In this study, nutritional disease classification of Elaeis Guineensis or widely known as oil palm is discussed. At present, nitrogen, potassium, magnesium are the main category nutrition deficient prevalent in oil palm plantation and these deficiencies can be identified based on the affected leaves surface appearance. Hence in this work, an alternative method based on image processing techniqu...

Oil palm is one of the most economically valuable oil seed plants, but the expansion of plantations has been limited by availability of seedlings, as the conventional propagation is through seeds, which have low germination rates. One possible solution for the large-scale production is the use of somatic embryogenesis. The aim of this study was evaluate the effects auxins 2,4-D and picloram on ...

This study was conducted to examine the effect of low doses of X-rays on date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L., cv. Khalas) seed germination and seedling growth. A significant reduction in seed germination was observed in response to X-irradiation as compared to the non-irradiated control. A significant reduction in seed germination percentage (82.85%) began at 0.25 Gy of X-rays and persisted to de...

Salinity is generally investigated as a stress factor for growth, but not utilized for improving or increasing growth and development of in vitro plants. Salinity tolerated plants may generally resist or need low level of saline for their growth and development. These plants such as date palm can be growth promoted by incubating in low salinity level medium. This research investigated the level...

The root borer, Oryctes agamemnon Burmeister (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), has become a serious pest of date palm trees in southwest Tunisia. Under natural conditions, mated females lay eggs in different parts of palm tree: between the hairy roots, all along the stem at the leaf axils and at the base of cut branches. Larvae bore into targeted places of the plant and were never seen outside. Pupat...

This work described study protocols on the production of Palm-Based Standard Reference Materials for iodine value and slip melting point. Thirty-three laboratories collaborated in the inter-laboratory proficiency tests for characterization of iodine value, while thirty-two laboratories for characterization of slip melting point. The iodine value and slip melting point of palm oil, palm olein an...

A palmitoyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) thioesterase cDNA clone was isolated from an oil palm cDNA library. The cDNA was expressed in Escherichia coli as a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein and a crude bacterial extract was assayed for acyl-CoA-hydrolysing activity. The recombinant enzyme was able to hydrolyse medium- and long-chain acyl-CoAs. Northern-blot analysis showed a high level of...

Axonopus compressus is one of the native soft grass species in oil palm in Malaysia which can be used as a cover crop. The competitive ability of A. compressus to overcome A. gangetica was studied using multiple-density, multiple-proportion replacements series under a glasshouse and full sunlight conditions in a poly bag for 10 weeks. A. compressus produced more dry weight and leaf area when co...

Molecular marker techniques have been widely used for cultivar identification of inbred date palms (Phoenix dactylifera L.; Arecaceae) and biodiversity conservation. Isolation of highly pure DNA is the prerequisite for PCR amplification and subsequent use such as DNA fingerprinting and sequencing of genes that have recently been developed for barcoding. To avoid problems related to the preserva...

Recent advances in oil-palm breeding and agronomic practices may have influenced the dry-matter production nutrient demand of tenera oil palm since last comprehensive studies published some three decades ago. This has raised concerns, updated knowledge requirements at various stages growth is essential for formulating fertilizer recommendations that meet agronomic, economic, environmental objec...