Establishment of sugar palm (Arenga pinnata) shoot from zygotic embryo in MS medium sumpplemented with different concentrations of benzylaminopurine

Arenga pinnata is one of the potential crops which provide a great number of products such as ethanol, starch and fiber. This plant usually propagated by seed but its seed growth is unpredictable and may take more than one year to germinate. The study was conducted with aim to obtain plantlets through initiation of half matured fruits of sugar palm. Zygotic embryo obtained from fresh half matured fruits were directly excised and cultured into MS free-hormone medium and MS medium treatments supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurene (BAP) at concentrations 0.1, 0.5, and 3.0 mg/L. Zygotic embryo cultured on MS0 served as control treatment. The results of the study indicated that MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L BAP shows no regeneration of explant, shoot and radicle after four weeks culture. However, although after 8 weeks culture 59.5% explant was regenerated with increased radicle size, but the shoot emergence was only observed after 24 weeks culture. Meanwhile, regeneration of zygotic embryos in MS medium hormone-free resulted in highest percentage of plantlets produced (90%) with production of one shoot, longest radicle (4.5 cm) and longest plantlet length (6.0cm) as compared with other treatments. In vitro seedling was successfully developed after 32 weeks culture

In vitro antibacterial activity of vernonia amygdalina leaves extracts against pathogen of pineapple heart rot disease

Heart rot disease is one of the major diseases in pineapple cultivation in Malaysia. Josapine and N36 are among varieties that vulnerable to the heart rot disease. The infection can reduce up to 50% yield. In vitro antibacterial activity of four Vernonia amygdalina leaves extract (hexane, chloroform, methanol and aqueous) was carried out and evaluated against pathogen of pineapple heart rot disease. The antibacterial activity was evaluated using well diffusion method where three concentrations for each extract were prepared. The results revealed V. amygdalina chloroform and aqueous leaves extracts at 10000 ppm shows greater inhibition zone than positive control. V. amygdalina hexane leaves extracts, however, did not shows any inhibition zone at any concentrations. Meanwhile, the V. amygdalina methanol leaves extract shows antibacterial activity against the pathogen of pineapple heart rot disease but not as good as positive control. Phytochemical screening was also carried out to determine the presence of alkaloid, flavanoid, glycoside, phenol, saponin, steroid, and tannins as these compounds may attribute to the result. The screening revealed that both V. amygdalina chloroform and aqueous leaves extracts contain alkaloid, saponin, and tannin. Result shows the potentials of V. amygdalina as an antibacterial agent in combating pineapple heart rot disease

Growth Performance of Oil Palm Seedlings on Different Types of Organic Fertilizer

Fertilizer and soil nutrient management is important to sustain the productivity of nursery systems for oil palm seedling. Inorganic fertilizer usually applies to the oil palm seedling in nursery. The problem of the inorganic fertilizer nowadays is the price is quite expensive and can cause pollution if not manage well. So, by changes the inorganic to organic fertilizer, farmers can reduce their cost, and can gets many benefits through the usage of organic fertilizer. This study investigated the effects of organic fertilizer on growth performance and development of oil palm seedling. 3-month-old Tenera oil palm seedling was treated with an organic fertilizer (10 g of goat manure, 10 gram of fish waste and 10 gram of coffee waste). Control treatments were left untreated. Growth of seedling, plant morphology, plant physiology and soil pH were measured to compare among the treatments. Application of organic fertilizer significantly increased number of fronds about 28% to 46% compare from the control treatment, 28% to 41% increment in plant girth for treatment that treat with organic fertilizer, and significantly increase chlorophyll content of oil palm seedling leaves more than 11% for organic fertilizer application but not significantly increase the plant height and relative growth control (RGR). Several treatments on different organic fertilizer, like soil pH and relative water content (RWC), not significantly different from control but application of organic fertilizer help to increase the soil pH and help to increase the percentage of RWC in plant. These finding indicates that application of different organic fertilizer help to improve several morphology characteristics like number of fronds, and plant girth. It also can help to increase the chlorophyll content in leaves and help to improved soil pH. In future, application of organic fertilizer can be fully utilized for growth and development of oil palm seedling in nursery where it can help to reduce the usage inorganic fertilizer and help to reduce the cost of the nursery

Antioxidative constituents from twig and leaves of jasminum sambac / Nurul Fatin Fakhira Mohd Padli ... [et. al.]

