Identification of oil palm breeding lines producing oils with low acid values

Abstract

In the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), an active endogenous lipase is responsible for the massive release of free fatty acids (FFA) in the mesocarp of fruits at maturity. This can lead to the production of oils with unacceptable acid values. We have investigated the lipase activities in 39 genotypes of oil palm presently used in breeding programs. While most E. guineensis genotypes exhibited high lipase activity values, four of them with negligible activities were identified. We analyzed in situ lipolysis in the mesocarp upon severe wounding of fruits. The FFA content of high-lipase fruits ranged from 17 to 55%, while all low-lipase fruits contained less than 7.5% FFA. The analysis of oil from fallen overripe fruits indicated that all lowlipase genotypes contained less than 1.2% FFA (oil acidity ,5% FFA, FAO-WHO international norms), while all but one high-lipase genotypes had FFA contents much higher than the acceptable standards. Because the identified low-lipase lines are of high agronomical value and at least one of them is an elite genotype, it will soon be possible to provide farmers with new low-lipase oil palm lines allowing significant savings on labor costs, without any need for further breeding.

Oil palm natural diversity and the potential for yield improvement

“…Oil pressed from LL fruits had substantially less free FAs than standard genotypes (Ebongue et al, 2008). E. guineensis LIPASE1 , EgLIP1 gene associated with the LL trait has been identified, allowing marker-based introgression of the LL trait into any elite oil palm genotypes (Morcillo et al, 2013).…”

“…The hydrolysis of TAG and release of free FAs has a strong impact on the quality of commodity oil, because free FA content above five percent is thought to be unfit for human consumption (Ebongue et al, 2008). Oil palm mesocarp contains a highly active lipase that within five minutes can bring the free FA content to 30% in crushed tissue.…”

Chemical Characterization of the American Oil Palm from the Brazilian Amazon Forest

“…Crude palm oil extracted from the fruits of lineages with low lipolytic activity also showed a low FFA/oil acid content (Ebongue et al, 2008). Crude palm oil extracted from the fruits of lineages with low lipolytic activity also showed a low FFA/oil acid content (Ebongue et al, 2008).…”

“…Studies have verified that the activity of the endogenous lipases can vary between different lineages, identifying some with very low lipolytic activity. Crude palm oil extracted from the fruits of lineages with low lipolytic activity also showed a low FFA/oil acid content (Ebongue et al, 2008). FFA may also be generated by lipases contaminating microorganisms (Hiol et al, 2000, Abbas et al, 2002.…”

“…The quality of the oil palm is highly affected by the hydrolytic action of mesocarp lipases (triacylglycerol acylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.3) that releases FFAs in bruised ripe fruits during the postharvest period of storage and transportation, when the enzyme comes into contact with the substrate (triacylglycerides) (Henderson and Osborne, 1991;Sambanthamurthi et al, 2000a;Ebongue et al, 2008). These compounds generate rancidity and other technological issues that deteriorate the oil for diverse industrial purposes.…”