Novel multifunctional plant growth-promoting bacteria isolated from the oil palm rhizosphere under long-term organic matter application.

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.

From chocolate to palm oil: The future of Indonesia's cocoa plantations.

Indonesia is the world's third largest cocoa producer, but production is decreasing since 2011. We revisited cocoa farmers for an environmental assessment in Luwu Timur, Sulawesi, 7 months after a socio-economic survey on cocoa certification outcomes and observed many cocoa plantations being converted into oil palm and maize. Including our field data as well as secondary data on commodity prices and yields, we outline reasons for cocoa conversion, potential consequences for biodiversity, and assess the future outlook for the Indonesian cocoa sector. Low cocoa productivity, volatile cocoa prices and higher revenue for oil palm, among others, drive land-use change. If shade trees are cut during cocoa conversion, it may have negative implications for biodiversity. Solutions to low soil fertility, omnipresent pests and diseases, and stable producer prices are needed to increase profitability of cocoa and prevent conversion of cocoa agroforests to oil palm monocultures.

An assessment of the renewable energy potential of oil palm residues: A case study of CDC plantation, Cameroon.

Cameroon faces enormous clean energy accessibility challenges despite abundant energy resources and huge quantities of free oil palm residues (OPR) generated but dumped yearly from the agro-industrial companies like the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC). Presently, electricity supply is mainly from hydro (73 %) with accessibility of 65 % and 14 % for urban and rural areas respectively, while energy mix is historically dominated by traditional biomass fuels such as firewood and charcoal, accounting for more than 76 % of the country's total energy consumption. The hydro supply is not regular as it depends on weather conditions and this has negatively impacted the economy. The situation is aggravated by the increased energy demand over the past decade as Cameroon has engaged to become an emerging economy by 2035. However, encouraging policies for researchers and investors in the energy sector have been put in place with a view of attaining a 25 % share of renewable energy (RE) by 2035. OPR are a potential (RE) resource but require technical assessment and technological transformation into clean energy rather than dumping, which constitutes a serious environmental problem. This research has assessed the quantity of OPR generated annually at the CDC and estimated its clean energy value from 2004 to 2018 by consulting fruits-harvest records from CDC statistics office and by bomb calorimetry respectively. The significant findings reveal a yearly production of 203666T of OPR with a calorific value of 896 TJ, corresponding to electrical energy potential of 249 MWh. The energy could be used by the industry or injected into the grid to mitigate the current energy challenges.

Functional analysis of root-preferential oil palm metallothionein promoter in tobacco.

Root-specific or preferential promoters are essential to genetically modify plants with beneficial root traits. We have characterised the promoter from an oil palm metallothionein gene (EgMT) and performed a serial 5' deletion analysis to identify the region(s) essential for transgenes expression in roots. Stable functional characterisation of tobacco transgenic lines using the T1 generation showed that a deletion construct, designated as RSP-2D (1107 bp), directed strong GUS expression at all stages of root development, particularly in mature roots. Other constructs, RSP-2A (2481 bp) and RSP-2C (1639 bp), drove GUS expression in roots with an intensity lower than RSP-2D. The promoter activity was also detectable in seed pods and immature seeds, albeit at lower levels than CaMV35S. The promoter activity may also be induced by wounding as intact GUS staining was observed at the flower- and leaf-cutting sites of T1 samples carrying either RSP-2C or RSP-2D constructs. The promoter sequence contains cis-acting elements that may act as negative regulators and be responsible for root specificity. The results further indicated that the 5' UTR and ATATT sequences are essential for strong promoter activity. This study highlights the potential of RSP-2D promoter as a tool for modifying root traits through genetic engineering.

Taguchi-assisted multi-response improved simultaneous nanocellulose and sugar production from microcrystalline cellulose derived from raw oil palm leaves.