This study aimed to investigate new antioxidative constituents from twig and leaves of Jasminium sambac (Oleaceae family) as potent antioxidant sources. The antioxidant behaviour of each extract from twig and leaves of J. sambac was assessed qualitatively by spraying the thin layer chromatography (TLC) of extracts with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and quantitatively by DPPH radical scavenging method. The collection of antioxidative constituents was carried out using centrifugal chromatography. The chemical structures of all constituents were identified from Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer (GCMS). The qualitative Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) screening of antioxidants showed that all types of extracts from J. sambac leaves demonstrated moderate antioxidant behaviour as well as the extracts from twig parts. The quantitative DPPH radical scavenging activity of leaves and twig extracts revealed dichloromethane (DCM) extract scavenged DPPH free radicals more effective at IC50of 6.24 ppm and 5.22 ppm respectively compared to petroleum ether extract and methanol extract where both extracts exhibited IC50more than 100 ppm. The antioxidative constituents isolated from DCM extract of twig of J. sambac were recognized as isoamyl nitrite and benzophenone whereby benzophenone was also found in DCM extract of J.sambac leaves. Thus, J. sambaccan be considered as a promising source of bioactive compounds with potent antioxidant properties which can be utilized as baseline information to overcome health disorders

In vitro appraisal of antibacterial activity of Entada spiralis’s leaves extracts against phytopathogenic bacteria Erwinia chrysanthemi and Erwinia carotovora

Entada spiralis Ridl. or also known as ‘akar beluru’ or ‘akar sintok’, is one of the least studied species in the Fabaceae family. The species was famous for its soap-like properties in which the natives use them as soap and shampoo for hygiene and treating itchiness. The phytochemicals and biochemicals properties of this plant have always been an interesting area to be discovered, as the study of the species is still scanty. In this study, the aim is to evaluate the antibacterial effects of the E. spiralis leaves extracts against two Gram-negative phytobacteria species, Erwinia chrysanthemi (ATCC 437624) and Erwinia carotovora (ATCC 15713) for the discovery of the natural active bactericides. Hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol were used as menstruum in producing the extracts through cold maceration method. The extracts were subjected to screening tests for identification of phytochemicals which revealed the presence of phenolics, terpenoids, saponins, coumarins, flavonoids, and tannins. Antibacterial activities of the extracts were assessed via Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method by measuring the inhibition zones post-incubation for 24 hours at room temperature. While, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were evaluated through broth microdilution method after incubation at room temperature for 24 hours. Output data from this study showed that, methanol extract against E. chrysanthemi and ethyl acetate extract against E. carotovora have the maximum zone of inhibition in antibacterial susceptibility with 22.7 ± 0.6 mm and 26.3 ± 0.6 mm respectively at 400 mg/mL concentration. In accordance with MIC, E. chrysanthemi was revealed to be most susceptible in methanol extract with MIC value of 1.56 ± 0.00 mg/mL (MBC value at 3.13 ± 0.00 mg/mL). E. carotovora has been determined to be best susceptible also in ethyl acetate extracts with MIC values of 0.65 ± 0.23 mg/mL (MBC value at 2.60 ± 0.90 mg/mL)

The Growth Performance of Pineapple Seedlings Planted with Mycorrhizae and Different Rates of Phosphorus Fertiliser

Pineapple stands as a promising crop with potential for widespread cultivation across Malaysia. Nevertheless, factors like the elevated cost of fertilisers and certain environmental challenges have acted as obstacles to pineapple production within the country. The application of mycorrhiza presents an opportunity to curtail fertilisers usage and thereby mitigate environmental strain. This study seeks to assess the impact of mycorrhiza on pineapple growth and determine an optimal Phosphorus (P) fertilisers rate that complements mycorrhizal activity, all while enhancing pineapple growth. A randomised block design with six replications was employed. The study maintained a consistent mycorrhiza application rate of 5 g/plant but varied the Phosphorus fertilisers rate. Data on leaf length, plant height, fresh weight, and dry weight were collected and subjected to analysis. The study, conducted over a four-month period at UiTM Jengka, Pahang, culminated in results analysed through Microsoft Excel and MINITAB. Notably, Treatment 3 displayed the most robust growth performance across leaf length, plant height, and fresh weight. However, Treatment 5 emerged as the optimal choice for enhancing dry plant weight

In vitro antibacterial activity of Vernonia amygdalin a leaves extracts against pathogen of heart rot disease

