BROWN SPOT CAUSED BY CURVULARIA SPP., A NEW DISEASE OF ASPARAGUS

The distribution, aetiology and symptomatology of a new disease on asparagus ferns, which we have termed brown  spot,  is  described.  Descriptions  of  and  a  key  to  identification  of  the  causal  organisms,  Curvularia brachyspora, C. eragrostidis, C. lunata and C. pallescens, are also presented. Pathogenicity tests showed that C. lunata was the dominant and most virulent of the four species. Inoculation with conidial suspensions or mycelial transfers through wounded ferns were more effective in inducing the disease than inoculations on unwounded ferns. This is the first record of C. brachyspora in Malaysia and the first report of this disease on asparagus.Key words:  Malaysia/Plant diseases/Brown spotJCurvularia brachyspora/Curvularia eragrostidts/Curvularia lunata/Curvularia pallescens/Asparagus

Determinants of the decision to capitalize finance leases by lessees : Australian evidence

The objective of this study is to examine the economic factors motivating Australian listed lessee firms to adopt capitalization or footnote disclosure of their finance lease commitments from 1985 to 1987 as permitted by the transitional provision of AAS 17. Six research hypotheses are developed from the economic consequences perspective. It is hypothesised that the decision to capitalize finance lease commitments is positively related to firm’s : (1) corporate structure, (2) size, {3) political visibility, _(4) financial performance, and (5) overseas association, and negatively related to (6) debt contract financial constraints. Support for these hypotheses would be construed as suggesting that capitalization is a means for lessee firms to reduce or mitigate agency and/ or political costs and concurrently as a signal to the market that they are high quality firms. A-pooled multivariate cross-sectional analysis for 1985 to 1987 was performed incorporating sensitivity analysis to determine the best logistic regression model This model was then assessed to determine its validity and predictive, efficacy

Voluntary disclosure of cash flow information in Australia

The purpose of this study is to investigate the economic incentives of firms to voluntarily disclose cash flow information prior to the operation of the approved standard AASB 1026 Statement of Cash Flows in 1992. This study theorises that firms voluntarily disclose such financial information because they believe that (1) the cash flow information is useful and relevant (in addition to information in income statement, balance sheet and funds statement), and (2) by voluntarily disclosing cash flow information, it will reduce the agency cost and the political cost. A review of contracting theory and the literature on voluntary disclosure identified the possible determinants as firm size, ownership control status, leverage, political sensitivity, proportion of assets in place, exchange listing, and subsidiary relationship. The relationship between these possible determinants and the disclosure policy of 172 firms - 18 in the treatment group and 154 in the control group- as listed on the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) Annual Report Microfiche File for the year 1990, was tested using both univariate tests (parametric and non-parametric) and multivariate analyses. Based on univariate statistical tests performed, the incidence of voluntary disclosure of cash flow information is related to: (1) firm size, (2) foreign exchange listing, and (3) proportion of assets in place, and moderately related to (4) financial leverage of a firm. The decision appears to be unrelated to (5) whether a firm\u27s shares were widely held, (6) market concentration ratio, (7) profitability ratio, and (8) whether a firm is a subsidiary of a foreign parent in Canada or New Zealand or the USA. Furthermore, multivariate analysis reveals that the eight independent variables significantly explain 52.4% (R2 of OLS regression) of the variations in the firms\u27 decisions to voluntarily disclose cash flow information

Integrating vocational training in culinary arts and Islamic studies at juvenile rehabilitation centres: Malaysian experience

The Juvenile Rehabilitation Centres (JRC) in Malaysia aims to provide shelter, counselling and skills training to juveniles specifically for those who wish to transform themselves from the regrettable misdeeds they have committed. At JRCs, an integrated Culinary Vocational Training and Islamic education forms part of their training curriculum. The skills acquired should enable trainees to secure jobs upon completion of training. However, there are some training institutions that lack systematic training structures resulting in trainees becoming less skilful in both vocational and Islamic education. The objective of this research is to identify the effectiveness of an integrated Culinary and Islamic Education curriculum implemented at JRCs in Malaysia. This is a descriptive survey and data was obtained using questionnaire and interview. Respondents comprised 92 trainees, four managers, four culinary trainers and four Islamic education teachers, all from four different JRCs. The findings show that the trainees are happy with their trainings that brought about positive effects for them. Some suggestions have been made to provide improvements in the implementation of the course among them the inclusion of prayers in the Islamic education syllabus

VEGETATIVE COMPATIBILITY GROUPS OF FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM, THE CAUSAL ORGANISM OF VASCULAR WILT ON ROSELLE IN MALAYSIA

