Characterization of Spatial Variability of Soil Physical Properties at UTP Campus

Characterization of Spatial Variability of Soil Physical Properties at UTP Campu

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Of Rubber Tree (Hevea Brasiliensis) Between High And Low Yield Rubber Clones Related To Natural Rubber Biosynthesis

This study is focussing on gaining some knowledge and important information related to genes that control natural rubber production. The knowledges are related to biosynthesis pathways involved, relationships of the tissues and expression of genes related to natural rubber production which is very important for development of high yield rubber clone through rubber breeding program

Effect of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxy Acetic Acid and Activated Charcoal on Callus Induction of Cocos Nucifera L. Hybrid MATAG Inflorescence

Cocos Nucifera Linn. Var. MATAG is a Dwarf coconut variety that had high demand in Malaysia but low supply. Vegetative propagation of high-yielding MATAG coconut by using in vitro cloning must be considered in contributing to increase coconut productivity. Thus, attempts were made to develop a protocol that would enhance callogenesis as a first preliminary step towards a protocol for mass propagation of C. nucifera L. var. MATAG. The anther isolated from immature inflorescence was used as explants and cultured on modified Eeuwens Y3 media in different concentrations of 2,4-dicholorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) and activated charcoal. The highest callus induction percentage (31.25 ± 12.18) was observed in 20 mg/L 2,4-D. However, 2,4-D at any level tested were not statistically significant. Callus induction media supplemented with 0.5 mg/L activated charcoal gave the highest callusing percentage (25.89 ± 13.59 %) indicating a positive effect of activated charcoal on callusing even though the result obtained not significant compared to control (15.95 ± 6.76 %). But, activated charcoal supplemented in media produced a significant effect compared to control in reducing the percentage of browning. In conclusion, media supplemented with activated charcoal produced a higher rate on callus induction and preventing tissue browning in explant. Besides that, the anther and ovule explant may serve as an efficient explant to study the callus induction of C. nucifera L. var. MATAG and as a basis to screen the potential useful plant growth regulators for somatic embryogenesis

Phytoremediation Process of Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) in Absorbing Heavy Metal Concentration in Wastewater

Heavy metals have become one of the environmental pollutants in water. To overcome this problem, the phytoremediation process was used as the method to cleanse polluted media. The objectives of the study are to determine the heavy metal accumulation by water spinach (Ipomea aquatica) in different types of heavy metal and to determine the level of heavy metal reduction in contaminated water. Ipomea aquatica was placed in containers that had solutions of different heavy metal concentrations. The selected heavy metals are cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu), with a concentration of 5 ppm, 10 ppm, and 15 ppm, respectively. This study lasted about 20 days. Every four days, plant and water samples are collected. The plant samples were dried, digested, and analyzed by using ICP-OES. The two-way ANOVA statistical test was used to measure the differences in the amounts of the heavy metals accumulated in the plant and water. The accumulation of elements in plants shows a gradual increase in the uptake of cadmium, Cu, and Zn. Ipomea aquatica is suitable to take up cadmium, where the highest level of cadmium found was 13.99 mg/kg. On day 8, the level of heavy metals in the water gradually decreases for Cu and Zn. The presence of heavy metals in the water had decreased by 82.20 % on the last day of treatment. Ipomea aquatica accumulated more heavy metals while the number of heavy metals in the water decreased over a period of days. For all heavy metal types, significant differences in heavy metal concentration were obtained at p<0.05, showing that Ipomea aquatica can be used in the phytoremediation approach to remove heavy metals from wastewater

Chocolate Spread Emulsion: Effects of Varying Oil Types on Physico-chemical Properties, Sensory Qualities and Storage Stability

