Uses and Cultivation of Pili Nut (Pili: An extraordinary nut)

by Junelyn S. de la Rosa

Pili (Canarium ovatum), or the Philippine nut has been called an extraordinary nut. It is food to millions of people from around the world, is delicious and good for the heart and scientists from the University of Guelph, Canada and our Department of Science and Technology (DOST) recently reported that proteins in pili are as important as the proteins found in commercially important oilseeds.

The pili nut

Of the family Burseracea, pili is native to the Philippines and can be found in some parts of the Visayas and Mindanao and in Southern Luzon especially in Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, in the Bicol region where it is an important crop and source of income of many families. Its local names are: pili, anangi, basiad, liputi, pilaui, and pili-pilauai.

Pili is a shady tree with resinous wood that grows up to 20 meters. It has compound alternate leaves with odd-pinnate leaflets and it bears flower clusters at the tip of its shoots. Pinnate leaves look like a feather with a central axis or stem that has parts branching off it.

Pollination is by insects. Pili bears flowers often which turn to fruits over time. The ovary or the female part of the flower contains three locules or chambers each with two ovules (immature eggs), but most of the time only one ovule develops.

The fruit that develops is a drupe or a stone fruit. A drupe or stone fruit has a thin outer skin, a pulpy middle and a hard stony central part that contains the seed. The fruit is usually 4 to 7 cm long, 2.3 to 3.8 cm in diameter, and weighs 15.7 to 45.7 g.

The skin (exocarp) is smooth, thin, shiny, and turns purplish black as the fruit ripens; the pulp (mesocarp) is fibrous, fleshy, and greenish yellow, and the hard shell (endocarp) within protects a normally dicotyledonous embryo. The basal end of the shell (endocarp) is pointed and the apical end is more or less blunt; between the seed and the hard shell (endocarp) is a thin, brownish, fibrous seed coat developed from the inner layer of the endocarp. This thin coat usually adheres tightly to the shell and/or the seed. Much of the kernel weight is made up of the cotyledons, which are about 4.1 to 16.6% of the whole fruit; it is composed of approximately 8% carbohydrate, 11.5 to 13.9% protein, and 70% fat. Kernels from some trees may be bitter, fibrous or have a turpentine odor.

Its many uses

Pili is a versatile nut being used for a variety of products. The nut kernel is the most important product. It can be eaten raw or roasted where its mild, nutty taste and tender-crispy texture can compare with and even found better than an almond. Pili kernel is also used in chocolate, icecream, and baked goods.

Pili is known for its high oil content which is light-yellow and contains 59.6% oleic glycerides and 38.2% palmitic glycerides which are similar to olive oil. The young shoots and the fruit pulp are edible. The shoots are used in salads, and the pulp is eaten after it is boiled and seasoned. Boiled pili pulp resembles the sweet potato in texture, it is oily (about 12%) and is considered to have food value similar to that of avocado. Pulp oil can be extracted and used for cooking or as a substitute for cottonseed oil in the manufacture of soap and edible products. The stony shells are excellent fuel or growth medium for orchids and ornamental plants.

Testing for protein

To extract the storage proteins from pili, the scientists used the modified Osborne protein fractionation scheme. They only focused on the storage proteins since they are the most abundant proteins in nuts. Results showed that 60.3% of pili's storage proteins are globulins while albumins consist of a very small fraction (2.9%). These results indicated that the proteins in pili are very similar to the proteins in common oilseeds such as soybean, and peanut.

Mature pili nuts used in this test were gathered from Sorsogon in summer 1999. The fruits were first placed in a retting pond to soften the pulp and the nuts were cleaned using a perforated basket flushed with water. Then the nuts were sun-dried and cracked to extract the kernels. Finally the kernels were soaked in warm water, its outer skins removed and the kernels air-dried before they were used for the tests.

Cultivating pili

Pili is a tall, shady tree that grows well in deep, fertile, well-drained soil, warm temperatures, and well distributed rainfall. It cannot tolerate the slightest frost or low temperatures and studies have shown that seeds stored in low temperatures lose their ability to grow or germinate.

There are three pili cultivars grown in the Philippines: katutubo, mayon and oas. Aside from using seeds, they can be cultivated through patch budding or marcotting. A good pili tree can produce 100 to 150 kg of in-shell nuts per harvest. Most of the production in the Philippines are from trees that developed from seedlings and are highly variable in kernel qualities and production. Harvesting is from May to October, peaking in June to August, and requires several pickings. Fruits are de-pulped, cleaned and dried to 3 - 5% moisture content (30C for 27 to 28 h). Nut in shell with a moisture content of 2.5 to 4.6% can be stored in the shade for one year without deterioration of qualities.
Source: Massimo Marcone, Yukio kakuda, Firouz Jahaniaval, and Ricky Yada of the Department of Food Science, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada and Lourdes Montevirgen of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Bicutan, Taguig, Metro Manila. “Characterization of the proteins of pili nut (Canarium ovatum Engl)” 2003

Pineapple farming

Here is how Dole are farming pineapple.