Enzymatic treatment on lignocellulosic biomass has become a trend in preparing nanocellulose (NC), but the process must be optimized to guarantee high production yield and crystallinity. This study offers insights into an innovative protocol using cultivated fungal cellulase and xylanase to improve NC production from raw oil palm leaves (OPL) using five-factor-four-level Taguchi orthogonal design for optimizing parameters, namely substrate and enzyme loading, surfactant concentration, incubation temperature and time. Statistical results revealed the best condition for producing NC (66.06 % crystallinity, 43.59 % yield) required 10 % (w/v) substrate, 1 % (v/v) enzyme, 1.4 % (w/v) Tween-80, with 72-h incubation at 30 °C. Likewise, the highest sugar yield (47.07 %) was obtained using 2.5 % (w/v) substrate, 2.0 % (v/v) enzyme, 2.0 % (w/v) Tween-80, with 72-h incubation at 60 °C. The auxiliary enzymes used in this study, i.e., xylanase, produced higher crystallinity NC, showing widths between 8 and 12 nm and lengths >1 µm and sugars at 47.07 % yield. Thus, our findings proved that optimizing the single-step enzymatic hydrolysis of raw OPL could satisfactorily produce relatively crystalline NC and sugar yield for further transformation into bio-nanocomposites and biofuels. This study presented a simple, innovative protocol for NC synthesis showing characteristics comparable to the traditionally-prepared NC, which is vital for material's commercialization.

Unveiling the Secrets of Oil Palm Genetics: A Look into Omics Research.

Oil palm is a versatile oil crop with numerous applications. Significant progress has been made in applying histological techniques in oil palm research in recent years. Whole genome sequencing of oil palm has been carried out to explain the function and structure of the order genome, facilitating the development of molecular markers and the construction of genetic maps, which are crucial for studying important traits and genetic resources in oil palm. Transcriptomics provides a powerful tool for studying various aspects of plant biology, including abiotic and biotic stresses, fatty acid composition and accumulation, and sexual reproduction, while proteomics and metabolomics provide opportunities to study lipid synthesis and stress responses, regulate fatty acid composition based on different gene and metabolite levels, elucidate the physiological mechanisms in response to abiotic stresses, and explain intriguing biological processes in oil palm. This paper summarizes the current status of oil palm research from a multi-omics perspective and hopes to provide a reference for further in-depth research on oil palm.

Exploring the intersection of digitalization and sustainability in oil palm production: challenges, opportunities, and future research agenda.

The increasing global demand for palm oil and its derivatives has led to significant environmental and social concerns, prompting the need for sustainable practices in oil palm production. In recent years, digital technologies have emerged as a potential solution to enhance sustainability in this sector. The objective of this review was to provide insights into the potential benefits and limitations of digital technologies in promoting sustainable practices in the oil palm industry, and to identify key challenges that must be addressed to ensure that digitalization contributes to sustainable development in this sector. To obtain valuable insights on this topic, this review employed a thorough analysis and exploration of relevant literature. Our findings highlight the transformative potential of digital technologies such as precision agriculture, data analytics, blockchain, and robotics to optimize resource utilization, improving efficiency, promoting social welfare, improving supply chain transparency, mitigating environmental impacts, and enhancing sustainability in oil palm production. However, the adoption of these technologies is hindered by several challenges, including high cost, lack of knowledge, and inadequate infrastructure. Our findings emphasize the importance of supportive policies, collaborative efforts, and targeted research to promote technology adoption and ensure equitable benefits across the oil palm industry. Recommendations are provided for industry stakeholders, policymakers, and researchers to leverage digitalization effectively and promote sustainable practices in the oil palm industry, ultimately contributing to global sustainability goals.

Loss of Sunda clouded leopards and forest integrity drive potential impacts of mesopredator release on vulnerable avifauna.

Amongst the unintended consequences of anthropogenic landscape conversion is declining apex predator abundance linked to loss of forest integrity, which can potentially re-order trophic networks. One such re-ordering, known as mesopredator release, occurs when medium-sized predators, also called mesopredators, rapidly increase in abundance following the decline in apex predator abundance, consequently reducing the abundance of mesopredator prey, notably including terrestrial avifauna. We examine the cascading impacts of declining Sunda clouded leopard abundance, itself consequent upon a reduction in forest integrity, on the mesopredator community of Sabah, Malaysia, to determine whether the phenomenon of mesopredator release is manifest and specifically whether it impacts the terrestrial avifauna community of pheasants and pittas. To explore this trophic interaction, we used a piecewise structural equation model to compare changes in the relative abundance of organisms. Our results suggest that loss of forest integrity may have broad impacts on the community and trigger mesopredator release, the two acting additively in their impact on already vulnerable species of terrestrial avifauna: a result not previously documented in tropical systems and rarely detected even on a global scale. The limiting effect that the Sunda clouded leopard has on the Sunda leopard cat could illuminate the mechanism whereby mesopredator release impacts this system. Both Bulwer's pheasant and pittas appear to be significantly impacted by the increase in Sunda leopard cats, while the great argus pheasant shows similar compelling, although not statistically significant, declines as Sunda leopard cats increase. The inverse relationship between Sunda clouded leopards and Sunda leopard cats suggests that if a mesopredator release exists it could have downstream consequences for some terrestrial avifauna. These results suggest the under-studied interface between mammalian carnivores and avifauna, or more broadly species interactions in general, could offer important conservation tool for holistic ecosystem conservation efforts.

