Potency of Sago Palm as Carbohydrate Resource for Strengthening Food Security Program

A new competition between biofuel production and food production has occurred in recent years, therefore the development of some new plant resources and their utilization are needed.  Sago palm and related species that can store a large amount of starch in the trunk and can grow under severe environmental conditions are considered to be potential starch resources for not only food production but also ethanol production.  However, even sago palm, an elite species among the starch producing palms, grows under semi-domesicated or natural condition and there are many problems to utilize it.  Thus, the systematic, ecological, physiological, agronomic and economic studies should be carried out for improvement of these species.  Here, the recent research progress is reviewed.  Large variation in morphological characteristics and palm size existed among the folk varieties of sago palm, and the difference in pith dry-matter yield was mainly attributable to trunk diameter and dry-matter content of the pith.  The two key parameters were closely related with soil profile indicating natural fertility.  On the other hand, the genetic distance of sago palm individuals grown in the Malay Archipelago was considered to be related to geographical distribution.  The genetic variation was small in the western area and large in the eastern area.  Sago palm tolerated up to 171mM (1.0%) NaCl concentration in the growth media for comparatively long period.  The salt resistance of sago palm might be due to salt avoidance to mechanically restrict an excess of Na distribution from the roots to leaflets.  The Na influx might be disturbed by the endodermal cells of roots even under 342mM (2.0%) NaCl condition.  Sago palm tolerated severe low pH condition such at pH 3.6 in the growth media for 5 months at least and maintained a low Al3+ concentration in the plant tissues.  Sago palm was considered to have a high tolerance to Al with the Al exclusion ability.  Moreover, the growth of sago palm was stimulated when AlCl3 was added into the growth media with 10ppm Al.  These physiological information on the growth response of sago palm to environmental stresses will be valuable for investigating concrete strategies to introduce new plant resources to barren lands with sterile soil and produce economic plants from poor productivity lands.   Key words:  acid soil, biofuel, genetic variation, Metroxylon, salt stress, starch

Expression of Ribonuclease Gene in Mechanically Injured or Virus-Inoculated Nicotiana tabacum Leaves

We characterized cDNAs encoding putative S-like RNases, RNase Nk1, Nk2 and Nk3, in Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. ky 57 leaf and examined the relation between these genes and Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) infection. Of these genes, only RNase Nk1 was induced by wounding or CMV inoculation. The deduced amino acid sequence of RNase Nk1 is 97% identical to the N. alata RNase NE that is induced in roots in response to phosphate limitation. RNase Nk1 mRNA was highly induced in CMV-inoculated leaves within 3-6 hr after inoculation whereas a smaller increase was observed in mock- or CMV RNA-inoculated leaves. RNase Nk1 mRNA was also highly induced in leaves inoculated with CMV coat protein (CP) or BSA, suggesting that not only a mechanical damage but CP of CMV is the causal agent in the higher induction of RNase Nk1 gene immediately after virus infection in host plant cells

Measuring Instant Light-Response Curve of Chlorophyll Fluorescence in Sago Palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) Leaves: Different Time Measurements on Dark and Light-Adapted Leaf

This study aimed to determine the appropriate time for the chlorophyll fluorescence light curve measurement in sago palms and to avoid high values variations. The photosynthetic status of three-year-old sago palm seedlings was evaluated through the chlorophyll fluorescence measurement. The chlorophyll fluorescence light curve of measurement was evaluated under different daytime measurements. Observations on DFm/Fm’ and ETR vs. irradiances were conducted on sago palm leaves in the morning, midday, and afternoon with light and dark adaptation. The highest ETRmax value was found under a light-adapted leaf; however, the Eopt value could not be obtained. Morning time measurement on the dark-adapted leaf is the most appropriate method and time to get an Eopt value with high ETRmax

Outer-and inner-valence ionization spectra of N and CO: 2 ž / SAC-CI general-R compared with full-CI spectra

Abstract Ž . Ž . The SAC-CI symmetry-adapted-cluster configuration-interaction general-R method describes the ionization and shake-up spectra of N and CO in almost complete agreement with the full-CI results, though the computational labour of 2 Ž . the former is much smaller that that of the latter. The SAC-CI general-R method is accurate for both valence and Ž . inner-valence regions of ionization spectra, while the SAC-CI SD-R method is good for the outer-valence region, but not always so for the shake-up region. q 1998 Elsevier Science B.V

Excited and Ionized States of p-Benzoquinone and Its Anion Radical: SAC-CI Theoretical Study

Excited and ionized states of p-benzoquinone (p-BQ) and the ground and excited states of its anion radical were studied by the SAC (symmetry adapted cluster)/SAC-CI (configuration interaction) method. Calculated ionization energies were in good agreement with the experimental ionization spectra, and the ionization peaks up to ca. 20 eV were assigned. The lowest four ionized states were calculated to be n

Electronic Specific Heat of Disordered f.c.c. (Ni, Fe)_3 Mn

The specific heats and the paramagnetic susceptibilities of disordered f.c.c. (Fe, Ni)_3Mn alloy system have been measured at low temperatures. The alloys on the Fe-rich side show antiferromagnetic behavior with negative paramagnetic Curie temperatures, while those on the Ni-rich side show weakly ferromagnetic behavior. The specific heat vs. composition curve goes through a maximum near the composition where the paramagnetic Curie temperature changes its sign. This behavior of the specific heat is quite analogous to that observed by other workers in some f.c.c. alloy systems, e.g., Fe-Ni, Mn-Fe or Mn-Cu. The electronic specific heat of an alloy with electron concentration (e/a) very close to 8, which corresponds to that of Fe, is much higher than that of b.c.c. Fe

Studi Karakter Morfologi dan Fisiologi Varietas Padi Toleran Terhadap Cekaman Kekeringan Pada Sistem Sawah

Water stress is one of factors which causes low yield of lowland. This study aimed to identify and characterize morphology and physiology of drought tolerant rice varieties. Experiments which have conducted: (i) Investigation of rice varieties tolerance to drought stress at early vegetative stage in the laboratory (ii) morphology and physiology characters of rice varieties to drought stress in the paddy field and (iii) determining the character of root of  rice tolerant to drought stress. The experimental design used was split plot design with 3 (three) replications, with drought stress as the main plot and the variety as sub-plot. The result of screening test at the laboratory using PEG (Polyethylene Glycol) which could characterize which rice varieties could be considered as drought tolerant varieties. Results showed that periods of drought increasing the proline content at Ciherang (25.38 μmol) and IPB 3S varieties (22.08 μmol) at 13 WAT (Week After Transplanting). The variety that has the highest total sugar content in the flowering stage is Rokan (289.38 mg.g-1DW) followed by Menthik Wangi (230.53 mg.g1DW), while the lowest sugar content in harvest found in Jatiluhur (17.14 mg.g-1DW) followed by Way Apo Buru (46.99 mg.g-1DW). Jatiluhur, Way Apo Buru and IPB 3S varieties have drought tolerant based on the root characteristic. Ciherang, IPB 3S, Way Apo Buru and Jatiluhur varieties were drought tolerant and potential to be used in paddy field