Aside from being nutritious and delicious, pineapple is a good foreign exchange earner. Statistic show that the pineapple export in 1985 reached 338 million kg valued at $127.6 million. In 1986, the Philippines earned $20,613,625 from fresh pineapple exports alone.

Pineapple can be processed into juice, jam, vinegar, nata de pina, preserves and candies. Its leaves are a source of a remarkable strong and silky fiber that can be processed into cloth and cordage. Even its skin and waste from canning can be pulped and dried for livestock feeds.

According to the Department of Agriculture, the prospects for pineapple are bright. The domestic demand over the next ten years is conservatively estimated to grow by an average of four to seven per cent very year. Moreover, if small and medium-scale growers and processors enlarge their operation, annual growth of pineapple exports could be higher by seven per cent in value and seven per cent in volume.

In 1985, Northern Mindanao produced the largest volume of pineapple, 742,643 metric tons, followed by Southern Mindanao, 625,054 metric tons, and Southern Tagalog, 45,019 metric tons. Northern and Southern Mindanao produce pineapple mainly for processing while Southern Tagalog produces for the fresh pineapple markets.

Pineapple cultivars. Smooth Cayene (hawaiian) is the most favored cultivars for canning and fresh fruit consumption. It matures in 18 months and yields 25,000 fruits per hectare. It is grown in most provinces of the Philippines. Other cultivars grown locally are Queen (Formosa) and Red Spanish (Native Philippine red).

Soil and climatic requirements. Pineapple requires and mild (24 to 30oC) and relatively uniform temperature throughout the year. It also requires evenly distributed rainfall during its growing period. Pineapple grows best at elevations of 150 to 240 meters in well-drained soil with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5 .

Planting materials. Slips and suckers are the most suitable planting materials. Slips bear fruits in 18 to 20 months. They should be obtained six to eight weeks after harvesting.

Choose planting materials similar in size and type to drained uniform flowering and fruiting. Cure the similar by exposing them to sunlight for one week or more depending on the weather conditions. Curing prevents infection and rooting of plant materials.

Soil preparation and planting. In small-scale operations, planting time is between March and August. Plant slips and suckers 8 to 10 cm deep, 25 or 30 cm in row and 80 to 100 cm between rows. These spacing give population density of 33,000 to 50,000 plants per hectare. Planting in doublerows also gives the population per hectare. This method requires distance of 25 to 30 cm in a row, 50 cm within a double row and 100 cm between double rows. This will result in about 44,000 to 53,000 plants per hectare.

Weed control. Hand pulling and hoeing with the aid of suitable implements are the most common methods of weed control. Weeds can be used as mulch (soil covering) to conserve moisture and add organic matter to the soil. The most widely used herbicide is diuron (e.g.Karmex, Diuron BASF). it is applied at 6.4 kg active ingredient (a.i.) per hectare. Spray immediately after planting, Then two-months interval to prevent weed growth. Do not use herbicides that may be toxic to the crop's crown.

Fertilizer use. Adequate nitrogen fertilizer makes plants grow vigorously and produce large fruits. Potassium, on the other hand, increase fruit size and sweetness. Pineapple will require little phosphorus since our soil have generally sufficient phosphorus.

Intercropping. The usual intercropping practice is to plant pineapple under coconut or papaya. Returns from intercropping can be greatly increased by supplying the fertilizer requirements of all crops.

Disease. Heart rot is a disease affecting pineapple. It is the result of extensive rotting of the tissues at or near the central (heart) base of the plant. An early symptom of this disease is when "heart" leaves change their color from yellow to light brown with a reddish tinge. Pineapples produce a pungent smell caused by the rotting leaf bases. As a control measure, avoid contaminating the central base of the plant with disease- infected soil especially during the hilling-up operation. If polyethylene mulch is more practical and economical, use it on raised beds. You can also dip the lower half portion of planting materials into any of these: 8 to 10 g of Diffolate per liter of water; 8 g of Captan per liter of water (other suitable commercial products are Merpen, Orthocide 50 and Stauffer C); and 4 mL Duphar Colloidal Copper per liter of water (another suitable commercial products is CCC Copper Dust). Plants in beds may be sprayed with 9 to 11 per hectare of Difolatan or 3 to 4.5 kg per hectare of Dexon. Use about 1,000 liters of spray per hectare.