A Circular Bioeconomy Approach to Using Post-Bioadsorbent Materials Intended for the Removal of Domestic Wastewater Contaminants as Potential Reinforcements.

Agro-industrial residue valorization under the umbrella of the circular bioeconomy (CBE) has prompted the search for further forward-thinking alternatives that encourage the mitigation of the industry's environmental footprint. From this perspective, second-life valorization (viz., thermoplastic composites) has been explored for agro-industrial waste (viz., oil palm empty fruit bunch fibers, OPEFBFs) that has already been used previously in other circular applications (viz., the removal of domestic wastewater contaminants). Particularly, this ongoing study evaluated the performance of raw residues (R-OPEFBFs) within three different size ranges (250-425, 425-600, 600-800 µm) both before and after their utilization in biofiltration processes (as post-adsorbents, P-OPEFBFs) to reinforce a polymer matrix of acrylic resin. The research examined the changes in R-OPEFBF composition and morphology caused by microorganisms in the biofilters and their impact on the mechanical properties of the composites. Smaller R-OPEFBFs (250-425 µm) demonstrated superior mechanical performance. Additionally, the composites with P-OPEFBFs displayed significant enhancements in their mechanical properties (3.9-40.3%) compared to those with R-OPEFBFs. The combination of the three fiber sizes improved the mechanical behavior of the composites, indicating the potential for both R-OPEFBFs and P-OPEFBFs as reinforcement materials in composite applications.

Infection of Phytophthora palmivora Isolates on Arabidopsis thaliana.

Phytophthora palmivora, a hemibiotrophic oomycete, causes diseases in several economically important tropical crops, such as oil palm, which it is responsible for a devastating disease called bud rot (BR). Despite recent progress in understanding host resistance and virulence mechanisms, many aspects remain unknown in P. palmivora isolates from oil palm. Model pathosystems are useful for understanding the molecular interactions between pathogens and hosts. In this study, we utilized detached leaves and whole seedlings of Arabidopsis thaliana Col-0 to describe and evaluate the infection process of three P. palmivora isolates (CPPhZC-05, CPPhZC-04, CPPhZOC-01) that cause BR in oil palm. Two compatible isolates (CPPhZC-05 and CPPhZOC-01) induced aqueous lesions at 72 h post-inoculation (hpi), with microscopic visualization revealing zoospore encysting and appressorium penetration at 3 hpi, followed by sporangia generation at 72 hpi. In contrast, an incompatible isolate (CPPhZC-04) exhibited cysts that could not penetrate tissue, resulting in low leaf colonization. Gene expression of ten P. palmivora infection-related genes was quantified by RT-qPCR, revealing overexpression in compatible isolates, but not in the incompatible isolate. Additionally, key genes associated with salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), and ethylene (ET) in Arabidopsis exhibited regulation during interaction with the three isolates. These findings demonstrate that P. palmivora can infect Arabidopsis Col-0, and variability is observed in the interaction between Arabidopsis-Col-0 and P. palmivora isolates. Establishing this pathosystem is expected to enhance our understanding of P. palmivora's pathology and physiology.

Temporal Dynamics of Airborne Concentrations of Ganoderma Basidiospores and Their Relationship with Environmental Conditions in Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis).

Basal Stem Rot (BSR), caused by Ganoderma spp., is one of the most important emerging diseases of oil palm in Colombia and is so far restricted to only two producing areas in the country. However, despite the controls established to prevent its spread to new areas, containment has not been possible. This study aimed to understand BSR's propagation mechanisms and related environmental conditions by measuring Ganoderma basidiospores' concentrations at various heights using four 7-day Burkard volumetric samplers in a heavily affected plantation. Meteorological data, including solar radiation, temperature, humidity, precipitation, and wind speed, were also recorded. Analysis revealed higher basidiospore concentrations below 4 m, peaking at 02:00 h, with increased levels towards the study's end. Spore concentrations were not directly influenced by temperature, humidity, or precipitation, but showed higher releases during drier periods. A significant correlation was found between wind speed and spore concentration, particularly below 1.5 m/s, though higher speeds might aid long-distance pathogen spread. This study highlights the complexity of BSR propagation and the need for continued monitoring and research to manage its impact on Colombia's oil palm industry.

