Shelf Life of Tropical Canarium Nut Stored under Ambient Conditions

There is a need to develop alternative crops to improve the food security and prosperity of developing countries. The tropical nut Canarium indicum (canarium nut) is increasingly used as a shade tree for cocoa and has potential for commercialization as a sustainable crop that will improve food security and livelihoods in Melanesia and East Asia. There is no information on canarium nut shelf life characteristics. Canarium kernels may be prone to rancidity, due to a high content of unsaturated fatty acids. Kernels at 5.4% moisture content were vacuum-packed with a domestic vacuum-packaging system and stored for six months in Papua New Guinea and for nine months in Southeast Queensland, Australia at both ambient temperatures (22 to 31 °C and 22 to 25 °C, respectively) and under refrigeration. Nuts were analysed for changes in peroxide values and free fatty acids (FFAs) over the storage periods that might indicate development of rancidity. Peroxide values indicated very low levels of oxidation in all treatments. Free fatty acids were at low levels but increased significantly during storage at ambient temperatures. The results suggested that vacuum-packed Canarium nuts can be stored safely under ambient tropical conditions for six months with daytime temperatures around 31 °C, and for nine months at 25 °C. Increasing FFA levels at ambient temperatures indicate caution about longer storage time at ambient temperatures. Storage under refrigeration greatly prolonged shelf life

Domestication potential and marketing of Canarium indicum nuts in the Pacific: producer and consumer surveys in Papua New Guinea (East New Britain)

As part of a feasibility study of (he commercialization potential of C. indicum nuts in Papua New Guinea, participatory rural appraisals assessed the interest of 148 producers across three areas of East New Britain (Gazelle, Duke of York atolls and Pomio), and the interest of 174 consumers in urban markets and supermarkets in three urban centres (Rabaul, Lae and Port Moresby). Producers and consumers ranked C. indicum as the most important nut tree species for both food and income generation. The tree also produces a quality timber and other forest products. All consumers interviewed regularly ate the nut kernels, both raw and as an ingredient prepared with other foods. The average farming family generally had access to 5 to 12 trees. Most farmers would like to grow more of these trees to meet needs for food security and income generation. Only small numbers of trees have been deliberately planted by farmers, usually using local germplasm. Trees are recognized as varying in fruit/nut/kernel size and shape, kernel number per nut, fruit colour, shell colour, and in the ease of cracking the shell, and certain forms are preferred by producers and consumers. The kernels are generally sold direct to the general public at local markets wrapped in banana leaves or in baskets. The price is lowest in remote rural areas and highest in major towns.\ud On average, farming families, in addition to bartering, make about US$13.6 per year from selling, but the distribution is skewed and some make much more. Income from the sale of kernels is generally used to offset food, store goods, medical expenses and transport costs. Most farmers said they could sell more kernels if they had them. Most consumers said that they would buy more if they were available. Evidence suggested that there would not be any consumer resistance to commercially processed and packaged nut industry in PNG. Two of the main problems recognized\ud by farmers were the irregularity/seasonality of fruiting and lack of planting materials. In addition to inadequate supply, consumers indicated issues of low kernel quality arising from poor post-harvest handling, processing and storage. Farmers indicated enthusiasm to plant improved cultivars. Despite these problems, this survey concluded that both producers and consumers see great potential for the industry to grow, producing both fresh kernel for sale in local markets and commercially processed and packaged products for supermarkets and niche markets. Consequently, a joint domestication/commercialization programme for C. indicum has been initiated in support of enhanced livelihoods for subsistence farmers in Papua New Guinea

Characterization of tree-to-tree variation in morphological, nutritional and medicinal properties of Canarium indicum nuts

As part of a feasibility study of the commercialization potential of C. indicum nuts as Agroforestry Tree Products in Papua New Guinea, preliminary characterization studies have examined the tree-to-tree variation in morphological traits (nut and kernel mass and kernel:nut ratio), as well as nutritional (carbohydrate, fat, protein, sodium, vitamin E) and medicinal traits (anti-oxidant activity, anti-inflammatory activity and phenolic content) of kernels from 18 to 72 trees in a small number of different villages of Papua New Guinea (East New Britain Province). There was continuous variation in these traits indicating opportunities for multiple trait cultivar development targeted at food and pharmaceutical markets. Certain traits, for example anti-inflammatory activity, in which tree-to-tree variation was highly significant, present greater opportunities than others, such as saturated: unsaturated fatty acid ratio. This intraspecific variation was greater within populations than between populations. The data presented has allowed the development of a strategy to domesticate C. indicum for cultivation in homegardens and cocoa–coconut agroforests, using a participatory approach aimed at the production of agroforestry tree products (AFTPs) to empower small-holders and enhance their livelihoods and income