Water blister is a postharvest disease but ca also be found in the seedbed. At the early stage of infection, the fruit shows a softy, juicy and watersoaked appearance. At the advanced stage, the fruit is covered with blacks spores and its flesh becomes totally black. To control, treat fruits within two hours after harvesting by dipping into 1 to 2 per cent O- phynelphenate or by dipping half of the fruit in 1 per cent salicylanilide solution. Spraying or painting the cut-end with 2.5 per cent salicylic acid in 30 per cent alcohol solution helps. When refrigerated, fruits do not develop this disease.

Fruitlet core rot or brown rot, another pineapple disease, is manifested by uneven color of the ripening fruit badly affected eyes become brown and sunken as fruits ripen. No control measure has been found yet for this disease. Yeasty rot is also a postharvest disease affecting pineapple but initial infection occurs in the field. Skin turns brown and leathery and later on the whole fruit becomes spongy. To prevent this, protect fruits against sunburn. Be careful not to bruise the fruit when piling, handling and packing.

Marbling is a disease of the ripening fruit. It is characterized by brown speckling and abnormal hardening of the internal tissues. To control, apply potash fertilizers. A very destructive postharvest disease and without external symptoms is called pink disease. Infected fleshy tissues when cut produce an aromatic odor and oftentimes are very watery, exhibiting purplish color. To control this, harvest fruits before 90 per cent of the eyes become yellow. Careful handling minimizes the disease.

Root knot is disease that stunts plant growth. It causes leaves to become narrow and reddish. When infected with root knot, plants produce small fruits. To avoid this, don't plant too frequently in the same field. However, for heavily infected areas, fumigate with 25 liters DBCP (a.i.) per hectare at planting time. After 3 or 4 months, apply 11 liters DBCP (a.i.) per hectare.

Insect pests. Root grub causes withering of the plants. Full grown larvae are pale yellow and adults (beetle) are grayish black. Once observed, they should be dug out and destroyed. Apply 20 to 30 kg per hectare of Aldrin (dust or granule 10%) or 60 to 80 kg per hectare of Chlordane (dust or granule 10%) before planting or after harvest.

Pineapple mealy bugs suck the plant sap and the same time secrete toxins that cause typical wilts symptoms in about two months. In general, plants become sickly in appearance, then wilt and die. As a control measure, you can spray parathion (e.c. 20 per cent ) at the rate of 200 to 250 mL per 100l water. About 100 to 250 mL should be applied at he base of the plants where the mealy bugs are located. If necessary, repeat treatment after four weeks. For heavily infested areas, practice crop rotation.

Armored scale insects, another pest, cause blotches on leaves and stunt plant growth. To control them, spray with Diazinon, Gustathion, or Parathion (e.c. 25%) at the rate of 1 to 1.5 mL per liter of water. Spraying may be repeated after three weeks, if necessary.

Pineapples infested with mites have brownish leaves and, later on, become stunted. You can spray with Chlorbenzilate (e.c. 25%) at the rate of 2 mL per liter of water. Apply at the first appearance of mite damage. Repeat spraying after eight days, if necessary. As a precautionary measure, test the chemical if they are poisonous to the plants. Spay them first on a few plants before using on a wide scale.

Harvesting, handling and picking. When harvesting, remove pieces of the leaves from the base of the fruit. Place harvesting boxes at the end of the plantation rows. See to it that the boxes are free from any sharp or rough projections inside. Also, fruits for the fresh fruit market should not be piled in jeeps and trucks without being place in the containers.

For export marketing, pack in fruit cases with wood wool or protective materials between each fruit and under the butt of the fruit where it touches the case. For export packs, you will need about 1 to 1.5kg of wood wool per case.

When harvesting, the following shell colors of Smooth Cayenne are generally used in determining the various stages of pineapple's maturity.

Number Description

0 All eyes are totally green with no trace of yellow

No. 1 Not more than 20 per cent of the eyes are predominantly yellow

No. 2 Not less than 20 per cent but not more than 40 per cent of the eyes are predominantly tinged with yellow

No. 3 Not less than 40 per cent but not more than 55 per cent of the eyes are predominantly tinged with yellow

No. 4 Not less than 55 per cent but not more than 90 per cent of the eyes are full yellow

No. 5 Not less than 90 per cent are full yellow but not more than 20 per cent of the eyes are reddish orange

No. 6 20 to 100 per cent of the eyes are predominantly reddish brown

No. 7 The shell is predominantly reddish brown and it shows signs of deterioration.

When harvesting fro distant markets, choose pineapples from 0 to 1 stages. Number 2 to 4 are suitable for cannery, fresh consumption and inter island shipment. While for processing, number 2 to 6 are harvested.