Forty strains of Fusarium oxysporvm isolated from roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa var. sabdariffa) showing vascular wilt symptoms in three states (Terengganu, Penang and Ipoh) in the northern Malaysian Peninsula were used to investigate the vegetative compatibility. Nitrate-nonutilizing (nil) mutants were recovered from all the strains tested and subsequently used to study vegetative compatibility groups (VCG) within the population by nit mutants pairings on minimal medium. Thirteen VCGs were found and none were vegetatively compatible with those of other formae speciales (f. spp.) such as asparagi and cubense, and non-pathogenic strains from paddy and oil palm. The results indicate that there is substantial genetic diversity in F. oxysporum that causes vascular wilt disease on roselle as reflected by multiple VCGs, but the distribution of strains into the VCGs is not even as there are 26 representatives in VCG-1001M, two in VCG-1003M and VCG-1013M and only one in the other VCGs. This study may provide new insight into the establishment of a new forma specialis off. oxysporum. Key words: Vegetative Compatibility Groups/M/ mutants/fitsarium oxysporwrn/Roselle/Vascular wilt/ Malaysia

Evaluation of subchronic dietary fumonisin B1 on nutrient digestibility and growth performance of rats

Fumonisin B1 (FB1), a toxin produced by Fusarium verticillioides (Fusarium moniliforme) and other Fusarium species which grow on maize worldwide, has been documented to cause various physiological responses in animals. Thirty-nine female Wistar rats randomly assigned to three treatment groups were used to assess the effects of dietary FB1 on nutrient utilization and growth performance. Each group received one of the three diets containing 0.20, 10.0 and 20.0 mg FB1/kg constituting diets 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The animals were weighed weekly and proximate chemical compositions of the diets and the faecal samples collected from the rats on each diet were determined using standard methods. Dietary FB1 significantly (P < 0.05) influenced nutrient digestibility, feed intake, feed conversion efficiency and relative weight gain. Rats fed diets 2 and 3 had relative weight gains of 87.2 and 66.2% of the rats fed diet 1, respectively. Rats on diet 1 were about 104.5 and 160.6% more efficient in feed conversion compared to those on diets 2 and 3, respectively. Dietary exposure to FB1 at a concentration of about 10 mg/kg or higher for a period of 35 days is a potential health risk that reduced nutrient utilization by adversely affecting proper nutrient digestion, absorption and/or metabolism, resulting in poor growth rates in Wistar rats. This study revealed that adverse effects of FB1 on nutrient digestibility and utilization play a significant contributory role in poor growth performance usually associated with animals exposed to diets containing FB1.Key words: Fumonisin B1, growth performance, mycotoxin, nutrient digestibility, rats

Masalah-masalah dalam Kelulusan Merancang Pembangunan Perumahan

Praktis perancangan pembangunan tidak memberikan kuasa kepada pihak berkuasa tempatan menyediakan pelan pembangunan. Perancangan dan kawalan pembangunan terletak di bawah bidang kuasa Majlis Perancangan Negeri. Pertumbuhan pesat dalam sektor perumahan menunjukkan petanda positif terhadap pertumbuhan bandar di Sarawak. Kajian ini mendapati bahawa proses pemusatan yang dilakukan adalah adil kepada semua pihak bagi memastikan keseimbangan di semua bahagian. Selain itu, terdapat juga kekeliruan peranan dimainkan oleh pihak-pihak terlibat. Hasil kajian juga turut mengenalpasti beberapa masalah yang kerap berlaku, antaranya prosedur yang rumit, proses mendapat kelulusan lambat, birokrasi, serta risiko dalam perancangan dan pasaran. Walau bagaimanapun, amalan perancangan pembangunan mementingkan aspek kualiti dan kuantiti agar tidak membebankan pembeli. Kerajaan negeri melalui Majlis Perancangan Negeri mengawal harga perumahan bagi memastikan keseimbangan dan mengelak daripada berlakunya projek perumahan terbengkalai

Biological control of Aspergillus flavus growth and subsequent aflatoxin B1 production in sorghum grains

Sorghum grains suffer from severe infection and colonization by several toxigenic fungi and subsequent production of mycotoxins, posing a threat to human and animal health. Among all the mycotoxins, aflatoxins represent one of the most important toxicants considered as importantconstraint of grain quality and sorghum production. Various physical and chemical methods of reducing mycotoxins have been recommended, but only few have been accepted for practical use. Biodegradation of aflatoxins, deploying microbes is an attractive strategy for mycotoxin management. This study, therefore explored the potential use of certain biocontrol agents for the reduction of growth of toxigenic Aspergillus flavus and subsequent aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) production in sorghum. Among allthe biocontrol agents tested, culture filtrate of Rhodococcus erythropolis completely inhibited the A. flavus growth and AFB1 production at 25 mlkg-1 concentration. The other biocontrol agents, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Trichoderma viride showed 72, 74 and 65% inhibition of A.flavus growth whereas 54, 62.6 and 39% reduction of AFB1 at 200 mlkg-1 of sorghum grains, respectively