Macauba: a promising tropical palm for the production of vegetable oil

Abstract

The growing global demand for vegetable oils for food and for replacing fossil fuels leads to increased oilseeds production. Almost 122 of the current 187 million tons of vegetable oils produced in the world correspond to palm and soybean oils. The oil palm is cultivated in the tropical zone, in areas formerly occupied by forests, and soybean oil is a by-product of protein meal production. The diversification of raw materials for the vegetable oil market is thus strategic for both food and non-food sectors. Sources for vegetable oil should be economically competitive and provide sustainability indexes higher than that provided by oil palm and soybean. In this context, we describe the potential of Acrocomia aculeata, popularly known as macauba. Macauba is an American palm from the tropical zones which presents oil productivity and quality similar to that of the oil palm. It grows spontaneously in a wide range of environments and it is not very water demanding. Macauba palm has a high potential for oil production and for diversification of co-products with some potential of value aggregation. Such a perennial and sustainable species will probably fulfill the requirements to become an important new commercial oilseed crop.

Morphological, Physiological and Nutritional Effects of Irrigation Frequency on Macaúba Palm Seedlings

“…It is probably found naturally in almost all the Brazilian territory, especially across the Southeast and Central West regions (Pimentel et al, 2015;dos Reis, Pinto, da Assunção, & da Silva, 2017). This species has an annual flowering season in Brazil from September through February and with peak flowering from November through December (Berton, 2013), which coincides with the season of highest rainfall in the areas in which it grows (Colombo, Berton, Diaz, & Ferrari, 2017). Fruiting occurs throughout the year after the fourth year in the field and generally the fruits are ripe 12 to 13 months after fertilization (Giraldo Montoya, Motoike, Kuki, De Oliveira, & Gomes Honorio, 2015).…”

2‐Alkyl‐3‐methoxypyrazines are potent attractants of florivorous scarabs (Melolonthidae, Cyclocephalini) associated with economically exploitable Neotropical palms (Arecaceae)

“…Grade, Sigma‐Aldrich) in 4 ml clear glass vials closed with Teflon‐lined screw caps (Supelco), then stirred the solution in a vortex mixer. These vials were individually applied to custom‐built ‘Japanese beetle’ flight‐interception traps (refer to Maia et al . for details).…”

“…Grade, Sigma-Aldrich) in 4 ml clear glass vials closed with Teflon-lined screw caps (Supelco), then stirred the solution in a vortex mixer. These vials were individually applied to custom-built 'Japanese beetle' flight-interception traps (refer to Maia et al 22 for details). Each day at dusk (∼ 17:30 h), sets of six traps (two IPMP, two SBMP and two controls with paraffin oil only) were hung chest-high from tree branches along fragment borders and the vials were left uncapped for 3 h.…”

“…High oil yields from natural populations of macaw palms in Central Brazil, which at a potential 5 ton per ha year −1 rival even those of the long established African palm cultivars ( Elaeis guineensis Jacq. ), have led to significant investments from both the Brazilian government and private investors in domestication, selection and large‐scale cultivation . Locally exploited in Colombia for diverse purposes, with mild to large economic impact at regional levels, the fruits of the wine palm are a coveted source of high‐quality edible oils, and the sap, rich in sucrose (almost 12% content), can be tapped for the production of sugar and ethanol …”

“…), have led to significant investments from both the Brazilian government and private investors in domestication, selection and large-scale cultivation. 22 Locally exploited in Colombia for diverse purposes, with mild to large economic impact at regional levels, the fruits of the wine palm are a coveted source of high-quality edible oils, and the sap, rich in sucrose (almost 12% content), can be tapped for the production of sugar and ethanol. 23 Over the past 5 years, a series of studies have begun to elucidate the role of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the attraction of pollinating species of cyclocephaline scarabs.…”