Multi-Omics Approaches in Oil Palm Research: A Comprehensive Review of Metabolomics, Proteomics, and Transcriptomics Based on Low-Temperature Stress.

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is a typical tropical oil crop with a temperature of 26-28 °C, providing approximately 35% of the total world's vegetable oil. Growth and productivity are significantly affected by low-temperature stress, resulting in inhibited growth and substantial yield losses. To comprehend the intricate molecular mechanisms underlying the response and acclimation of oil palm under low-temperature stress, multi-omics approaches, including metabolomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics, have emerged as powerful tools. This comprehensive review aims to provide an in-depth analysis of recent advancements in multi-omics studies on oil palm under low-temperature stress, including the key findings from omics-based research, highlighting changes in metabolite profiles, protein expression, and gene transcription, as well as including the potential of integrating multi-omics data to reveal novel insights into the molecular networks and regulatory pathways involved in the response to low-temperature stress. This review also emphasizes the challenges and prospects of multi-omics approaches in oil palm research, providing a roadmap for future investigations. Overall, a better understanding of the molecular basis of the response of oil palm to low-temperature stress will facilitate the development of effective breeding and biotechnological strategies to improve the crop's resilience and productivity in changing climate scenarios.

Investigating process parameters to enhance (hemi)cellulolytic enzymes activity produced by Trichoderma reesei RUT-C30 using deoiled oil palm mesocarp fiber in solid-state fermentation.

This study investigates the synthesis of (hemi)cellulolytic enzymes, including endoglucanase (CMCase), xylanase, and ß-glucosidase, employing Trichoderma reesei RUT-C30 and deoiled oil palm mesocarp fiber (OPMF) through solid-state fermentation (SSF). The objective was to determine the optimal process conditions for achieving high enzyme activities through a one-factor-at-a-time approach. The study primarily focused on the impact of the solid-to-liquid ratio, incubation period, initial pH, and temperature on enzyme activity. The effects of OPMF pretreatment, particularly deoiling and fortification, were explored. This approach significantly improved enzyme activity levels compared to the initial conditions, with CMCase increasing by 111.6 %, xylanase by 665.2 %, and ß-Glucosidase by 1678.1 %. Xylanase and ß-glucosidase activities, peaking at 1346.75 and 9.89 IU per gram dry substrate (GDS), respectively, under optimized conditions (1:4 ratio, pH 7.5, 20 °C, 9-day incubation). With lower moisture levels, CMCase reached its maximum activity of 227.84 IU/GDS. The study highlights how important it is for agro-industrial byproducts to support environmentally sustainable practices in the palm oil industry. It also emphasizes how differently each enzyme reacts to changes in process parameters.

RNA-Seq transcriptome profiling of Nile rat livers reveals novel insights on the anti-diabetic mechanisms of Water-Soluble Palm Fruit Extract.

Water-Soluble Palm Fruit Extract (WSPFE) has been shown to confer anti-diabetic effects in the Nile rat (NR) (Arvicanthis niloticus). Liquid and powder WSPFE both deterred diabetes onset in NRs fed a high-carbohydrate (hiCHO) diet, but the liquid form provided better protection. In this study, NRs were fed either a hiCHO diet or the same diet added with liquid or powder WSPFE. Following feeding of the diets for 8 weeks, random blood glucose levels were measured to categorize NRs as either diabetes-resistant or diabetes-susceptible, based on a cut-off value of 75 mg/dL. Livers were then obtained for Illumina HiSeq 4000 paired end RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) and the data were mapped to the reference genome. Consistent with physiological and biochemical parameters, the gene expression data obtained indicated that WSPFE was associated with protection against diabetes. Among hepatic genes upregulated by WSPFE versus controls, were genes related to insulin-like growth factor binding protein, leptin receptor, and processes of hepatic metabolism maintenance, while those downregulated were related to antigen binding, immunoglobulin receptor, inflammation- and cancer-related processes. WSPFE supplementation thus helped inhibit diabetes progression in NRs by increasing insulin sensitivity and reducing both the inflammatory effects of a hiCHO diet and the related DNA-damage compensatory mechanisms contributing to liver disease progression. In addition, the genetic permissiveness of susceptible NRs to develop diabetes was potentially associated with dysregulated compensatory mechanisms involving insulin signaling and oxidative stress over time. Further studies on other NR organs associated with diabetes and its complications are warranted.

