commonly used cellulose which involving several pretreatment steps, through acid cross-linkers. Holocellulose MF was selected as polymer for chemical cross-linking with two inexpensive and nontoxic hydrophilic organic acids, citric acid and acetic acid for hydrogel production. Comparison study was carried out to evaluate the physicochemical properties, and degree of swelling, as well as gel content in different media for both acids in the production of hydrogel from holocellulose MF. Results indicated that the optimum concentrations of citric acid and acetic acid for gel content and degree of swelling were 5 M and 2 M, respectively. Both optimized hydrogels exhibited comparable profiles in terms of morphology, thermal stability and functional groups, in addition to showing similar degree of swelling profile in different media, i.e., salt solution, acidic, neutral to alkaline, implying their distinctive characteristics. In summary, holocellulose MF is suitable for the production of hydrogel with citric acid and acetic acid as crosslinkers for different desired applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased frequency and severity of flooding are linked to global warming. Flooding stress can severely affect crop yields and plant survival, and therefore the livelihoods of farmers. An oil palm breeding trial plot consisting of six progenies in Terengganu, Malaysia, happened to be inundated with flooding within a year after planting and annually for 2 years thereafter. Flooding recurred at the 8th year of planting and several times after that within the 14‐year period of monitoring. Due to the uneven terrain in this trial, palms were exposed to various flood levels and were categorized into two flooding groups. Yields and survivability of the palms were not affected by low‐flood levels, in contrast to the palms in lower areas that experienced higher flood levels. Compared to neighbouring non‐flooded trials, palms exposed to high floodwaters generally experienced lower fruit yields, and reduced vertical growth with poorer canopy cover. However, one of the progenies that exhibited a moderate survival rate in high‐flooded areas outperformed the other progenies in terms of yield in these areas. Generally, young oil palms exposed to low floods were able to survive and produce yields that were comparable to palms in non‐flooded areas, though 10%–20% of the low‐flooded palms produced poor yields in the first 3–5 years. In high‐flooded areas however, oil palm survivability ranged from 45% to 73% during the early 3 years and 46%–89% thereafter. Hence, young palms exposed to recurrent flooding of approximately more than 1 m during their early years are likely to become poor yielders with poor survival rates. Observations from this study may assist oil palm farmers in the management of this crop in the event of unexpected flooding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) is a major oil crop that significantly contributes to the Indonesia's and Malaysia's economic growth. However, oil palm processing for oil extraction generates substantial waste, such as palm kernel cake, palm‐pressed fibre, oil palm empty fruit bunches and palm oil mill effluent, which pose noticeable environmental challenges. This review explores green extraction techniques for palm waste processing, which include microwave‐assisted extraction, deep eutectic solvents, ultrasound‐assisted extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, enzyme‐assisted extraction and subcritical water extraction. The potential for industry scaling, mechanisms, applications and challenges of each technique used for oil palm waste are discussed. Microwave‐assisted extraction, ultrasound‐assisted extraction and supercritical fluid extraction are particularly promising for large‐scale production, while deep eutectic solvents paired with ultrasound‐assisted extraction show the potential to improve extraction efficiency. This review also reveals that green extraction techniques are sustainable alternative to conventional techniques by effectively recovering valuable compounds from waste with reduced environmental impact. Additionally, the diverse applications of bioactive compounds (vitamin E, phytosterols, phenolics, polyphenols and flavonoids) extracted from oil palm waste in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and other industries are also presented. Valuable components such as cellulose, dietary fibres and bioactive peptides derived from the waste can be applied in food coatings, high‐protein products and drug delivery systems. Biosorbents, biofuels and biodegradable products derived from the waste would also provide environmental benefits. Future research should focus on optimising the green extraction techniques for industrial use to promote responsible production and circular waste management to foster health and environmental safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most agricultural products are presently cultivated on marginal lands with poor soil properties and unfavorable environmental conditions (diseases and abiotic stresses), which can threaten plant growth and yield. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) are beneficial bacteria that promote plant growth and biomass and act as biocontrols against diseases and stress. However, most isolated PGPBs have a single function and low survival rates owing to their limited growth behaviors. In this study, we isolated multifunctional PGPB from oil palm rhizosphere, quantitatively measured their activities, and evaluated their effectiveness in Brassica rapa (Komatsuna) cultivation. This is the first study to report the isolation of three multifunctional PGPB strains with ammonium production, phosphate-potassium-silicate solubilization, and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production from the oil palm rhizosphere, namely Kosakonia oryzendophytica AJLB38, Enterobacter quasimori AJTS77, and Lelliottia jeotgali AJTS83. Additionally, these strains showed antifungal activity against the oil palm pathogen Ganoderma boninense. These strains grow under high temperature, acidic and alkaline pH, and high salt concentration, which would result in their proliferation in various environmental conditions. The cultivation experiments revealed these strains improved the growth and biomass with half the dosage of chemical fertilizer application, which was not significantly different to the full dosage. Furthermore, the overall plant growth-promoting activities in quantitative assays and overall B. rapa growth in cultivation experiments were statistically correlated, which could contribute to the prediction of plant growth promotion without plant cultivation experiments. Thus, the selected PGPB could be valuable as a biofertilizer to improve soil health and quality and promote agricultural sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basal stem rot disease caused by Ganoderma boninense is a major problem for oil palm cultivation. The research was conducted to obtain biocontrol agents from rhizosphere of oil palm to control the disease as part of sustainable pest management in oil palm plantation. Rhizosphere bacteria were isolated from rhizospheres of healthy oil palm trees. Isolation of bacteria was done using serial dilution method. The isolated bacteria were then tested for its antifungal activity against G. boninense in vitro using dual culture assay. The ability of the bacteria to produce antifungal compound was also determined by culturing the bacteria on ISP2 liquid media. Once the bacterial cells were removed, the crude metabolites were then tested against G. boninense using agar well diffusion and toothpick colonization. The result showed that several isolates demonstrated strong antifungal activity against G. boninense. Some isolates were also able to degrade chitin and to solubilize phosphate. Furthermore, the crude metabolites produced by the rhizosphere bacteria demonstrated