Heart rot disease is one of the major diseases in pineapple cultivation in Malaysia. Josapine and N36 are among varieties that vulnerable to the heart rot disease. The infection can reduce up to 50% yield. In vitro antibacterial activity of four Vernonia amygdalina leaves extract (hexane, chloroform, methanol and aqueous) was carried out and evaluated against pathogen of heart rot disease. The antibacterial activity was evaluated using well diffusion method where three concentrations for each extracts were prepared. The results revealed that Vernonia amygdalina chloroform and aqueous leaves extracts at 10000ppm shows greater inhibition zone than positive control. Vernonia amygdalina hexane leaves extracts however did not shows any inhibition zone at any concentrations. Meanwhile, the Vernonia amygdalina methanol leaves extract shows antibacterial activity against pathogen of heart rot disease but not as good as positive control. Phytochemical screening was also carried out to determine alkaloid, flavanoid, glycoside, phenol, saponin, steroid, and tannins as these compounds may attribute to the result. The screening revealed that both Vernonia amygdalina chloroform and aqueous leaves extracts contain alkaloid, saponin, and tannin. Result shows the potentials of Vernonia amygdalina as antibacterial agent in combating plant disease infections

Antimicrobial efficacy, antioxidant profile and nine alternative active constituents from petroleum ether and ethyl acetate extract of entada spiralis [Keberkesanan antimikrob, profil antioksida dan sembilan komponen alternatif aktif dari ekstrak petroleum eter dan etil asetat dari pokok entada spiralis]

This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial activity of petroleum ether extracts and the identification of alternative antimicrobial and antioxidative constituents from petroleum ether extract and ethyl acetate extract of Entada spiralis stem. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated through disc diffusion method on five human superficial skin disease-caused microbes such as Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trychophyton tonsurans and one plant pathogen namely Erwinia chrysanthemi. The presence of antioxidants was determined from thin layer chromatography (TLC) sprayed with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl. The isolation of antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds was performed through preparative TLC. The structure of isolated compounds was determined from gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS) equipped with Wiley Library matching individually. The petroleum ether extract successfully inhibited the growth of all bacteria and dermatophytes in a concentration dependent manner whereby S. epidermis was highly susceptible towards the extract with inhibition zone of 16.0 mm at concentration of 400 mg/mL as well as M. gypseum. Most of the components from petroleum ether extract and ethyl acetate extract developed on TLC were antioxidative which was seen as yellow spots against purple background after spraying with DPPH reagent. Four antioxidative constituents were successfully isolated and tentatively identified as 18,19-Secoyohimban-19-oic acid,16,17,20,21-tetradehydro16-(hydroxymethyl)-methylester (1), Oxiraneoctanoic acid (2), 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (3), and 11-O-p- Coumarylnepeticin (4). Five antimicrobial constituents were successfully isolated and tentatively identified as 4-benzyloxy-4-[2,2,-dimethyl-4- dioxolanyl]Butylaldehyde, (5), Isobutyl octadecyl benzoate ester (6), 3',8,8'-Trimethoxy-3-piperidyl-2,2'-binaphthalene-1,1',4,4'- tetrone (7), 1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene (8) and Hordatine B (9). Thus, E. spiralis is seen to be a promising source of bioactive ingredients which is very important as the basis of scientific information for the development of natural antimicrobial and antioxidant agent

The Growth Performance of Pineapple Seedlings Planted with Mycorrhizae and Different Rates of Phosphorus Fertiliser

Pineapple stands as a promising crop with potential for widespread cultivation across Malaysia. Nevertheless, factors like the elevated cost of fertilisers and certain environmental challenges have acted as obstacles to pineapple production within the country. The application of mycorrhiza presents an opportunity to curtail fertilisers usage and thereby mitigate environmental strain. This study seeks to assess the impact of mycorrhiza on pineapple growth and determine an optimal Phosphorus (P) fertilisers rate that complements mycorrhizal activity, all while enhancing pineapple growth. A randomised block design with six replications was employed. The study maintained a consistent mycorrhiza application rate of 5 g/plant but varied the Phosphorus fertilisers rate. Data on leaf length, plant height, fresh weight, and dry weight were collected and subjected to analysis. The study, conducted over a four-month period at UiTM Jengka, Pahang, culminated in results analysed through Microsoft Excel and MINITAB. Notably, Treatment 3 displayed the most robust growth performance across leaf length, plant height, and fresh weight. However, Treatment 5 emerged as the optimal choice for enhancing dry plant weight