Periodic Reporting for period 1 - iPALMS (identifying Practicable functionAL biomarkers to Monitor nutritional requirements in oil palm agroSystems)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2022-07-01 al 2024-06-30
iPALMS “identifying Practicable functional biomarkers to Monitor nutritional requirements in oil palm agroSystem” project is devoted to the elaboration of a K-Bio-Index which will permit a better potassium fertilizer use by planters. This bio indicator will be completed by a K-Profiles-Library and a data base “iPALMS DATA”.
Oil palm is a typical case of a tree-crop that has a strong impact on local biodiversity and landscape via deforesting but the global demand in palm oil is still increasing, including by oil companies looking for resources other than petroleum. Since 2000, oil palm cultivation has generated considerable controversy, as the >20 million ha of plantations linked with burning, a high carbon footprint, environmental pollution from the palm oil industry. The effects of palm oil on human health have also been critiqued, with palm oil used in various fast foods and iconic products like donuts and Nutella. Despite these concerns, the high continuous fruit production (of >35 t FFB/ha) and high oil yield (>28% of extraction rate) of oil palm make it a cheap and high-quality resource for increasing global demand for edible oil. Recently, oil palm agronomists have focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from plantations by modifying fertilizer use (decreasing the quantity, choice of some fertilizer type) especially the addition of potassium (KCl : until 300 kg/ha/year) that is commonly used to increase fruit production. A considerable effort should now be devoted to reconcile oil palm cropping and nutrient fertilization in order to reduce inputs and the carbon footprint, and increase sustainability.
The present project aims to set up a biomonitoring technology based on functional genomics (metabolomics, proteomics) to control potassium (K) fertilization in oil palm. Despite its very high oil-production yield, this species is highly K-demanding, with tissue K content often exceeding nitrogen content. In most agricultural oil palm practices, K fertilization follows standard protocols, in which potash addition is uniform and exceeds tree needs, leading to considerable losses in the environment. Such losses are further detrimental to other agricultural systems and water-tables nearby, potentially causing hypocalcaemia in cattle and humans. Here, we will use metabolomics to explore the functional linkage between K conditions and oil palm metabolic efficiency and identify biomarkers than could be implemented to better define K fertilization strategies.
the iPALMS aims to provide a tool kit for K monitoring in addition to classical foliar diagnosis :
The creation of a Bio-K-Index
The set up of a K-Profile-Library (machine learning for testing leaf samples)
The construction of the iPALMS DATA (database for ranking reference profiles)
The elaboration of the www.iPALMS.com website (to permit externals to access the bioindicator and the updates)
Related to the iPALMS Diagnosis Network “IDN” (network affiliation to use iPALMS)
Oil palm is a typical case of a tree-crop that has a strong impact on local biodiversity and landscape via deforesting but the global demand in palm oil is still increasing, including by oil companies looking for resources other than petroleum. Since 2000, oil palm cultivation has generated considerable controversy, as the >20 million ha of plantations linked with burning, a high carbon footprint, environmental pollution from the palm oil industry. The effects of palm oil on human health have also been critiqued, with palm oil used in various fast foods and iconic products like donuts and Nutella. Despite these concerns, the high continuous fruit production (of >35 t FFB/ha) and high oil yield (>28% of extraction rate) of oil palm make it a cheap and high-quality resource for increasing global demand for edible oil. Recently, oil palm agronomists have focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from plantations by modifying fertilizer use (decreasing the quantity, choice of some fertilizer type) especially the addition of potassium (KCl : until 300 kg/ha/year) that is commonly used to increase fruit production. A considerable effort should now be devoted to reconcile oil palm cropping and nutrient fertilization in order to reduce inputs and the carbon footprint, and increase sustainability.
The present project aims to set up a biomonitoring technology based on functional genomics (metabolomics, proteomics) to control potassium (K) fertilization in oil palm. Despite its very high oil-production yield, this species is highly K-demanding, with tissue K content often exceeding nitrogen content. In most agricultural oil palm practices, K fertilization follows standard protocols, in which potash addition is uniform and exceeds tree needs, leading to considerable losses in the environment. Such losses are further detrimental to other agricultural systems and water-tables nearby, potentially causing hypocalcaemia in cattle and humans. Here, we will use metabolomics to explore the functional linkage between K conditions and oil palm metabolic efficiency and identify biomarkers than could be implemented to better define K fertilization strategies.
the iPALMS aims to provide a tool kit for K monitoring in addition to classical foliar diagnosis :
The creation of a Bio-K-Index
The set up of a K-Profile-Library (machine learning for testing leaf samples)
The construction of the iPALMS DATA (database for ranking reference profiles)
The elaboration of the www.iPALMS.com website (to permit externals to access the bioindicator and the updates)
Related to the iPALMS Diagnosis Network “IDN” (network affiliation to use iPALMS)
During the first two years , most of the works planned in the iPALMS project have been achieved. The first part of the works which is concerning the field study has been performed in the Riau province (Sumatra, Indonesia) during the 4 first months in a private group plantation. The experimental design has been elaborated during committees and workshops days with the local staff. To study the impact of K fertilization on the leaf metabolism ,two classical agronomic trials (one called “immature” when fertilizer is applied at immature phase, the second “mature” when applied at mature phase) , have been submitted to 6 different filling-refilling kinetics (for example when a block is under K0 level : no K fertilization, we did change it with K2 application level; when a block is under K2, we change it by stopping the K application…). These kinetics were applied on 5 trees per block for 2 contrasting progenies (when K mineral content is considered) in the mature block and the immature one with 5 repetitions. To study the fine evolution of the leaf metabolism after the K application, leaf sampling were done following this time serie : the control day (- 1 Day : one day before K application) then + 1 day, + 7 days, + 1 Month and + 2 Months after K treatments. A total of 1200 samples have been collected (300 per leaf (9 and 17) including a storage set have been collected).