Chocolate spread emulsion is an alternative product to the conventional dry-based chocolate spreads. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the use of three potential oils; palm olein, olive oil and corn oil, in the production of chocolate spread emulsions. The palm olein chocolate spread was the easiest to spread compared to the olive oil and corn oil chocolate spread emulsions. The melting point of the commercial spread was higher than the emulsion samples, but the sensory scores of the samples were comparable to the commercial spread. The proximate analyses of the samples with different oil types gave no significant difference in the values of moisture, ash, protein, fat, fibre and carbohydrate. Further study on the storage stability of all samples for 28 days at 28 and 10 °C revealed that the firmness of the spread emulsions generally decreased by week, while the water activity (aw) values decreased during the storage at 28 °C and increased at 10 °C. There was no oil separation and microbial growth observed on the chocolate spread samples throughout the storage period at both temperatures

Identification of SSR Markers for Genetic Purity Testing in Waxy Corn F1 Hybrid Seeds

Genetic purity is a must for the commercialization of any hybrid seeds. In order to identify a pure hybrid, morphological evaluation of seeds from grow-out-test is mandatory in Malaysia, however, the procedure is time- and money-consuming. This study aimed to identify suitable SSR markers for assessing the genetic purity of F1 hybrid seeds in waxy corn (Zea mays L. var. ceratina). Genomic DNA of ten waxy corn hybrids along with their parental lines and three commercial hybrids was extracted from seeds using DNeasy Plant Mini Kit. Ten SSR primers (umc2366, bnlg2181, bnlg2162, umc1005, phi011, umc1196, umc2077, phi112, umc1153 and bnlg381) were screened by PCR amplification, and only one primer (bnlg381) produced complementary banding pattern of both parental lines, which made a way to identify the hybrid. The bnlg381 amplified DNA band at 300bp in the female parent BELLA 1-8 and at 200bp in the male parent BELLA 1-7. The hybrid BELLA 1-8 x BELLA 1-7 has both DNA bands from its parents at 300bp and 200bp, confirming the genetic purity of this hybrid seed. The hybrid seed industry will benefit greatly from the SSR marker identified in this study, which will enable a cheaper and efficient selection of parental lines and evaluation of hybrid seeds in waxy corn breeding programs

Surface integrity study for FC300 cast iron using TiAIN ball end mill

Finishing of FC300 gray cast iron predominantly done by manual polishing. Study the surface integrity of FC300 after machining is crucial to investigate the surface characteristics before polishing. This work aims to investigate the surface profiles and subsurface alterations induced by milling of FC300 gray cast iron using TiAlN Ball end mill. Machining trials were performed using CNC variaxis machine in dry condition at the cutting speeds of 66-99 m/min, feed rates of 0.27-0.42 mm/tooth and constant depth of cut of 0.1 mm. The results shows that the surface roughness decreased as the cutting speed increased from 66 m/min to 88 m/min. Smooth and shiny surface profiles appeared at the lower cutting speed of 66 m/min due to effect of lubrication layer that formed from the small fragmented graphite flakes. When the cutting speed increased to 99 m/min, surface profiles appeared with smeared and large graphite flakes probably due to higher rotational impact from the cutting tool. Analysis of subsurface microstructure observed bending effects at the region where worn cutting tool applied. Severe crack nucleation’s were evidence to reflect severe rubbing action from worn cutting tool

Studies on Hanguana (Commelinales, Hanguanaceae) for Sunda II: Five new forest species from Peninsular Malaysia and recircumscription of Hanguana malayana

Field work in Peninsular Malaysia as part of the first author's research into relationships and evolutionary polarity between Hanguana malayana, a widespread freshwater helophyte, and the numerous and mostly undescribed Sundaic forest species has to date resulted in the collection of five distinctive novel forest-dwelling Hanguana species. These are described here and figured in colour. Increased understanding of these and other forest species of Hanguana has enabled a concise delimitation of the taxonomically long-obfuscated colonial helophytic H. malayana, and this is here presented, and the species figured. The current taxonomy of Hanguana is summarised, and a key to the so-far described Peninsular Malaysian species is provided