Nutritional evaluation of fermented palm kernel cake using red tilapia

The use of palm kernel cake (PKC) and other plant residues in fish feeding especially under extensive aquaculture have been in practice for a long time. On the other hand, the use of microbial-based feedstuff is increasing. In this study, the performance of red tilapia raised on Trichoderma longibrachiatum fermented PKC (TL-PKC) was evaluated. Seven isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets were formulated. Reference diet, D1 had no PKC, while the other diets, D2 to D5 contained 10, 20, 30and 40% fermented PKC (TL-PKC), respectively. All diets contained 1% chromic oxide as an inert marker. Red tilapias of average weight of 2.5 g were fed on these six diets for a period of 8 weeks. The fish were fed at 4% of their body weight, twice a day. There was no difference in mortality rate of fish on the various diets used. However, weight gain decreased with an increase of TL-PKC in diets. There were significant (P £ 0.05) differences in the apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of protein and drymatter between the reference diet and diet containing TL-PKC. The ADC of both protein and dry matter generally decrease when the percentage TL-PKC was increased in the test diets. There was also no significant difference in carcass protein content among fish on the various diets. However, there was a significant (P £ 0.05) increase in the levels of phosphorus, calcium and copper in the carcass of fish raised on TL-PKC, but the level of lipids was significantly reduced. Decreasing dry matter and protein digestibility with corresponding weight reduction may have resulted from increased crude fibre content of diets with TL-PKC

Plant host selectivity for multiplication of Glomus mosseae spore

The study aimed to select plant host for multiplication of Glomus mosseae spores. Five plant species were used [(corn, (Zea mays) sorghum, (Sorghum bicolor) lentil, (Lens culinaris), barley, (Hordeum vulgare) and green bean, (Phaseolus vulgaris)]. Plants were inoculated with Glomus mosseae and grown for 75 days under glasshouse conditions. Mycorrhizal sporulation and colonization of all plant hosts were assessed at different sampling periods. At 75 days of growth the highest number of Glomus mosseae spores was found in mycorrhizosphere of corn plant (167 spore/10 g soil), while the lowest in the mycorrhizosphere of barley (35 spore/10 g soil). The highest percentage of root colonization was in corn (76%), while the lowest colonization was found in green bean (24%). Corn was the most suitable host for spore production of Glomus mosseae and to extensive root colonization. It was recorded that plants having more colonization percentage were able to produce more Glomus mosseae spores. The study indicated that different plant species significantly influenced the root spore production and root colonization percentage of Glomus mosseae

PGPM-induced defense-related enzymes in aerobic rice against rice leaf blast caused by Pyricularia aryzae

Rice blast caused by Pyricularia oryzae is the most devastative disease especially under aerobic cultivation systems. The bio-efficacy of plant growth-promoting microorganisms: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (UPMP1), Corynebacterium agropyri (UPMP7), Enterobacter gergoviae (UPMP9) and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (UPMS3), Trichoderma harzianum (UPMT1) and Trichoderma virens (UPMT2) in induction of defense-related enzymes against Pyricularia oryzae was evaluated in rice cultivated under aerobic conditions. Under dual culture plate testing, all PGPMs indicated antagonism against P. oryzae with percentage inhibition radial growth (PIRG) which ranged from 51.69–81.97 %. The bio-efficacy of the respective PGPM in induction of defense-related enzymes in rice seedlings was evaluated based on individual inoculation before challenged inoculation with P. oryzae under greenhouse conditions. Inoculation of all PGPMs significantly reduced rice leaf blast severity at day eight after P. oryzae inoculation. The reduction in rice leaf blast disease severity was associated to the increase of peroxidase (PO), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activities in rice seedlings when pre-inoculated with PGPMs. The highest leaf blast disease reduction (59.17 %) occurred with rice seedlings pre-inoculated with C. agropyri (UPMP9), followed by P. aeruginosa (UPMP1) (40.65 %), T. harzianum (UPMT1) (42.23 %), T. virens (UPMT2) (20.85 %), E. gergoviae (UPMP9) (17.84 %) and B. amyloliquefaciens (UPMS3). The high efficiency of PGPM in leaf blast disease suppression was associated with significant increase in total microbial activity (FDA hydrolysis) in rhizosphera soil (4.80–7.86 μg/g/0.5 h) compared to the control (2.25 μg/g/0.5 h). Thus, the application of PGPM is a potential alternative approach in rice leaf blast disease management of aerobic rice

Effects of elemental sulfur application rates on soil Al3+ solubility and its concentration in maize plants (Zea mays L.)