The omics analyses did take place at the Australian National University at Canberra where the samples were send. Firstly a training on GC -MS (Gas Chromatography coupled with a Mass Spectrometer, LC- MS (Liquid chromatography coupled with a Mass Spectrometer and NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonnance) were organized by the different “lab Facilities”, then samples analyses started. Totally innovative methods were used. Preliminary results showed that ,very early , at + 7 Days, some biomarkers can be pointed.
The omics analyses did take place at the Australian National University at Canberra where the samples were send. Firstly a training on GC -MS (Gas Chromatography coupled with a Mass Spectrometer, LC- MS (Liquid chromatography coupled with a Mass Spectrometer and NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonnance) were organized by the different “lab Facilities”, then samples analyses started. Totally innovative methods were used. Preliminary results showed that ,very early , at + 7 Days, some biomarkers can be pointed.
Expected progresses
Omics analyses will help for bio-markers sets identification specific to oil palm nutritional status. They will be used under a range of environmental conditions (climate, soils, and therefore stress types) and genetic material variations. It is also assumed that these new tools applicability will be larger than that of current and simpler tools. Very recent works, have demonstrated clear responses (increase/decrease of metabolites and peptides) of oil palm metabolome and proteome to fertilization changes (K gradient). Our working hypothesis is that by exploring omics data obtained under a larger fertilization spectrum (K) more representative of oil palm planting conditions, we will be able to find signatures that open avenues for K fertilization monitoring. Our overall strategy will be to use a biomarker discovery workflow, taking advantage of omics technologies available: characterization of metabolic response and detection of candidates; construction of a biomarker based on a training set; exploitation of a test set to assess the sensitivity and selectivity of the marker; implementation.
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Outcomes: As such, four (4) mains scientific and agronomical outcomes of iPALMS may be envisaged:
(1) Increased knowledge of physiological response to K availability (omics, isotopes)
(2) Set of candidate metabolic biomarkers related to oil palm K status in a wide range of planting conditions, environmental stresses and planting materials
(3) Set of specific and sensitive biomarkers implementable defining oil palm mineral efficiency especially forassociated with K
(4) Use of selected biomarkers to elaborate a tractable K diagnosis tool for fertilization and plant breeding programs
Impacts
Very recently oil palm agronomists have focused their attention in the limitation of fertilization, which have a big contribution to the GHG, especially the potassium (potassium chloride “MOP”until 200 kg/ha) that is used to increase fruit production. Also, recent metabolomics and proteomics studies have pointed out the possibility to investigate the oil palm metabolism in order to improve the fertilizers efficiency. A better definition of the nutritional status of individual trees is required to optimize the mineral diagnosis system which is used to manage their applications and omics tools represent a great potential to define it.
The impact of the iPALMS results will be to propose bio indicators than can improve the fertilization efficiency and then, provok a strong decrease of inputs cost and negative ecological impacts.
Omics analyses will help for bio-markers sets identification specific to oil palm nutritional status. They will be used under a range of environmental conditions (climate, soils, and therefore stress types) and genetic material variations. It is also assumed that these new tools applicability will be larger than that of current and simpler tools. Very recent works, have demonstrated clear responses (increase/decrease of metabolites and peptides) of oil palm metabolome and proteome to fertilization changes (K gradient). Our working hypothesis is that by exploring omics data obtained under a larger fertilization spectrum (K) more representative of oil palm planting conditions, we will be able to find signatures that open avenues for K fertilization monitoring. Our overall strategy will be to use a biomarker discovery workflow, taking advantage of omics technologies available: characterization of metabolic response and detection of candidates; construction of a biomarker based on a training set; exploitation of a test set to assess the sensitivity and selectivity of the marker; implementation.
.
Outcomes: As such, four (4) mains scientific and agronomical outcomes of iPALMS may be envisaged:
(1) Increased knowledge of physiological response to K availability (omics, isotopes)
(2) Set of candidate metabolic biomarkers related to oil palm K status in a wide range of planting conditions, environmental stresses and planting materials
(3) Set of specific and sensitive biomarkers implementable defining oil palm mineral efficiency especially forassociated with K
(4) Use of selected biomarkers to elaborate a tractable K diagnosis tool for fertilization and plant breeding programs
Impacts
Very recently oil palm agronomists have focused their attention in the limitation of fertilization, which have a big contribution to the GHG, especially the potassium (potassium chloride “MOP”until 200 kg/ha) that is used to increase fruit production. Also, recent metabolomics and proteomics studies have pointed out the possibility to investigate the oil palm metabolism in order to improve the fertilizers efficiency. A better definition of the nutritional status of individual trees is required to optimize the mineral diagnosis system which is used to manage their applications and omics tools represent a great potential to define it.
The impact of the iPALMS results will be to propose bio indicators than can improve the fertilization efficiency and then, provok a strong decrease of inputs cost and negative ecological impacts.