HISTOCHEMICAL-CHANGES IN MESOCARP OF OIL PALM (ELAEIS-GUINEENSIS) FRUIT DURING DEVELOPMENT

Immature mesocarp cells of oil palm fruit (12 weeks after anthesis) we re thin-walled and oval-shaped with intercellular spaces, while mature mesocarp contained densely packed thick-walled polygonal cells, fille d with numerous oil bodies (olcosomes), 24 weeks after anthesis. Unlik e oilseeds. the oil palm fruit mesocarp contains fat and fibres as the major storage and structural components. Structural components increa sed slowly during the early stages of fruit development (4 to 16 weeks ). followed by a steep increase in the mature stages (20 to 24 weeks). Similarly, the lipid content in the fresh mesocarp increased steeply from 7% at 16th week to 48% by 24th week after anthesis. Proteins and sugar, though minor constituents, also showed a progressive increase.