the ability to inhibit the growth of G. boninense in the agar diffusion method. Colonization of the G. boninense on toothpick following soaking in the crude metabolites was also inhibited. The isolated rhizosphere bacteria (BARK7 and BARK15 in which identified as Burkholderia sp.) showed promising ability to be developed as biocontrol agent for basal stem rot disease of oil palm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, short oil palm fibre-reinforced bio-epoxy matrix composites were fabricated using the hand-lay-up technique. The effects of oil palm fibre composites on mechanical, physical, and thermal behaviours were examined. This work aimed to identify the optimal fibre loading that enables the oil palm/bio-epoxy composite to have superior thermal and mechanical properties. Fibre loading varied from 30 to 60 wt%. A maximum Young's modulus of 5.76 GPa was obtained at 60 wt% while a maximum flexural modulus of 5.2 GPa and impact strength of 5.55 kJ/m2 was obtained at 50 wt%. However, tensile and flexural strength were not much improved. Regarding the moisture absorption and thickness swelling, the composites followed a similar order: bio-epoxy matrix < 30 wt% < 40 wt% <50 wt% < 60 wt%. The fickian diffusion model was used to describe the thickness swelling behaviour. The major inference from the thermal characterization was that as the fibre loading was increased, there was a substantial improvement in thermal stability evident from the lower damping factor (0.21 at 60 wt.%), better dimensional stability and higher residue % (22.22% at 50 wt%) at elevated temperatures. Besides, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was examined for tested samples to understand the fibre-to-matrix bonding phenomenon. Based on these results, the short oil palm fibre composites can be suggested for some potential applications such as automotive components (e.g., door trims, interior panels), aerospace (e.g., tray tables, overhead bins) and construction materials (e.g., cladding, roofing). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basal Stem Rot (BSR) disease caused by Ganoderma boninense pathogen, is a significant disease in oil palm-producing countries. In Malaysia and Indonesia, the disease attacks on a massive scale in oil palm plantations. Various methods of assessment have been explored on the disease in oil palm plantations. However, none of the measures have yielded an absolute solution. Therefore, this research analysed BSR disease and the resulting plant physiology reaction through water use efficiency (WUE) in oil palm trees to provide a comprehensive understanding of both conditions. The study sought to evaluate WUE performance for mature oil palm trees in varying BSR disease severity and suggested a novel model assessment from WUE for BSR disease severity. Based on the overall result, the WUE parameters were affected by BSR severity in different levels, especially when being compared between healthy (T0) and affected (T1, T2, T3) categories. Secondly, the correlation between WUE with different variables, Photosynthetic Rate (Pr), Transpiration Rate (Tr), Temperature Leaf (TempL), Intercellular CO2 Concentration (Ci), Stomata Conductance (gs), and Chlorophyll Content (F), for frond 9 and frond 17 corresponded to the BSR disease severity. By performing a correlation analysis, a high correlation (0.5 and −0.5) was observed between these variables in both frond levels except in the Chlorophyll Content (F) variables (positive low correlation). Thirdly, the variables that contributed significantly to the WUE performance in mature oil palm included Pr, Tr, and Ci. Specifically, Pr was the highest value in both frond levels while Tr and Ci were inconsistent and ranked second and third place in different frond levels, respectively. Finally, the WUE model developed provides a significant result in BSR disease severity with RMSE (0.54–0.19, 0.48–0.32) for training and validation models respectively. The model order is sorted into Model 1, Model 2, Model 3, and Model 4 in ascending order based on the RMSE accuracy assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has recently been a growing concern about the ecological crisis, which is particularly evident in Indonesia's escalating environmental degradation. Recognizing the pivotal significance of the environment in sustaining human existence, Indonesian writer Nafi'ah al-Ma'rab eloquently articulates the profound neglect and apathy towards environmental concerns in her novel Luka Perempuan Asap. Through a meticulous examination of the ecological crisis within the oil palm plantation settings of Riau, the novel serves as a primary data source for this study aimed at delineating the ecological criticism and pastoral narratives embedded within its narrative fabric. Employing a qualitative approach, the researchers adopted both a pastoral narrative and ecocritical perspectives to scrutinize the text. The findings reveal the deleterious consequences of deforestation on oil palm cultivation depicted in Luka Perempuan Asap, manifesting in various calamities such as pollution, habitat loss, fauna extinction, and the exacerbation of global warming. The novel elucidates diverse attitudes towards environmental conservation, including reverence for nature as a source of peace, love, friendship, harmonious living, and conscientious stewardship, as well as proactive measures humans can take to safeguard the environment, as demonstrated by its protagonist characters. Moreover, Luka Perempuan Asap is a poignant reminder of the imperative to protect the environment and caution against heedless exploitation. It underscores that undue aggression towards nature engenders multifaceted adversities, harming the environment and its inhabitants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurement of the macronutrient values of an oil palm plantation is a complex and tedious task, particularly when dealing with large plantation areas. This situation complicates the process of the conventional measurement of nutrients by taking samples of oil palm leaves in the area being observed, causing delays in fertilizer recommendation and a lack of spatial diversity observation. Precision agriculture (PA) principles and approaches, which focus on assessing temporal and spatial variability, can be used to improve conventional measurement methods in terms of both accuracy and speed. This research aims to determine macronutrients, specifically nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) contents in oil palm leaves based on PA principles using the integration of remote sensing technology and machine learning to quickly obtain the macronutrient status from oil palm plantation areas. The Sentinel‐1A and Sentinel‐2A imagery data were analyzed and extracted to produce selected features, which are most influencing in the correlation between the imagery data and the leaf macronutrient values obtained from laboratory analysis. The random forest regression (RFR) model is used to produce correlation functions to compute macronutrient values. The use of the two satellites is to cope with cloud and smoke interference. The prototype system developed, named PreciPalm (Precision Agriculture Platform for Oil Palm), has been validated and implemented based on 2000 leaf sampling units representing several oil palm plantation areas in Indonesia, including Java, Sumatra, and Kalimantan. The observed system performance resulted in the measurement accuracy of 95.02%, 93.50%, and 82.52% for the nutrients N, P, and K, respectively. The novelty of PreciPalm is that it provides an ecosystem to transparently measure and observe the macronutrient status of oil palm in a timely, visual, spatial, and location‐specific manner, thereby improving oil palm nutritional management with more certainty and precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron (Fe) plays a fundamental role in the nutrition of plants, yet its role in