Variations in fatty acid profiles, oil and moisture content during fruit ripening in oil palm crosses grown in india under sub-tropical environment

Suresh, K; Behera, Sanjib Kumar

Variations in fatty acid profiles, oil and moisture content during fruit ripening in oil palm crosses grown in india under sub-tropical environment

2020

Suresh, K | Behera, Sanjib Kumar

During fruit ripening, a sequence of physical and chemical transformations takes place in oil palm fruits. The study elucidated variations in fruit weight, oil content in mesocarp and fatty acid profiles during fruit ripening at 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 weeks after anthesis (WAA) of four commercial oil palm crosses viz., United Plantations (UP), Deli x Nigeria (DxN), Palode and Deli x Ghana (DxG) under sub-tropical environment. Fruit weight (5.4 g-10.6 g) and oil content (22.6%-79.9%) in crosses increased from 12-20 WAA. The ideal time of harvest was at 20 WAA, which coincided with highest oil content. The moisture content in mesocarp decreased as fruit ripened. Six fatty acid profiles viz., myristic (0.5%-2.1%), palmitic (31.1%- 45.1%), stearic (2.8%-5.1%), oleic (19.1%-43.1%), linoleic (8.7%-32.4%) and linolenic (0.4%-10.4%) were identified by standardising gas chromatograph parameters. Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and saturated fatty (SFA) acids increased in all crosses as fruits ripened from 12-20 WAA, while polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased during ripening. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids were highest in DxG cross, indicating its better oil quality. Variations in fatty acid profiles of oil palm crosses can be utilised for developing palms with superior oil quality.

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