Starch Properties of the Sago Palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) in Different Soils

Abstract

We investigated the relationships between starch concentrations and activities of starch synthetic enzymes in sago palms (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) under acid sulfate and mineral soil conditions. Plants grown naturally that had reached their maturated stage were sampled. We found that the growth in acid sulfate soil is lower than that in mineral soil and that starch granules were larger and there was more amylase activity in acid sulfate soil than in mineral soil. Lower amylase activity in mineral soil could eliminate the degradation of starch, making the smaller granules suitable for storing large amounts of starch in a limited space inside cells.

Physicochemical Properties Of Starch From Sago (Metroxylon Sagu) Palm Grown In Mineral Soil At Different Growth Stages

“…Angau Muda (94%) and Angau Tua (92%). The result in this study agrees to the previous finding where most sago starch accumulates below 6 m height of sago palm trunk [14]. These specify the initiation of an upward mobilization of starch from the base to the upper portion of the trunk, for the conversion of the starch to other forms of energy for flower and fruits development [15].…”

Starch from the Sago (Metroxylon sagu) Palm Tree—Properties, Prospects, and Challenges as a New Industrial Source for Food and Other Uses

“…Starch from the lower part of the trunk showed lower gelatinization onset temperature than that of starch from the upper part of the trunk (Hamanishi and others 2000). As for the growth conditions, Nozaki and others (2004) observed that starch from palm grown in acid sulfate (peat) soil has larger granules and more amylase activity than starch from palm grown in mineral soil. All these studies point to the fact that to obtain sago starch of consistent quality, all these factors need to be taken into account.…”

Sago Palm

“…Jalil and Bahari (1991) compared the starch yield of sago palm growing in plantations 0.5, 0.7, and 3.0 km from the seashore (soil pH: 3.3-3.8 in acid sulfate soils) and found that the starch yield was extremely high near the coast and lower in the inland plantations. In Thailand, Nozaki et al (2004) compared the sago starch content and starch synthetic enzyme activity of sago palms growing in acid sulfate soils and Oxisols and found that the sago growth in acid sulfate soils was lower than that in Oxisols. (Takaya 1983, partly modified) Profile A (Center of sago forest) 3-0 cm, L, litter horizon, sago and other leaves 0-82 cm, B, light gray color in matrix, coarse texture, bright brown (7.5 YR 5/6 to 5/8) to brown (7.5 YR 4/3 to 4/6) of tube type mottles with diffusing outside, 2-3 cm structure in diameter, present gley mottles, many fresh and old sago roots (5-7 mm in diameter) in the structure, yellow (fresh roots) and black (old roots) color roots surrounded by blue gray (reduced) color parts Table 14.4 Soil profile in Tobimeita, Kendari, South Sulawesi, Indonesia (Okazaki 1995) Profile B (Sago forest, potential acid sulfate soil) 0-7 cm, A, surface horizon, very yellowish brown (10 YR 5/5), moist, coarse sand, structureless, few medium and fine weed roots, pH 7.8, EC 0.30 mS/cm, clear smooth boundary to 7-35 cm, B1, grayish olive (5Y 5/2), moist, coarse sand, structureless, few organic debris with original shape and decomposed shape, pH 6.5, EC 0.32 mS/cm, clear smooth boundary to 35-70 cm, B2, brownish black (2.5 YR 3/2) in matrix and black (2.5 Y 2/1), wet, silty clay, structureless, common medium and fine sago roots, very sticky, plastic, pH 6.8, EC 0.32 mS/cm, gradual wavy boundary to 70-cm, dark grayish yellow (2.5 YR 5/2), wet, silty clay, structureless, sticky, pH 6.7, EC 0.35 mS/cm…”