Deciphering carbohydrate/starch metabolisms in context of the oil yield in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis, Jacq.).

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Joerg Fettke
• Subject Area: Plant Physiology ; Plant Biochemistry and Biophysics ; Plant Breeding and Plant Pathology
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 509434989

Oil palms are the most productive and important plants for oil production. The demand for palm oil is growing rapidly and approaches are needed to meet the rising requirements. The proposed project aims to characterize carbohydrate and starch metabolism in oil palms in the context of increased oil production. Since it has been discovered that an elevated oil content is linked to a preceding increase in starch content in the fruit, starch metabolism is the focus of the planned analyses. Furthermore, other metabolites, especially carbohydrates and carbohydrate derivatives, amino acids, as well as proteins and their activities will be investigated in order to understand the metabolism in oil palms more precisely and thus to be able to influence the oil production. The project is basis for later targeted manipulations of the oil content of oil palms.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants