Abstract:
The Hambantota district has relatively new plantations of palmyrah
(Borassus flabellifer) and appear to be the future for industrial
products from this tree. The tree with morphological type lIB fruit
dominates plantations (>90%). Specimens of this type were selected
for carotenoid analysis. Total carotenoid content was relatively low;
15.5 to 35.4 mg.l Oug' on the basis of dry weight (DW). Carotenoids
were dominated by those of the hydrocarbon type. No oxygenated
carotenoids were detected in the petroleum' ether and diethyl ether
extracts. Highest contents of carotenoids were phytofluene; from 2.8
to 4.8 mg. IOOg-' DW, phytoene from 5.7 to 10.3 mg.IOOg-'DW and
unidentified carotenoids I, II, III and IV from 0.7 to 1.9 mg. 1OOg-'
OW, 0.7 to 3.4 mg.l Oug' DW, 4.7 to 16.4 mg.Iuog' DW and 0.6 to
1.1 mg. 1OOg-' DW, respectively. p-Carotene and s-carotene were
present in traces. Retinol equivalent (RE)',was negligible. As is usual
for palmyrah, lycopene and the right fork of carotenoid biosynthesis
pathway were absent.