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to elucidate the influence of soil acidification due to application of different doses of elemental sulphur (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g S kg-1 soil) on Al3+ solubility at 0, 20 and 40 days after incubation. Maize plants were grown after soil treatment with the elemental S and were allowed to grow for 45 days. The results showed that addition of elemental sulphur significantly increased the soil acidity; each g S decreased soil pH for 1.52 units. The Al3+ concentration in soil remained rather unchanged from the pH value of 7.3 to around 5 and experienced a 22000-time increase at the pH value of 4. Soil acidification from the background of 7.03 to 6.29 resulted in 41.83% increase in root Al3+ concentration and it was not significantly affected with further soil acidification. Soil acidification progressively decreased Al3+ concentration in the stem but it failed to affect Al3+ concentration in the leaves. The optimum rate of sulphur for maize without the risk of Al3+ toxicity under greenhouse conditions was 0.82 g S kg-1 soil. Further evaluation under field conditions is required

Effects of sea water and herbicide for salt toelarnt weed mangement in turfgrass

Sea water in combination with trifloxysulfuron-sodium and quinclorac were used to observe weed injury level in turfgrass field. The weed species viz., Sporobolus diander (L.) R. Br., Croton aromaticus L., Croton rotundus and Emilia sonchifolia (L.) DC. ex Wight except Emilia atrovirens were fully controlled when treated with 3/4 recommended trifloxysulfuron-sodium with sea water, 3/4 recommended trifloxysulfuronsodium with 3/4 sea water, 1/2 recommended trifloxysulfuron-sodium with sea water, 3/4 recommended quinclorac with sea water and 3/4 recommended quinclorac with 3/4 sea water. Eragrostis atrovirens (Desf.) Trin. ex Steud. exposed maximum (48%) injury when treated with 3/4 recommended trifloxysulfuron-sodium and sea water. Paspalum vaginatum Sw. showed only 8% injury to sea water in combination with 3/4 recommended quinclorac, indicating greater salt tolerance among the three turfgrass. Zoysia japonica Steud. also exposed no more than 14% injury when treated with sea water in combination with 3/4 recommended trifloxysulfuron-sodium or quinclorac. Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. 'Satiri' had up to 21% salt injury with 3/4 sea water in combination with 3/4 recommended trifloxysulfuron-sodium

Timing of nitrogen uptake pattern by maize using 15N isotope technique at different growth stages

It is necessary to know the right time for nitrogen (N) fertilizer application to meet the plant's need in order to reduce N loss. A glasshouse experiment was conducted at Universiti Putra Malaysia to determine the timing of N uptake at different growth stages of maize. Nitrogen was labeled as ¹⁵N urea with 10% atom excess (a.e). The total N uptake increased until eighth week of planting. After the eighth week of planting, total N decreased due to remobilization of nitrogen from leaf and stalks to grain. The maximum nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) was only 37% throughout the growing season. This indicated that the NUE was very low. NUE can be increased by understanding the right rate and time of nitrogen fertilizer application. The best timing for nitrogen fertilizer application was before the eighth week of planting which reduced the loss of N

Impact of Long-Term Forest Enrichment Planting on the Biological Status of Soil in a Deforested Dipterocarp Forest in Perak, Malaysia

