Improved protocol for high frequency plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis in Carica papaya.

An efficient invitro method has been established for the production of whole plantlets of Caricapapaya L. var. Eksotika,C. papaya (E) using immature zygotic embryo (IZE) as explantsexcised from fruit 90 to 100 days (d) post-anthesis. Proliferating calluscultures were obtained by placing IZE explants on half-strength Murashige andSkoog (MS) medium supplemented with  carbenicillinand 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) either aloneor in combination. MS medium augmented with 10 mg/L 2,4-D  and 250 mg/L carbenicillin was found to be effectivein providing the highest frequency (77.5%) of embryogenic callus formation. Allof the somatic embryos (100%) germinated after 3 months where only 90.4%produced normal hypocotyls when continuously cultured in 0.2 mg/L 6-benzyl aminopurine(BAP) and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Subsequently,complete plants were regenerated (97.3%) when plantlets formed well-developedshoots and rootsin solid MS medium augmented with 0.5 mg/L indole-3-butyric acid(IBA).Regenerated plantlets were successfully acclimatised and subsequentlytransferred to the field. Histo-anatomical studies on the different stages ofsomatic embryogenesis were carried out in order to understand the morphogenicevents and growth responses of regenerated plants. This is a complete protocolon regenerable embryogenic cell suspension cultures in C. papaya (E)

Brief Documentation of Basidiomycota and Ascomycota Diversity in Gunung Gading National Park, Sarawak

To facilitate the learning objectives of ecology, biodiversity and environment course, in situ activities remain the finest key to complement by conducting real fieldwork and hands on study. The specific objectives of the study are to promote sustainable learning, adopting effective practice in academic and scientific documentation, and implementing holistic and blended learning approach in the course by introducing a comprehensive learning experience in biodiversity-related discipline. Therefore, Basidiomycota and Ascomycota study based on diversity, host association and community structure in Gunung Gading National Park was chosen and resulted with the following attributes, where, four different species of macrofungi were identified and classified including Ganoderma, Coprinellus and Cookeina. Information on Basidiomycota and Ascomycota diversity species present in the parks is useful for educational and research purposes such as in Malaysian fungal diversity, climate change marker and Malaysian fungal monograph, developing a conservation education and attitude towards scientific reporting and also helps in promoting ecotourism

Preliminary Study on the Effect of Nitrogen and Potassium Fertilization on Phytochemical Content Quality of Gynura procumbens

Gynura procumbens is an herbaceous plant. Despite the progressive reports on the pharmacological properties, many are overlooking at the importance of agronomic requirements, such as fertilization, to produce high phytochemical content which have not been conclusively concluded. The study was carried out to examine the effects of N and K interaction on physiological and phytochemical quality; to identify compositions of phytochemicals, and to determine marker compounds. Physiological and phytochemical attributes were recorded in three harvests of triplicate samples to exhibit the trend for plant quality, and statistically analyzed. Generally, N and K interaction have affected phytochemical content significantly (p<0.05) with stronger effect on physiological and biochemical attributes (p<0.01). The results have demonstrated that the following combination of fertilizer, 0 kg/ha N and 30 kg/ha K; and 90 kg/ha N and 0 kg/ha K are high and low, respectively affecting metabolite content in the plant. Lowest rate of N, moderate of K had produced significant phytochemical contents. Meanwhile, caffeic acid and kaempferol were demonstrated as marker compounds in this study. Thus, phytochemical content can be further established through the selection of appropriate N and K rates and proper abiotic stress interaction

Preliminary Study on the Effect of Nitrogen Fertilisation on Phytochemical Content Quality of Gynura procumbens

The study was carried out to examine the effects of nitrogen (N) fertilisation on phytochemical content quality, to determine types of phytochemicals compositions, and to establish phytochemicals marker compounds in Gynura procumbens. In this two factors study, three stages of harvesting (H) time and three rates of N were laid out according to Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD). Physiological and biochemical attributes were recorded to exhibit the trend for plant quality. The results showed that, N has affected phytochemical content significantly (p < 0.05) with stronger effect on physiological and biochemical attributes (p < 0.01). The results suggested that 0 and 90 kg/ha N, respectively are highly and least effecting the Photo, Cond, TChlC, TCC, TPrc, TLiC, TPC and TFC

Teaching Basic Microbiology Laboratory Techniques Through e-Learning (STERILIZATX)

Growing bacteria and fungus in pure culture is still one of the best and most widely used methods in learning basic microbiology. However, during the pandemic where the learning has to be conducted online, the gap in conducting the teaching has become realm. In addition, an appropriate physical environment must be created, where important factors such as hands on and observation are controlled and maintained. Therefore, the development of STERILIZATX as do it yourself (DIY) kit is timely in order to facilitate the distanced-learning requirement. The objectives of the innovation are to explain basic principle of microbial cell culture, to observe basic microbial characteristic on agar culture, and to apply basic good microbiological laboratory practice and cultivation of microbial cell culture, dedicated for distanced and e-learning. The learners are able to perform basic microbial culture aseptic technique using improvised DIY kit called STERILIZATX, observe the microbial growing pattern, distinguish and characterise the selected microbial colony, and describe the basic principles of applied microbiology in daily life during the discussion

Assessment of growth and phytochemical quality of Gynura procumbens through nitrogen, potassium fertilization and evapotranspiration replacement interaction

Despite the progressive reports on potential pharmacological properties of G. procumbens, the importance of agronomic requirements to produce high yields and phytochemical content that may vary due to environmental variations are often overlooked. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the effects of N, K and ER interaction on the growth and phytochemical content of G. procumbens. The study was a three-factorial experiment; two rates of N and K, four rates of ER and three H time. The treatments have affected plant growth and phytochemical content significantly (p≤0.05) with stronger effect on physiology and biochemical attributes (p≤0.01). The study has shown discrete effect on growth, physiology, and phytochemicals content with N0K30>N90K0 and ER 75>50>100>25% treatment. The highest and lowest yield of plant biomass and phytochemical were observed under N0K30(70) and N90K0(25), respectively. The results have shown that the interaction and effect of treatments are highly significant (p≤0.0001) in Cond, CNB, TChlC, TPrC and TFC analysis, (p≤0.05) in NoL, CF and PWP, and not significant in TLA, Photo, TCC, TLC and TPC. The 75% ER has produced significant output of biomass as well as phytochemical content. The study also showed that low rate of N, moderate rate of K with 75% ER have produced high biomass as well as phytochemical content. Meanwhile, caffeic acid and kaempferol were demonstrated as the lead secondary metabolite compounds in this stud

Effectiveness of Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE) as a Tool for Formative Assessment of Practical and Experimental Skill for Pre-University Students in Biology Course

In many science courses or subjects, lectures (theory) and practical (hands-on) are integrated with the view that theory can be explained in the lecture and then applied and tested in the practical class (Whitworth & Wright, 2015). Similarly, in the Biology course for Centre for Pre- University Studies, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, a lecture on Introduction to Laboratory Instrumentation was conducted. Meanwhile, the practical application and demonstration for this topic were also carried out. The objectives for this practical are to describe the usage and to define the functions of basic laboratory equipment and apparatus as well as to demonstrate the correct way of handling basic laboratory equipment and apparatus