oil palm remains understudied. This study aims to unlock the role of Fe by analyzing its cycling and export different stages of oil palm tree growth. The experiment was conducted in Thailand, Pará State (Brazil), in a dystrophic Yellow Ferralsol, in a split-block, with four replications and seven treatments (plant age; 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8). The concentration, accumulation, recycling, immobilization, and export of Fe were evaluated, in addition to Fe use efficiency, in all plant organs. Analysis of variance (p < 0.05) was carried out on the results and regression model adjustments. The concentration and accumulation of Fe in the stem was greatest at the eighth year of the plants, and the fruit had higher Fe export values in the eighth year of the oil palm as well. As plants aged, the Fe concentration, accumulation, export, and use efficiency increased. Oil palm accumulates and immobilizes more Fe in its organs than it exports, a fact that contributes to the cycling and nutrition of the Fe in the plant. This research paves the way for future studies to explore how Fe can be optimized in oil palm trees to unlock their full potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biological durability of oil palm trunk modified with 1,3-dimethylol-4,5- dihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) was tested after subsequent curing at elevated temperatures. The resistance against mold, decay fungi, and subterranean termites was examined. Dimethylol dihydroxyethyleneureamodified OPT demonstrated improved resistance against mold and decay fungi; however, the effect was lesser on subterranean termite attacks. Oil palm trunk modified with 34% DMDHEU and cured at 160 °C exhibited the most effective reduction in mass loss due to biological degradation compared to the untreated controls. High curing temperature (> 180 °C) caused cracks and ruptured the cell walls, exposing the untreated zone of the OPT to biological attack. As a non-biocidal wood modification, homogeneous dispersion of DMDHEU with adequate concentration and curing temperature is important to fully prevent OPT degradation by wooddestroying fungi and termites. These results provide valuable information for technologists to enhance or streamline the experimental design of combined modification with DMDHEU and thermal treatment, supporting their practical goals. It is recommended to continue research on the leaching of DMDHEU-modified OPT to understand the prevailing effect of DMDHEU on the biological durability of OPT, whether it is due to crosslinking or filler dispersion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil palm is Indonesia's predominant estate crop, but it generates a significant amount of unproductive stem waste. This study examined the anatomical characteristics and their relationship with density from core to bark across the bottom, middle, and top sections, providing insights for effective OPS utilization. Anatomical characteristics were observed with optical and scanning electron microscopy, and the density was measured using an electronic densimeter. The vascular bundle numbers (VBN) increased from core to bark and decreased from top to bottom. The fiber bundle area (FBA) increased from core to bark and from top to bottom. The fiber length (FL), width (FW), and wall thickness (FWT) decreased from bottom to top, whereas the fiber lumen diameter (FLD) increased. The FL of all sections decreased from core to bark. The radial variation of FW, FLD, and FWT varied in each section. The fiber at the inner section of the middle section and the whole top section mostly showed third-grade pulp quality, whereas the bottom section and outer part of the middle section were mainly fourth-grade pulp quality. The density was positively correlated with VBN. FBA, FL, and FW were negatively correlated with oven-dry density, although not significantly, while FWT and FLD were not correlated with OPS density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential of integrating acid acetic leaching and torrefaction processes was studied to create an enhanced solid biofuel from lignocellulosic biomass. The focus was on evaluating the impact of these combined methods on ash removal efficiency and the melting characteristics of the treated biomass. Two possible strategies were considered: implementing torrefaction first followed by leaching, or conducting leaching first followed by torrefaction. By incorporating both leaching and torrefaction treatments, regardless of order, a solid biofuel with improved properties was attained, especially in terms of higher heating value yield and ash melting temperature compared to individual treatment (either only torrefaction or only leaching). Depending on the sequencing of the leaching treatment, there was a reduction in ash yield from raw biomass ranging between 60% and 86%, while for torrefied biomass it was between 47% and 68%. Leaching treatment before torrefaction treatment was determined to be a more effective combination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the microbial communities in asymptomatic oil palm seedlings is crucial for developing disease-suppressive microbiota against basal stem rot (BSR) in oil palm. In this study, we compared the microbial communities in bulk soil, rhizosphere, and endosphere of control, asymptomatic, and symptomatic seedlings following inoculation with Ganoderma boninense. Our findings revealed significant shifts in microbial structure and interactions, particularly in asymptomatic seedlings. Both Actinobacteriota and Ascomycota were notably enriched in these samples, with Actinobacteriota identified as keystone taxa. Long-read shotgun metagenomics demonstrated that 67.4% of enriched Actinobacteriota taxa were unique to asymptomatic seedlings. Similarly, Ascomycota members showed significant enrichment, suggesting their potential role in BSR suppression. The consistent identification of these phyla across various analyses underscores their importance in disease resistance. This is the first report detailing the shifts in prokaryotic and fungal communities in asymptomatic and symptomatic seedlings, offering insights into potential disease-suppressive taxa across three compartments: bulk soil, rhizosphere, and endosphere of oil palm seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Breeding for oil palm resistance against basal stem rot caused by Ganoderma boninense is challenging and time-consuming. Advanced oil palm gene pools are very limited, hence it is assumed that parental palms have experienced genetic drift and lost their resistance genes against Ganoderma. High-throughput selection criteria should be developed. Metabolomic analysis using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is easy, and the resulting metabolite can be used as a diagnostic tool for detecting disease in various host-pathogen combinations. Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify metabolite variations in Dura (D) and Pisifera (P) parental palms with different resistance levels against Ganoderma and moderately resistant DxP using 1H NMR analysis. Methods: Leaf tissues of seven different oil palm categories consisting of: resistant, moderate, and susceptible Dura (D); moderate and susceptible Pisifera (P); resistant Tenera/Pisifera (T/P) parental palms; and moderately resistant DxP variety progenies, were sampled and their metabolites were determined using NMR spectroscopy. Results: Twenty-nine types of metabolites were identified, and most of the metabolites fall in the monosaccharides, amino acids, and fatty acids compound classes. The PCA, PLS-DA, and heatmap multivariate analysis indicated two identified groups of resistance based on their metabolites. The first group consisted of resistant T/P, moderate P, resistant D, and moderately resistant DxP. In contrast, the second group consisted of susceptible P, moderate D, and susceptible D. Glycerol and ascorbic acid were detected as biomarker candidates by OPLS-DA to differentiate moderately resistant DxP from susceptible D and P. The pathway analysis suggested that glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism and taurine and hypotaurine metabolism were involved in the oil palm defense mechanism against Ganoderma. Conclusion: A metabolomic study with 1H NMR was able to describe the metabolite composition that could differentiate the characteristics of oil palm resistance against basal stem rot (BSR) caused by G. boninense. These metabolites revealed in this study have enormous potential to become support tools for breeding new oil palm varieties with higher resistance against BSR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Ultisols, including those of Langsa, Aceh, are known to have low fertility due to low pH, low available nutrients, low base saturation, high pH and exchangeable Al, and low cation exchange capacity. These problems can be alleviated by applying organic amendments to the soil. One of the soil amendments is biochar. This study aimed to elucidate the potential of oil palm and cacao waste biochar for improving the chemical properties of an Ultisol of Langsa, Aceh. Biochars generated from oil palm kernel shell (PKS), oil palm empty fruit bunch (PEFB), and cacao pod husk (CPH) were applied to the soil and incubated in the laboratory for 16 weeks. At 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks after incubation, the changes in soil chemical properties were measured. The results showed that applying different types of biochar significantly improved the chemical properties of the Ultisol of Langsa. Specifically, PEFB biochar caused significant increases in soil pH (H2O and KCl), total phosphorus, available phosphorus, organic C, and cation exchange capacity. These increases became more pronounced with longer incubation times. In addition, using PEFB biochar resulted in the lowest levels of exchangeable Al and Fe in the soil. These levels decreased further with longer incubation times. In general, PEFB biochar produced at a pyrolysis temperature of 450 oC for 4 hours is the most effective biochar for improving the chemical properties of the Ultisol of Langsa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Trichoderma species (Trichoderma sp.) is commonly found in nature, particularly in soil and roots, often thriving in plants rich in cellulose such as oil palm. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize Trichoderma sp. in each substrate as well as to assess cellulolytic and ligninolytic potential in vitro using a specific medium. Characterization and utilization of the plant were examined to efficiently manage empty fruit bunch (EFB) waste in Indonesian oil palm plantations. By exploring the biological, ecological, and biochemical attributes of Trichoderma sp., this study examined the mechanisms associated with efficacy in bioconversion processes and waste remediation. METHODS: A survey method was used to determine sampling locations, and purposive sampling was utilized in the field. Furthermore, several stages were undertaken including isolation, identification, as well as testing of morphology and potential in vitro. FINDINGS: The results showed that the growth characteristics of Trichoderma sp. in filling a petri dish spanned approximately five days, forming colonies with a dark green hue. Microscopically, the isolates consisted of conidiophores, phialides, and conidia. Meanwhile, in vitro potential was assessed through cellulolytic and lignocellulolytic assays, with each isolate demonstrating varying capabilities in breaking down cellulose and lignocellulose. The highest cellulase activity (3.55 units per gram) was observed in enzyme starter granules treated with air drying. The highest viability per gram was found in spore inoculum (17.0 x 107) with air drying treatment. The greatest reduction in weight of oil palm EFB waste (65.3 percent) was achieved through the application of Trichoderma sp. enzyme starter granules with air drying treatment. Furthermore, eight isolates demonstrated cellulolytic and ligninolytic potential. Isolates sourced from soil had rapid growth on starter and baglog mediums, indicating potential for subsequent field applications as a biodegradation agent for organic waste. CONCLUSION: Based on the macroscopic (shape and color of mycelium) and microscopic characteristics (mycelium form), a total of eight Trichoderma sp. isolates were obtained. During the potential test, it was observed each isolate had different cellulolytic and ligninolytic activities. This study provided valuable insights into the diversity and enzymatic potential of Trichoderma sp. fungi, underscoring the importance of selecting suitable strains and optimizing cultivation conditions for various biotechnological applications. By exploring cellulolytic and ligninolytic capabilities, the results contributed to the development of more efficient and sustainable strategies for organic waste management and bioconversion. In general, this study represented a significant milestone in the quest for sustainable waste management solutions in agriculture, offering a promising pathway towards mitigating environmental impact and promoting the long-term sustainability of oil palm cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water deficiency and potential drought periods could be important ecological factors influencing cultivation areas and productivity once different crops are established. The principal supply of vegetable oil for oil crops is oil palm, and new challenges are emerging in the face of climatic changes. This study investigated the photosynthetic performance of 12 genotypes of Elaeis exposed to drought stress under controlled conditions. The assay included genotypes of Elaeis guineensis, Elaeis oleifera, and the interspecific O×G hybrid (E. oleifera × E. guineensis). The principal results showed that the E. guineensis genotype was the most efficient at achieving photosynthesis under drought stress conditions, followed by the hybrid and E. oleifera genotypes. The physiological parameters showed good prospects for vegetal breeding with different O×G hybrids, mainly because of their ability to maintain the equilibrium between CO2 assimilation and stomatal aperture. We validated 11 genes associated with drought tolerance, but no differences were detected. These results indicate that no allelic variants were represented in the RNA during sampling for the validated genotypes. In conclusion, this study helps to define genotypes that can be used as parental lines for oil palm improvement. The gas exchange data showed that drought stress tolerance could define guidelines to incorporate the available genetic resources in breeding programs across the early selection in nursery stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed dormancy and germination are critical factors affecting oil palm production efficiency. The typical dormancy-breaking process involves dry heat treatment (38–40 °C for 40–60 days) followed by germination at 30–32 °C. To understand the molecular mechanisms behind this process and improve germination rates and speed, we conducted transcriptome analysis at three stages: pre-incubation, 45-day incubation at 40 °C, and 14-day germination at 32 °C. Our findings, supported by qRT–PCR and DEGs analysis, identified four key stages: ABA degradation, energy mobilization, starch mobilization, and cell elongation and division. ABA pathway genes (SnRK2, PYR/PYL) were active during dormancy release, while GAE and GPI were upregulated after heat treatment, indicating increased energy metabolism and structural changes. During germination, genes involved in starch/sucrose metabolism (SPS, TPP, SS, MGAM) and cell wall biosynthesis (GAUT1, PE, GAE) supported embryo expansion, with BAM, PGM, GlgB fueling early growth. Auxin (TIR1, AUX/IAA, ARF), brassinosteroid (BRI1, BSK, BIN2, CYCD3), ethylene (ETR, CTR1), and jasmonic acid (JAR1, COI1) pathway genes regulated cell growth and stress response, promoting seedling development. Though gibberellins were not crucial for this oil palm variety, gene expression varied between varieties. This study provides information on oil palm seed germination that could be applied to other oil palm species, particularly in terms of incubation times and chemical treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study assesses postreplanting oil palm farming risks, analyzes seed procurement parameters, investigates seed institutions' performance factors and develops a framework for improved sustainability. Design/methodology/approach: Incorporating data from 219 smallholder farmers in designated replanting areas, our study comprehensively evaluates seed supply performance, examining the roles of stakeholders and identifying potential risks in seed management. We assess these risks using the Risk Priority Number (RPN) methodology and Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) techniques. Findings: The results show that the timing and quantity of oil palm seed supply have a relatively small impact on postreplanting failure risk. To mitigate this risk, focus on monitoring seed purity using high-quality Tenera oil palm-type seeds and early detection technology. Encourage seed-producing cooperatives to become legal seed producers for an inclusive system and consider smallholders' variety preferences. Originality/value: This study's significance lies in its comprehensive assessment of the risks associated with oil palm replanting on smallholder plantations, detailed analysis of critical parameters in seed procurement, investigation into the performance of palm oil seed institutions across various dimensions and development of a strategic framework to strengthen inclusive seed institutions for sustainable oil palm farming. This strategy holds valuable potential for the development of oil palm in Indonesia, particularly in expediting the smallholders' replanting program. Peer review: The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-10-2023-0811 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite materials from oil palm fiber enhance sustainability by utilizing renewable resources, reducing dependence on non-renewable materials, and lessening environmental impact. Despite their mechanical and dimensional stability limitations, oil palm fiber-based polymer composites offer significant advantages, such as natural abundance, potential weight reduction, and cost-effectiveness due to local availability and renewability. The growing interest in oil palm hybrid composites, made from blending different fibers, is due to their customizable mechanical and physical properties. Hybridization is one of the most effective methods to reinforce and improve the performance of oil palm-derived composite materials. This review investigates the structural qualities of hybrid composites made from oil palm fibers, their suitability for diverse applications, and recent advancements in the field. By focusing on the availability, properties, applications, challenges, and future directions of oil palm fiber hybrid composites, this review highlights the potential of these materials to enhance mechanical and functional properties, thereby contributing to sustainable development and innovation in composite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite its considerable potential, oil palm trunk (OPT) remains underutilized, largely owing to the cyclical replanting process that occurs every 25–30 years. This study aimed to address this issue by developing an eco-friendly oriented strand board (OSB) using vascular bundles (VBs) from oil palm, both in binderless form and with the incorporation of natural adhesives made from sucrose and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP). The VB was extracted from OPT using a pressure cooker and mixed with a sucrose-ADP solution at various ratios. The mixture was then pressed at temperatures of 180°C and 200°C for 10 min to form boards, which were evaluated based on the Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) A 5908 for particleboards. Binderless OSB was also manufactured without the use of any adhesive components. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was conducted to evaluate the VB and its board. The results indicated that the mechanical properties of the binderless OSB met the JIS A 5908 Type 8 requirements. Furthermore, the addition of sucrose-ADP improved the physical and mechanical properties of the board, with an optimal sucrose-to-ADP ratio of 85:15. The OSB with the best properties met the JIS A 5908 Type 13 requirements. The FTIR results indicated that carbonyl groups, furan rings, and lignin played important roles in the bonding properties of the OSB. In conclusion, this research demonstrated the potential of VBs as a raw material for producing environmentally friendly OSB, both in binderless form and with the use of sucrose-ADP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aims to demonstrate the capability of Oil Palm Boiler Ash (OPBA)-based organomineral fertilizer (OMF) to maintain the growth, green biomass yield, and N uptake of green mustard under a reduced N application rate. This research was carried out from March to May 2021 in a research area in Bengkulu City with a Randomly Complete Block Design scheme and three replications. The treatment consisted of P0 = control (without OMF or urea), P1 = 200 kg urea ha-1, P2 = 325 kg OMF ha-1 + 50 kg urea ha-1, P3 = 650 kg OMF ha-1 + 50 kg urea ha-1, P4 = 975 kg OMF ha-1 + 50 kg urea ha-1, and P5 = 1300 kg OMF ha-1 + 50 kg urea ha-1. The results showed that the growth and green biomass yield increased as the application rate of OMF increased. Treatment of P5 produced the highest growth, green biomass yield, and N uptake, equivalent to P2 treatment. The green biomass yield at P5 was 161% higher than that at P0. Therefore, OMF has the potential to promote the agronomic performances of green mustard under 50% reduced N dose in Ultisols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Usually, hyperspectral data captured from an airborne UAV or satellite contain some noise that can be severe in some channels. Often, channels that are badly affected by the noise are discarded. This is because the corrupted channels cannot be reclaimed by common filtering techniques, making important information in the affected channels different from those of field spectroscopy of similar wavelengths. In this study, a fast-denoising method is implemented on some channels of oil palm hyperspectral data that are badly affected by noise. The amount of noise is unknown, and it varies across the noisy channels from bad to severe. This is different from the data normally used by many studies, which are essentially clean data spiked with mild noise of known variance. The process starts by identifying which noisy channels to filter based on the level of the estimated noise in them. Then, filtering is conducted within each channel and across channels. Once the noise is removed, the improvement in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is calculated for each channel. The performance of Kalman, Wiener, Savitzky–Golay, wavelet, and cosine filters is tested in the same framework and the results are compared in terms of execution time, signal-to-noise ratio, and visual quality. The results show that the Kalman filter slightly outperformed the other filters. The proposed scheme was implemented using MATLAB R2023b running on an Intel i7 processor, and the average execution time was less than 1 second for each channel. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to filter real oil palm hyperspectral data containing speckle noise using a Kalman filter. This technique can be a useful tool to those working in the oil palm industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sabah, Malaysia's biggest palm oil‐producing state, has made Roundtable Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification mandatory under Sabah's Jurisdictional Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (JCSPO) initiative. Few studies have examined the independent native smallholders' challenges in adopting the JCSPO initiative. To address this knowledge gap, we engaged with oil palm smallholders via various qualitative methodological approaches over a 14 month period. We identified a range of challenges currently faced by the smallholder; these include RSPO compliance, land tenure issue, low financial and knowledge capacities, increasing food insecurity, and unstable market price of certified crude palm oil. In our article, we argue that the statewide certification policy is consolidating the inequalities in resource access and capacity for growth amongst smallholder groups in different districts. Fair resource allocation to different geographical areas is needed to provide new empowerment mechanisms and remedies for marginalized groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When oil palm lumber is considered for load-bearing products such as glued laminated timber (GLT), defined strength and stiffness values are required. In this investigation, combined GLT from oil palm wood is tested in compression parallel and perpendicular and glulam lamellas in tension parallel to the vascular bundles. Strength and Young´s modulus in compression and tension parallel increase with the density by power law relationship. In contrast to dicotyle-dons, the strength in construction size exceeds that of small, defect-free test specimens (compression strength perpendicular), are in the same range (tensile and bending strength parallel) or only a little below (compression strength parallel). The specimen size does not influence the strength. The ratio of fc,0 : fm : ft,0 is 1.2 : 0.8 ... 1.7 ... 2.6 : 1 and fc,0 : fc,90 = 2.7 ... 13.0 ... 32.6 : 1 for ρ = 200 ... 400 ... 600 kg/m³; the ratio of Ec,0 : Em : Et,0 is 1.2 : 1.3 : 1 for ρ = 400 kg/m³. Ashby´s performance indices for minimum weight design rise with the density; the strength-density performance indices are comparable or only slightly lower than that for structural size softwood, whereas the modulus-density performance indices are much lower. The challenge in use of oil palm wood for load-bearing construction products is the low stiffness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand of natural fiber reinforced composites has grown enormously in polymer industries owing to their renewability and sustainability and maintaining their performance and properties. In this investigation, two natural fibers have been considered as a reinforcer to develop chemically functionalized high‐density polyethylene (CF‐HDPE)‐based composites. The total holocellulose content of ~85% and ~65% for nettle fiber (NTF) and oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber (OPF) make them significant for this study. OPF/CF‐HDPE and NTF/CF‐HDPE composites have been developed and characterized to measure their desirable properties. The structural confirmation suggests reinforcement/matrix adhesion through ester and hydrogen bonds between them. NTF/CF‐HDPE and OPF/CF‐HDPE are thermally stable upto 240°C and 250°C, respectively. A significant increment of ~40% and ~64% in tensile strength were observed in addition of OPF and NTF reinforcer in pristine matrix. A similar observation has been shown in flexural strength with improvement of ~58% and ~83% with OPF and NTF as reinforcer. Among all these composite compositions, the 30/70 NTF/CF‐HDPE composite demonstrated the highest tensile and flexural properties values due to higher holocellulose of NTF. This study demonstrates the potential of OPF and NTF reinforcer to develop natural fiber reinforced polymer composites, which helps respective industries to manufactured tailored made products with desirable properties. Highlights: OPF/CF‐HDPE and NTF/CF‐HDPE composites are sustainable and low cost.The composite compositions have been developed by extrusion and injection molding.The composite's mechanical (tensile and flexural) properties have been demonstrated.SEM and FTIR characterized the composites for the fiber/matrix adhesion.The composite's thermal stability has been affected by fibers and matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuing oil palm expansion on food security has prompted fierce debate. On one side, analysts argue that local community incorporation in the oil palm sector can increase food purchasing in the market. However, the expansion has also brought unprecedented consequences of losing highly nutritious food due to forest conversions. This study aims to analyze oil palm expansion and local food security in various regions in Indonesia by tackling the following questions: (a) Which factors influence palm oil expansion, and does foreign investment play a role? (b) How does palm oil expansion affect food security in Indonesia? Socioeconomic methods have been applied in this study, including a systematic literature review and qualitative interviews with key stakeholders from various domestic and international organizations. These two methods help us triangulate the academic literature findings with real-world situations as perceived by the actors in the related field. Results indicate that, firstly, foreign investors have not only made a direct investment to facilitate oil palm expansion, but also indirect financial intermediaries are held without holding financial equities to upstream oil palm companies (e.g., supply chain financing contracts, channeling using local financial institutions such as credit union). Secondly, while large corporations asserted monoculture oil palm expansions, some smallholding farmers use mixed cropland expansion to share food and oil palm crops in their own smallholding terms. With the oil palm expansion, farmers can secure a cash flow from palm oil, but an unintended outcome is less nutrition diversification, and often because of the distance to markets, some commodities are favored over a more diverse diet. The outcomes of oil palm development vary and are multifold, as some stakeholders report that some studies show improving cash flows at the farm level, but other studies insist that food insecurity still prevails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil palm is presently the most important oil-producing crop worldwide in terms of oil production and consumption. However, oil palm cultivation faces important challenges such as adverse climatic conditions, expensive fertilization requirements, and fungal pathogens, including Ganoderma. Intense efforts in oil palm breeding are devoted to improving both oil production yield and resistance to environmental cues. Metabolomics can be of interest because it provides many quantitative traits and metabolic signatures that can be selected for to optimize oil palm performance. Here, we briefly review how metabolomics can help oil palm breeding, and to do so, we give examples of recent metabolomics analyses and provide a roadmap to use metabolomics-assisted breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crude palm oil (CPO) is the most produced vegetable oil globally, with Brazil contributing only 0.74% of global production. Pará and Bahia account for more than 82% of Brazil's output. Despite its widespread use in the food industry after refining, there is little research on CPO consumption and perception in Brazil, particularly regarding its nutritional aspects. This study, conducted between March and July 2022, explored Brazilians' perceptions and the potential for CPO consumption. The results show that most participants are unfamiliar with CPO but view its nutrients favorably. Less than half regularly purchase CPO. Refined palm oil (RPO) is even less known, with many unaware that refining CPO can produce carcinogenic substances. The respondents