Oil Palm AP2 Subfamily Gene EgAP2.25 Improves Salt Stress Tolerance in Transgenic Tobacco Plants.

AP2/ERF transcription factor genes play an important role in regulating the responses of plants to various abiotic stresses, such as cold, drought, high salinity, and high temperature. However, less is known about the function of oil palm AP2/ERF genes. We previously obtained 172 AP2/ERF genes of oil palm and found that the expression of EgAP2.25 was significantly up-regulated under salinity, cold, or drought stress conditions. In the present study, the sequence characterization and expression analysis for EgAP2.25 were conducted, showing that it was transiently over-expressed in Nicotiana tabacum L. The results indicated that transgenic tobacco plants over-expressing EgAP2.25 could have a stronger tolerance to salinity stress than wild-type tobacco plants. Compared with wild-type plants, the over-expression lines showed a significantly higher germination rate, better plant growth, and less chlorophyll damage. In addition, the improved salinity tolerance of EgAP2.25 transgenic plants was mainly attributed to higher antioxidant enzyme activities, increased proline and soluble sugar content, reduced H2O2 production, and lower MDA accumulation. Furthermore, several stress-related marker genes, including NtSOD, NtPOD, NtCAT, NtERD10B, NtDREB2B, NtERD10C, and NtP5CS, were significantly up-regulated in EgAP2.25 transgenic tobacco plants subjected to salinity stress. Overall, over-expression of the EgAP2.25 gene significantly enhanced salinity stress tolerance in transgenic tobacco plants. This study lays a foundation for further exploration of the regulatory mechanism of the EgAP2.25 gene in conferring salinity tolerance in oil palm.

Bioprospecting Study of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizospheric Bacteria from Oil Palm Plantation as Biological Control Agent of Ganoderma boninense.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> The prioritisation of oil palm studies involves the exploration of novel bacterial isolates as possible agents for suppressing <i>Ganoderma boninense</i>. The objective of this study was to evaluate and characterise the potential of rhizospheric bacteria, obtained from the rhizosphere of oil palm plants, in terms of their ability to demonstrate anti-<i>Ganoderma </i>activity. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> The study began by employing a dual culture technique to select hostile bacteria. Qualitative detection was performed to assess the antifungal activity, as well as the synthesis of chitinase and glucanase, from certain isolates. The candidate strains were molecularly identified using 16S-rRNA ribosomal primers, specifically the 27F and 1492R primers. <b>Results:</b> The findings of the study indicated that the governmental plantation exhibited the highest ratio between diazotroph and indigenous bacterial populations in comparison to the other sites. Out of a pool of ninety bacterial isolates, a subset of twenty-one isolates demonstrated the ability to impede the development of <i>G. boninense</i>, as determined using a dual culture experiment. Twenty-one bacterial strains were found to exhibit antifungal activity. Nine possible bacteria were found based on the sequence analysis. These bacteria include <i>Burkholderia territorii</i> (RK2, RP2, RP3, RP5), <i>Burkholderia stagnalis</i> (RK3), <i>Burkholderia cenocepacia</i> (RP1), <i>Serratia marcescens</i> (RP13) and <i>Rhizobium multihospitium</i> (RU4). <b>Conclusion:</b> The findings of the study revealed that a significant proportion of the bacterial population exhibited the ability to perform nitrogen fixation, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production and phosphate solubilization. However, it is worth noting that <i>Rhizobium multihospitium</i> RU4 did not demonstrate the capacity for phosphate solubilization, while <i>B. territory</i> RK2 did not exhibit IAA production.

Strengthening oil palm smallholder farmers' resilience to future industrial challenges.