Storage. You can prolong shelf life by refrigerating. Pineapples at 0 to 1 stages can be stored for three weeks at 11 C. Such fruit will have a shelf life of eight days at room temperature. Major ripe fruits (stages 2 to 4) can be preserved for the same period at a lower temperature (8 C). At temperature below 7oC, chilling injury occurs.

Fruit intend for storage should be sprayed with or dipped in sodium orthophenylphenate (spray formulation- 1 kg of fungicide to 80 1 of water). Stored fruits need a relative humidity ranging from 85 to 90 per cent.

Marketing. Before marketing, classify fruits according to size (small, medium and large). In general, pineapples should be mature but not overripe, firm, dry, clean and have developed eyes. They should also be free from decay, broken shells, sunscald and damage caused by bruising, disease and insects. Butts should be well trimmed and well attached to the fruit.

Source: Dost

Farming Watermelon

One of the major fruits in the Philippines in terms of demand and supply is watermelon. Pakwan, as it is called in Tagalog, is eaten mainly as dessert. Its rind is used in making preserves and pickles.

Area planted to watermelon decreased during the period from 1981 to 1985. Inspite of this, it remained one of the three leading fruit exports. Volume of water melon increased, along with the earning, by as much as 870 per cent during that period. Its annual production in the coming years, therefore, is expected to increase.

Varieties. Klondyke, Stripped Klondyke, Charleston Gray and Dixie Queen are varieties most commonly grown in the country. Hybrids from Japan and the US are also commercially grown such as tender sweet, Honey Cream and Mallorca which are sweet varieties. Acme Genetics Company distributes seedless watermelon varieties such as Quality or Seedless Watermelon No. 126 which reportedly is the best-tasting seedless variety. Its rind is tough and appropriate for shipping. The normal Quality watermelon weight 7.5 kilos. Other seedless varieties distributed by Acme Genetics are Orchids Sweet, Sky Bell and Farmers Wonderful.

For producers of butong pakwan, the best varieties are sunshine, Red Luck and Wanli.

Ten- Bow and Red Glory are recommended among the seeded watermelons.

Adaptation. Watermelon is best planted on land not previously used growing watermelon. Soil should be well-drained sandy loam, rich in organic matter, light and loose.

Watermelon grows in a wide range of soil acidity expect in alkaline soil. An average temperature of 25o to 30oC and a climate with a long warm, dry wealthier are required.

Normal planting season of watermelon is from October to January. However, off-season fruits command a higher price, when planted as early as August.

In commercial practice, it is planted in lowland areas such as Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Rizal, Batangas and Laguna after rice harvest.

Farming Requirement. Plow the land as possible, at least 20 cm, 2 to 3 times. Do this several weeks after planting.

Bury 3 to 4 seeds in each hill, 2.5 cm deep. Space the hill at 2 by 2 meters from each other. When the plant have grown three to four leaves, reduce them to only one or two plants in each hill.

Cultivate and weed as early as possible, and employ light cultivation when the roots have grown to prevent damage.

Irrigate sparingly during its first stages of growth. During long drought and while on its fruit stage, irrigate 5 to 6 times during the entire period.

Watermelon is normally grown in rotation with other crops. It is best to plant only those that improve the soil.

Apply 10 to 15 tons of manure per hectare plus 125 kg of complete fertilizer. Apply this by hand eight centimeters below the soil and 5.5 cm away from the plants. If plants show signs of yellowing, apply nitrogen fertilizer at the sides.

The use of plastic mulch is recommended to check the growth of weeds and conserve moisture. The plastic sheets should be colored silver on top drive away aphids, and colored black on the underside to keep the soil warm.

Pest and disease control. Yellow cucurbit beetles eat the leaves of both young and mature plants. Control them by spraying Carbaryl or Malathion at the rate of three tablespoonfuls per gallons of water.

Aphids which are tiny greenish and wingless insects should be stop from sucking the sap of the leaves by spraying Ekatin at one tablespoonful per three gallons of water.

Mites, on the other hand, are red insects that live on the underside of the leaves. Control them by spraying either chlorobenzilate, Kelthane, or Tedion V18 at 2 to 3 tablespoons per five gallons of water.

The disease called downy mildew is characterized by yellow spots on the top of the leaves and purple powdery material on the leaves' lower surface. Spray infected plants with either Fernate at 3 1/2 tablespoons per gallons of water; Zerlate at 1 1/2 to tablespoon per gallon of water; or Manzate at 1 1/2 tablespoons per gallon of water.

The fusarium wilt disease causes young seedlings to wilt and the leaves of mature plants to turn brown. Control this by crop rotation.
Harvest. Avoid harvesting the fruits prematurely. To determine fruit maturity, " thump" the fruit with the finger. A dull, hollow sound is an indication of maturity. Fruits are also ripe when the lower part that rests on the ground turns from white to creamy yellow.

Source: Dost