Abstract

ISOLATION AND COMPARISM OF FATTY ACID AND ACYLGLYCEROL CONTENTS IN LOCAL HYBRID COCONUTS(COCOS NUCIFERA)

Aloh Godwin Sunday, Obeagu Emmanuel Ifeanyi*, Eze Obioma Benedict L

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION The coconut belongs to the palm family, palmae (Gill, 1988). The coconut is found throughout the west tropical low lands (Anochili and Tindall. 1986). It probably originated in South-East Asia of the pacific region from where it was taken to the Atlantic coasts of the America and tropical areas of Africa where suitable conditions for their growth existed (Purseglove, 1972). However, the considerable extension in acreage during the past 100 years is due to the demand for coconut oil in temperate countries. In West Africa, coconut are grown along the coastal and inland areas where there is good drainage. Coconut has different local names. Benin – Ovi oibo, Yoruba - agbon, Hausa – Kwakara itagara, Igbo – aki oyibo, Efik – isip mbakara and Fante – kbve (Gill, 1988). Coconuts are grouped into two main categories: the dwarf and tall varieties, based on flowering and fruiting habit, and tree height (Tindall and Anochili, 1986).

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