Oil palm cultivation has improved living standards and alleviated the poverty of many smallholder farmers. However, challenges such as climate change, aging palms and negative sentiments in the major markets, threaten the wellbeing of and raise the question on smallholder farmers' resilience, which remains poorly understood. Using primary data from Indonesia, the largest palm oil producer in the world, we measure and evaluate the resilience of oil palm smallholder farmers using the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach. Our results revealed five classes of smallholders with different levels of resilience: vulnerable, economically and socially constrained, low-skilled, semi-secure and adaptive smallholders. The farmers in the least resilient group are majorly older local farmers, who established oil palm plantations independently. Meanwhile, the most resilient group is dominated by smallholders who participated in the migration program, and in the past, received support from the government to start oil palm plantations. Our study highlights the heterogeneity of smallholders' livelihood resilience and the need for inclusive and tailored interventions for the various classes of smallholder farmers to establish sustainable communities.

The chloroplast genome inheritance pattern of the Deli-Nigerian prospection material (NPM) × Yangambi population of Elaeis guineensis Jacq.

Background: The chloroplast genome has the potential to be genetically engineered to enhance the agronomic value of major crops. As a crop plant with major economic value, it is important to understand every aspect of the genetic inheritance pattern among Elaeis guineensis individuals to ensure the traceability of agronomic traits. Methods: Two parental E. guineensis individuals and 23 of their F1 progenies were collected and sequenced using the next-generation sequencing (NGS) technique on the Illumina platform. Chloroplast genomes were assembled de novo from the cleaned raw reads and aligned to check for variations. The sequences were compared and analyzed with programming language scripting and relevant bioinformatic softwares. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci were determined from the chloroplast genome. Results: The chloroplast genome assembly resulted in 156,983 bp, 156,988 bp, 156,982 bp, and 156,984 bp. The gene content and arrangements were consistent with the reference genome published in the GenBank database. Seventy-eight SSRs were detected in the chloroplast genome, with most located in the intergenic spacer region.The chloroplast genomes of 17 F1 progenies were exact copies of the maternal parent, while six individuals showed a single variation in the sequence. Despite the significant variation displayed by the male parent, all the nucleotide variations were synonymous. This study show highly conserve gene content and sequence in Elaeis guineensis chloroplast genomes. Maternal inheritance of chloroplast genome among F1 progenies are robust with a low possibility of mutations over generations. The findings in this study can enlighten inheritance pattern of Elaeis guineensis chloroplast genome especially among crops' scientists who consider using chloroplast genome for agronomic trait modifications.

Towards DNA-free CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing for sustainable oil palm improvement.

The CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system has been in the spotlight compared to programmable nucleases such as ZFNs and TALENs due to its simplicity, versatility, and high efficiency. CRISPR/Cas9 has revolutionized plant genetic engineering and is broadly used to edit various plants' genomes, including those transformation-recalcitrant species such as oil palm. This review will comprehensively present the CRISPR-Cas9 system's brief history and underlying mechanisms. We then highlighted the establishment of the CRISPR/Cas9 system in plants with an emphasis on the strategies of highly efficient guide RNA design, the establishment of various CRISPR/Cas9 vector systems, approaches of multiplex editing, methods of transformation for stable and transient techniques, available methods for detecting and analyzing mutations, which have been applied and could be adopted for CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in oil palm. In addition, we also provide insight into the strategy of DNA-free genome editing and its potential application in oil palm.

Modeling the impacts of oil palm plantations on water quantity and quality in the Kais River Watershed of Indonesia.

Oil palm plantations can impact hydrological processes in many tropical watersheds. The rapid conversion of tropical rainforests for commercial operations in recent decades has been associated with water scarcity, flooding, and polluted rivers. However, this widespread and emerging issue is less studied and underreported due to limited data availability, modeling complexity, and the remote nature of these landscapes. Ecohydrologic modeling enables us to investigate changes in watershed conditions caused by large-scale land cover changes from plantations. This study examines the impact of oil plantations on water quantity and quality using the SWAT+ model in the Kais River Watershed, West Papua, Indonesia. The objective is to assess the hydrological changes concerning land cover conversion to oil palm plantations. Results show that establishing oil palm plantations increased surface runoff by 21 %, and sediment yields rose by 16.9 % compared to the baseline. There was also a significant increase of 78 % in mean annual total nitrogen and 144 % in total phosphorous after the plantations' establishment. The results show that forest conversion to oil palm plantations in the Kais River watershed is a primary driver of change in hydrological regimes, resulting in the deterioration of water quality. There is a need for conservation strategies to mitigate the impacts of significant landscape changes in watershed ecosystems.