showed little concern about RPO in their foods, rarely noticing its presence on labels. Despite limited knowledge, participants understand that refining reduces CPO's health benefits, leading to a greater preference for crude oil over refined oil. This study highlights the need for better dissemination of information about CPO in Brazil, emphasizing its nutritional benefits and the importance of adhering to daily lipid intake limits. Adding CPO at the end of cooking or consuming it raw to preserve thermosensitive compounds is also recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In digital agriculture, accurate crop detection is fundamental to developing automated systems for efficient plantation management. For oil palm, the main challenge lies in developing robust models that perform well in different environmental conditions. This study addresses the feasibility of using GAN augmentation methods to improve palm detection models. For this purpose, drone images of young palms (< 5 year-old) from eight different estates were collected, annotated, and used to build a baseline detection model based on DETR. StyleGAN2 was trained on the extracted palms and then used to generate a series of synthetic palms, which were then inserted into tiles representing different environments. CycleGAN networks were trained for bidirectional translation between synthetic and real tiles, subsequently utilized to augment the authenticity of synthetic tiles. Both synthetic and real tiles were used to train the GAN-based detection model. The baseline model achieved precision and recall values of 95.8% and 97.2%. The GAN-based model achieved comparable result, with precision and recall values of 98.5% and 98.6%. In the challenge dataset 1 consisting older palms (> 5 year-old), both models also achieved similar accuracies, with baseline model achieving precision and recall of 93.1% and 99.4%, and GAN-based model achieving 95.7% and 99.4%. As for the challenge dataset 2 consisting of storm affected palms, the baseline model achieved precision of 100% but recall was only 13%. The GAN-based model achieved a significantly better result, with a precision and recall values of 98.7% and 95.3%. This result demonstrates that images generated by GANs have the potential to enhance the accuracies of palm detection models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought poses a significant threat to global food security, particularly impacting crops like oil palm. Selecting genes for genome editing to enhance drought tolerance presents formidable challenges. To ensure that the target gene is chosen correctly and results in the desired character, a pilot study is necessary to determine the target gene for knockout. Two genes drought-related, AtBRL3 and AtOST2, were scrutinized in this context. Aligned with the Elaeis guineensis genome, their neighbouring proteins and gene ontology were analysed to identify potential targets for genome editing. AtBRL3, identified as BRL1 (XP_010913986.1) in E. guineensis, exhibited 58.48% identity and 100% coverage. It interacts with 12 nodes, including BIR1, BRI1, and AT2G20050, crucial for signalling pathways and cellular responses. Molecular function analysis revealed kinase activity. AtOST2 showed high similarity to plasma membrane ATPase/HA1 (XP_010913679.1) in E. guineensis, with 87.46% identity and 100% query cover. It correlated with 14 genes associated with ABA stimulus, stomatal movement, and hormone response. EgBRL1 and EgHA1, resembling AtBRL3 and AtOST2, respectively, emerge as promising targets for developing drought-tolerant oil palm cultivars through gene editing. Nonetheless, further validation through in vitro gRNA target selection and in vivo conversion of OST2/BRL3-containing plasmids in oil palm calluses is indispensable to demonstrate their efficacy in conferring novel drought resistance traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a significant global source of vegetable oil, the oil palm's ability to withstand abiotic stresses, particularly drought, is crucial for sustainable agriculture. This is especially significant in tropical regions, where water scarcity is becoming more common. Nitrogen, a vital nutrient, plays an essential role in various physiological and biochemical processes in plants, directly influencing growth and stress tolerance. This study investigates the interaction between nitrogen sources (ammonium vs. nitrate) and drought stress in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) seedlings, which is critical in enhancing productivity in this economically important crop. The experiment evaluated five commercial oil palm genotypes, which were supplied with nitrogen solutions (15 mM NH4+ or NO3−) for 46 days, followed by 30 days of progressive drought. The results showed that drought conditions universally reduced the biomass, with ammonium-fed plants exhibiting greater shoot biomass sensitivity than nitrate-fed plants. Drought also significantly decreased the chlorophyll a, PhiPS2, and root-reducing sugar levels—critical indicators of photosynthetic efficiency and overall plant health. The effects on the root architecture were complex, with ammonium nutrition differentially influencing the lateral root length under well-watered versus drought conditions, highlighting nitrogen forms' nuanced role in root development. Importantly, substantial genotypic variability was observed in most traits, affecting the responses to both the nitrogen source and drought stress. This variability suggests that certain genotypes may be better suited to cultivation in specific environmental conditions, particularly drought-prone areas. In conclusion, this study underscores the intricate interplay between nitrogen nutrition, genotypic variability, and drought tolerance in oil palm seedlings. These findings highlight the need to integrate these factors into agricultural management strategies to improve resilience and productivity in oil palm plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable water management is a key approach for enhancing the productivity of oil palm trees while addressing the impacts of climate change and variability. Determining the water needs of a crop is crucial for the appropriate application of water. This research was carried out in two plantations in Agustín Codazzi, Colombia, using a completely randomized design. This study involved examining the impacts of five different water conditions (50, 150, 300, 450, and 600 L per day) on the growth and yields of mature oil palm trees (aged 10–17 years), and their water consumption was calculated using the water balance method. The results indicated that the crop was negatively affected by daily water applications of 300, 150, and 50 L per day, showing statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) when compared to the 450 and 600 L per day treatments, particularly in terms of leaf emergence, leaf area index, and yield (tons per hectare). The 50 L per day treatment resulted in the most substantial decrease in yield (around 26%), primarily attributed to a reduction in the number of bunches. The most favorable crop responses were observed with water applications of 450 and 600 L per day, aligning with the crop's potential evapotranspiration values (ranging between 5.4 and 5.7 mm per day) and yielding crop coefficients of 0.88 and 0.9, respectively. Notably, these values varied between dry and rainy seasons, peaking between December and March. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bud rot (BR), caused by Phytophthora palmivora, limits growth and development of oil palms in the American continent, particularly in Colombia. Due to the absence of systematic epidemiological analyses and determination of risk factors associated with BR, this study aimed to employ deterministic mathematical models and frequentist and Bayesian statistical methods to quantify the genetic response and edaphoclimatic variables as risk indicators of BR. From 2011 to 2014, the severity of BR in oil palm crops was recorded monthly in two locations: Tumaco (hot spot) and Villavicencio (cold spot), determining the edaphoclimatic variables at each site. Using the area under the disease progress stairs curve, temporal models were applied to determine the rate of disease development (R0) to quantify risk at locality and genotype levels. Subsequently, the observed intensity and severity levels of BR were adjusted to models such as survival curves, Cox proportional hazard risk and transition probabilities, or Markov states, with the aim of quantifying and characterizing risk factors associated with genotype and edaphoclimatic variables at each location. The risk in Tumaco was three times higher than in Villavicencio, and the R0 values were differential by genotype, with Tenera more susceptible than Hybrids. Moreover, the risk of BR increased when periods of 2–3 months occurred with successive instances of precipitation and relative humidity greater than 150 mm/month and 90%, respectively, and when manganese and zinc levels were below optimal. This approach allowed us to characterize epidemiological factors that cause plant diseases, allowing quantification of the risk of BR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil palm trees (Elaeis guineensis) is an important species for bio-energy agribusiness. Despite the rapid growth of oil palm tree plantations mostly in tropical countries to support global demand for biofuels, problems such as diseases can reduce the productivity and survival rate of palm trees which have adverse impact to the business. Therefore. palm plantation needs regular tree counting for inventory and health monitoring. Thanks to the rapid development of remote sensing technology deep learning-based computer vision. these two intertwined technologies help to automate tree counting. Continuous improvement in this domain is expected to improve classification. In this study, YOLOv5 model was implemented for tree counting using the palm aerial imagery dataset from Papua, Indonesia. UAV images were used to classification of trees into five distinct classes, namely healthy. smallish, yellowish. mismanaged. and dead palms. We achieved average F 1 -score of 0.895 for 5 classes, which outperformed Faster R-CNN (0.706) and CNN ResNet-101 (0.493). The strength of our YOLO¥5 model is high precision for all 5 classes above 0.961. In the effort to further optimise YOLOv5. further improvements can be achieved by optimising the parameters. This was achieved using Genetic Algorithm to optimise the parameters. The final average Fl-score of this model on the five palm classes achieves 0.915. This application provides fast, robust, and accurate oil palm tree counting that can be applied elsewhere in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the present work, the use of enzymatic hydrolysis to obtain cellulose nanofibers composed of purified cellulose from sugarcane bagasse (SCB) and oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFBs) was addressed. First, the cellulose was purified by applying hydrothermal treatments conducted at various temperatures (180 and 200 °C) and times (10, 20 and 30 min) and then 2% (m/v) sodium chlorite treatment. Then, enzymatic hydrolysis was conducted for 24, 48 or 72 h using cellulase from Trichoderma reesei at 50 °C and pH = 5.0 to isolate the cellulose nanofibers. The composition, morphology, crystallinity, thermal stability and zeta potential characteristics were evaluated for each cellulosic material. The crystallinity index increased significantly after hydrothermal pretreatment and bleaching from 42.6% to 87.3% and from 42.5% to 86.1% for SCB and OPEFB, respectively. In addition, the obtained pulps showed better thermal stability than residues when used as feedstock. Enzymatic hydrolysis was effective at extracting cellulose nanofibers, as long as the reaction time was controlled to less than 48 h, to avoid compromising the crystallinity and thermal stability of the isolated nanostructures. The enzymatic pathway is a promising alternative to the use of acid catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild palms provide high-value resources and contribute to generating income for rural people. This study documents the usage patterns and conservation practices of wild palms in Western Burkina Faso. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted with 258 participants across five different communities. The participants cited seven palm species. The number of palm species cited per participant varied according to their ethnic group, gender, and age category. Elaeis guineensis and Borassus akeassii were the most cited and useful species. The influence of ethnic group, gender, and age on use values depended on the specific palm species among the communities. Local people adopted natural assisted regeneration (watering, protecting, and taking care of seedlings that germinate naturally) and cultivation to conserve Borassus akeassii and Elaeis guineensis. Local conservation practices and sustainable exploitation of wild palms are needed for their successful and effective conservation in the semi-arid climatic context of Burkina Faso. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palm oil, derived from Elaeis guineensis, is a critical component of the global edible oil and industrial fat market. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the sustainability of the palm oil chain, focusing on industrial applications, environmental implications, and economic sustainability. The processing of palm oil, from fruit pulp to refined oil, is detailed, highlighting the importance of refining in maintaining quality and extending application ranges. While palm oil offers health benefits because of its rich fatty acid composition and antioxidant properties, its production poses significant environmental challenges. This review underscores ongoing efforts to balance technological and culinary demands with environmental stewardship and sustainable economic growth. Emerging trends, including interspecific hybrids such as E. guineensis and E. oleifera, are discussed for their potential to increase sustainability and productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the world's second-largest palm oil producer, Malaysia heavily depends on its extensive oil palm cultivation, which accounts for nearly 90% of the country's lignocellulosic biomass waste. Approximately 20–22 tonnes of empty fruit bunches (EFBs) can be derived from an initial yield of 100 tonnes of fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) from oil palm trees. The average annual amount of EFBs produced in Johor is 3233 tonnes per day. Recognising that urban areas contribute significantly to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, and to support Malaysia's transition from fossil fuel-based energy to a low-carbon energy system, this research employed HOMER Pro software 3.18.3 to develop an optimal hybrid renewable energy system integrating solar and biomass (EFB) energy sources in Johor, Malaysia. The most cost-effective system (solar–biomass) consists of 4075 kW solar photovoltaics, a 2100 kW biomass gasifier, 9363 battery units and 1939 kW converters. This configuration results in a total net present cost (NPC) of USD 44,596,990 and a levelised cost of energy (LCOE) of USD 0.2364/kWh. This system satisfies the residential load demand via 6,020,427 kWh (64.7%) of solar-based and 3,286,257 kWh (35.3%) of biomass-based electricity production, with an annual surplus of 2,613,329 kWh (28.1%). The minimal percentages of unmet electric load and capacity shortage, both <0.1%, indicate that all systems can meet the power demand. In conclusion, this research provides valuable insights into the economic viability and technical feasibility of powering the Kulai district with a solar–biomass system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]