Deforestation leads to the deterioration of soil fertility which occurs rapidly under tropical climates. Forest rehabilitation is one of the approaches to restore soil fertility and increase the productivity of degraded areas. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare soil biological properties under enrichment planting and secondary forests at Tapah Hill Forest Reserve, Perak after 42 years of planting. Both areas were excessively logged in the 1950s and left idle without any appropriate forest management until 1968 when rehabilitation program was initiated. Six subplots (20 m × 20 m) were established within each enrichment planting (F1) and secondary forest (F2) plots, after which soil was sampled at depths of 0–15 cm (topsoil) and 15–30 cm (subsoil). Results showed that total mean microbial enzymatic activity, as well as biomass C and N content, was significantly higher in F1 compared to F2. The results, despite sample variability, suggest that the rehabilitation program improves the soil biological activities where high rate of soil organic matter, organic C, N, suitable soil acidity range, and abundance of forest litter is believed to be the predisposing factor promoting higher population of microbial in F1 as compared to F2. In conclusion total microbial enzymatic activity, biomass C and biomass N evaluation were higher in enrichment planting plot compared to secondary forest. After 42 years of planting, rehabilitation or enrichment planting helps to restore the productivity of planted forest in terms of biological parameters

Isoprene hotspots at the Western Coast of Antarctic Peninsula during MASEC′16

Isoprene (C5H8) plays an important role in the formation of surface ozone (O3) and the secondary organic aerosol (SOA) which contributed to the climate change. This study aims to determine hourly distribution of tropospheric isoprene over the Western Coast of Antarctic Peninsula (WCAP) during the Malaysian Antarctic Scientific Expedition Cruise 2016 (MASEC′16). In-situ measurements of isoprene were taken using a custom-built gas chromatography with photoionization detector, known as iDirac. Biological parameters such as chlorophyll a (chl-a) and particulate organic carbon (POC) were compared to the in-situ isoprene measurements. Significant positive correlation was observed between isoprene and POC concentrations (r2 = 0.67, p < 0.001), but not between isoprene and chl-a. The hotspots of isoprene over maritime Antarctic were then were investigated using NAME dispersion model reanalysis. Measurements showed that isoprene mixing ratio were the highest over region of King George Island, Deception Island and Booth Island with values of ∼5.0, ∼0.9 and ∼5.2 ppb, respectively. Backward trajectory analysis showed that air masses may have lifted the isoprene emitted by marine algae. We believe our findings provide valuable data set of isoprene estimation over the under sampled WCAP

Production of hydrolytic enzymes in rice (Oryza sativa L.) roots inoculated with N2-fixing bacteria

An experiment was conducted to determine the production of hydrolytic enzymes endoglucanase (EG) and endopolymethylgalacturonase (EPMG) in rice (Oryza sativa L.) roots inoculated with N2-Fixing bacteria. Screening for hydrolytic enzymes by N2-Fixing bacteria, using the plate method showed that nine out of 12 bacterial strains were positive for carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and pectin reactions. Three of the isolates, Sb34, Sb41 and Sb42 were inoculated to MR219 rice seedling. The bacterial population and the production of hydrolytic enzymes were monitored for 45 days of plant growth. The scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to observe bacterial colonization on plant roots. In general, the populations of inoculated diazotrophs were higher in the rhizosphere than the endosphere. There were significant effects of different diazotrophs inoculations on the rice rhizosphere and endosphere populations. Plants inoculated with diazotrophs showed significantly higher specific enzyme activities and soluble proteins compared to the non-inoculated control. SEM and TEM observations revealed the abilities of the diazotrophs to colonize the surfaces and interior of the roots. Inoculation significantly increased root growth of rice with substantial increase in root length, volume and surface area in the inoculated plants

An evaluation of the effectiveness of volunteer community health workers in visiual acuity screening amongst residents residents aged 40 years and above in Beranang, Selangor

A cross-sectional study on a household member aged 40 years and abov~ from households of 5 randomly sampled villages in Beranang, Hulu Langat Selangor between August 2000 to December 2000 was carried out to determine the effectiveness of volunteer community health workers in performing visual acuity screening as well as the prevalence of visual disabilities. It was found that the sensitivity and specificity of visual acuity screened by volunteers was 92.9% and 97.5% respectively when compared with health personnel. The prevelance oflow vision was 21.5% with the majority (55.4%) of those with low vison having cataracts