Methods for increasing oil palm yield
View Patent ↗The present invention is directed to methods of using ethylene antagonists on oil palm before harvest of the oil palm fruit to increase oil production, wherein the ethylene antagonist is not 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) or aminoethyoxyvinylglycine (AVG).
1. A method of increasing oil content of oil palm fruit comprising applying a composition comprising an active ingredient consisting of an ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor selected from the group consisting of aminooxyacetic acid and rhyzobitoxin to oil palm fruit before the oil palm fruit is harvested, wherein from about 0.02 mg to about 20 g of the ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor per palm is applied per treatment from about three weeks before the fruit is harvested to about the day before the fruit is harvested.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein from about 0.02 mg to about 2 g of the ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor per palm is applied per treatment.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor is applied about every 7 to 21 days.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor is applied about every 10 to 14 days.