Effects of shade-tree species and spacing on soil and leaf nutrient concentrations in cocoa plantations at 8 years after establishment

Hosseini Bai, S ORCiD: 0000-0001-8646-6423Intercropping in agroforestry systems improves ecosystem services. Appropriate species compositions and spacing regimes are critical to achieve ecosystem benefits and improve yields of all the component crops. Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) is an important cash crop globally but it requires shade for survival and growth. However, the effects of shade-tree species composition and spacing regime on nutrient cycling in cocoa plantations are not well understood. This study investigated the effects of shade tree species and spacing regimes on soil and plant nutrient availability at 8 years after plantation establishment in Papua New Guinea. Three cocoa intercropping systems were established in which T. cacao was planted with either a non-legume timber tree, Canarium indicum, or a legume non-timber tree, Gliricidia sepium. The shade-tree spacing regimes included either 8 m × 16 m or 8 m × 8 m in the Theobroma + Canarium plantations. There was an ongoing thinning regime in the Theobroma + Gliricidia plantation, with a final shade-tree spacing of 12 m × 12 m. Soil total carbon (TC) and total nitrogen (TN) were significantly higher in the Theobroma + Gliricidia plantation with 12 m × 12 m spacing and the Theobroma + Canarium plantation with 8 m × 16 m spacing than in the Theobroma + Canarium plantation with 8 m × 8 m spacing. Foliar TN and P were correlated with soil TN and P, respectively, whereas no correlation was detected between soil and leaf K concentrations. Foliar TN, P and K were under ideal concentrations for T. cacao in all of the plantations. The Theobroma + Gliricidia plantation had higher soil water extractable phosphorus (P) than the two Theobroma + Canarium plantations, probably due to frequent pruning of the G. sepium trees. Foliar C isotope composition (δ13C) of T. cacao suggested that T. cacao close to G. sepium or close to C. indicum with spacing of 8 m × 16 m and 8 m × 8 m had similar light interception. However, increased C. indicum spacing increased the light interception of T. cacao trees that were not planted next to C. indicum. This study indicated that non-legume timber trees with an optimized spacing regime can be used as overstorey shade trees for T. cacao. However, our study indicated all three plantations required fertilisation and better nutrient management. © 2017 Elsevier B.V

