Fat Metabolism in the West 4frican Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis)

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Abstract
Accumulation of fat in the oil-palm exocarp is delayed until the kernel has almost finished developing (at about 19 weeks after pollination) and is then extremely rapid, a major part of the lipid being formed within a single week. Throughout the period studied (8 to 20 weeks after pollination) the fat-free dry weight remains approximately constant and carbohydrates (starch, sucrose, and reducing sugars) do not accumulate either prior to or during fat formation. Immature exocarps contain only a low proportion of fat (about 1 per cent, of the dry weight) and this ‘protoplasmic’ lipid has a different fatty acid composition (major components palmitic and linoleic acids accompanied by smaller amounts of stearic and linolenic acids) from the later-formed oil (major components palmitic and oleic acids with smaller amounts of stearic and linoleic acids). There is no evidence of fatty acid interconversions at any stage of development.

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