Soil organic matter alterations resulting from post-fire restoration actions

4 figuras.- 3 referencias.- Póster presentado en el 21st. International Symposium on Analytical and Applied. Pyrolysis, 9-12 May 2016, Nancy, FranceBurned soils restoration/rehabilitation techniques include tillage, tree logging, reforestation with native or non-native species, and other management. In some cases, restoration may cause additional impacts on soils, producing more severe damages than those caused directly by fire. Triggered soil erosion processes, loss of soil fertility and alterations in the hydrological cycle are among these negative impacts. Analytical pyrolysis (Py-GC/MS) together with graphic interpretation tools like van Krevelen¿s diagram [1] may be used to shed light on alterations caused by burning and restoration plans to soil organic matter (SOM). The objective of this research is to study fire impacts on SOM in a sandy soil under pine (Pinus pinea) forest affected by a severe fire in August 2012 in Doñana National Park (SW Spain). mm) collected from burned adjacent areas before (B) and after restoration practices (BR) (logging and extraction of burned trees). An adjacent unburned (UB) area was used as a control. Bulk soil samples and its fractions were studied by Py-GC/MS and the results were interpreted taking advantage of a van Krevelen diagram using the H/C and O/C atomic ratios calculated from the chemical formulas of compounds as inferred from their mass spectra. The percentage of main compound families obtained by analytical pyrolysis, including alkane/alkene pairs, unspecific aromatic compounds (UAC), peptides, methoxyphenols, fatty acids, carbohydrate-derived, N-compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), show conspicuous differences among bulk samples from the B, BR and UB control areas. Compared to the UB site, the samples from the B site showed lower proportions of lignin methoxyphenols and increased ones of UAC and PAH. It could be hypothesized that fire produced defunctionalization of methoxyphenols, increasing the proportion of soil recalcitrant compounds. In all cases, the coarse fraction showed a high content of carbohydrate-derived compounds and methoxyphenols followed by fatty acids that could be explained by litter inputs after the fire [2]. While the coarse fraction from BR soil showed the highest proportion of methoxyphenols, the UB coarse fraction showed the major proportions of alkyl compounds. On the other hand, although the SOM composition from fine fractions varied largely from one area to another, SOM was found generally more altered than in the coarse fractions. In fact, SOM from the UB fine fraction shows a high proportion of alyl compounds and comparatively lower of carbohydrate- and lignin-derived compounds. In contrast, SOM from B fine fraction did not show a high contribution of alkyl compounds, which may be due to a thermal cracking of alkane/alkene chains [3]. In addition, a high contribution of UAC and PAH was observed in this B fine fraction. Finally, the fine fraction of BR samples showed a high contribution from labile compounds, possibly due to topsoil mixing caused by tilling during rehab actions. The van Krevelen diagram applied to pyrolysis compounds differentiates among chemical processes caused by fire and rehab practices. Among the main processes identified are condensation (oxidation and hydration), demethylation (oxidation and dehydrogenation) and oxidation-reduction. Figure: van Krevelen diagram based in the chemical formula of the Pyrolysis compounds as inferred from their mass spectra. Atomic ratios are mean values of detected compounds [1] DW. van Krevelen. Fuel 29, 269-284, 1950. [2] NT. Jiménez-Morillo et al. Land Degrad Develop. 2014. DOI: 10.1002/ldr.2314 [3] JA. González-Pérez et al. Org Geochem. 39: 940-944. 2008. DOI: 10.1016/j.orggeochem.2008.03.014.Projects GEOFIRE (CGL2012-38655-C04-01) and POSTFIRE (CGL2013-47862-C2-1-R). The Spanish Ministry for Economy and Competitiveness and CSIC for their support. N.T Jiménez-Morillo is funded by a FPI research grant (BES-2013-062573)Peer Reviewe

Effects of roasting on kernel peroxide value, free fatty acid, fatty acid composition and crude protein content - Fig 2

<p>Peroxide values (A) and free fatty acid (FFA) (B) of the roasted <i>Canarium indicum</i> kernels at 110°C, 120°C and 150°C temperatures for 5 min (hatched column), 10 min (grey column) and 20 min (black column) compared to raw kernel (white column). FFA of the testa-off and testa-on kernels at 110°C (white and black columns, respectively) and at 120°C (grey and hatched columns, respectively) (C). Different lower case letters indicate significant differences at P<0.05.</p

Characterization of tree-to-tree variation in morphological, nutritional and medicinal properties of Canarium indicum nuts

As part of a feasibility study of the commercialization potential of C. indicum nuts as Agroforestry Tree Products in Papua New Guinea, preliminary characterization studies have examined the tree-to-tree variation in morphological traits (nut and kernel mass and kernel:nut ratio), as well as nutritional (carbohydrate, fat, protein, sodium, vitamin E) and medicinal traits (anti-oxidant activity, anti-inflammatory activity and phenolic content) of kernels from 18 to 72 trees in a small number of different villages of Papua New Guinea (East New Britain Province). There was continuous variation in these traits indicating opportunities for multiple trait cultivar development targeted at food and pharmaceutical markets. Certain traits, for example anti-inflammatory activity, in which tree-to-tree variation was highly significant, present greater opportunities than others, such as saturated:unsaturated fatty acid ratio. This intraspecific variation was greater within populations than between populations. The data presented has allowed the development of a strategy to domesticate C. indicum for cultivation in homegardens and cocoa-coconut agroforests, using a participatory approach aimed at the production of agroforestry tree products (AFTPs) to empower small-holders and enhance their livelihoods and income

Domestication potential and marketing of Canarium indicum nuts in the Pacific: 1. A literature review

Canarium indicum is an indigenous tree of the lowland forests of Melanesia (Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu) and parts of Indonesia producing edible nuts, commercial timber and some minor products. For thousands of years the nuts have been culturally important and a traditional food. Since the early 1990s there have been a number of projects aimed at the wider commercialization of the species, with mixed success. This review evaluates the biophysical and socio-economic literature and suggests how the domestication and commercialization processes could be taken forwards to improve the livelihoods of rural households in Melanesia. Many of the issues facing the domestication and commercialization of C. indicum nuts as an Agroforestry Tree Product (AFTP) are similar to those that will be important for the development of other AFTPs. Thus there are lessons that can be learnt from this species which make it a model for other agroforestry tree species