Genetic Transformation of Orchid Dendrobium Sonia-17 Using the Biolistic Method

The ever-changing tastes and preferences of orchid consumers initiated the need to create new and better varieties. Progress in molecular biology has allowed genetically well defined characteristics to be added to the gene pools, thereby increasing the potential for genetic improvement. However, such effort at creating a custom-made flower has yet to be realised in orchids. The present study aims at developing a genetic transformation system for the introduction of specific foreign genes into orchid. Protocorm-like-bodies (PLBs) of orchid hybrid, Dendrobium Sonia-17, were established to be suitable target tissues for the introduction of foreign genes using the biolistic method. They were easily micropropagated in vitro that provided plenty of materials to work with and were a reliable source of potentially regenerabIe tissues. The effect of blasting on the growth of the PLBs was evaluated by subjecting the PLBs to bombardment with uncoated gold microparticles. One month following bombardment, fresh weights gained by the PLBs were recorded. The results showed that bombarded PLBs had higher weight increments compared to non-bombarded treatments, indicating that subsequent lethal responses by the PLBs on antibiotic selections were mainly due to the selection pressure and not as a result of injuries inflicted during the bombardment

Phenol toxicity and phytoremediation

Widespread applications of phenol in manufacturing industries and oil refineries had resulted in unprecedented leakage of phenol into the environment, which can cause serious health effects such as tissue necrosis and cardiac arrhythmia upon contact or ingestion. Plants exposed to phenol had reduced seed germination index, inhibited growth or even fatality. There are many technologies currently practised to remediate phenol pollution such as physiochemical methods (adsorption to activated carbon and chemical oxidation), biological methods (biodegradation by bacteria or fungus, and soil bioaugmentation), and phytoremediation method (using hairy roots of plants). As physiochemical and microbial phenol degradation are destructive and costly, phytoremediation is widely studied as an alternative phenol remediator which is environmental friendly and cost effective. Microorganisms can detoxify the aromatic xenobiotic through the aerobic or anaerobic pathway. Aerobic degradation of phenol is through either the meta- or ortho-pathway of catechol cleavage while anaerobic degradation occurs through the benzoate pathway. In plants, degradation of phenol is also through catechol cleavage as in microorganisms. However, different enzyme systems were utilised in the different pathways involved

Effect of number and timing of pinching on reproductive growth of potted poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.)

An experiment to evaluate effects of pinching number (unpinched, once-and twice-pinched) and timing (early- and late-pinched) on reproductive growth of poinsettia was conducted. The results showed that late-pinched plants were delayed in floral induction, bract colour development and finish date compared to early-pinched plants. However, the time of pinching did not significantly affect the number of bracts and bract area, once- and twice-pinched treatment delayed floral induction, bract colour development and finish dates compared to unpinched plants. The number of bracts and bract area were increased after the plants had been pinched once or twice

Glasshouse acclimatization of tissue-cultured Melastoma malabathricum plantlets

Tissue-cultured Melastoma malabathricum plants were acclimatized to glasshouse conditions by leaving them for 7 or 14 days in open jars in distilled water or washed and kept in a covered aquarium. Plants in the aquarium had a higher survival rate than those open jars and grew to greater heights

Phenol Toxicity and Remediation

Widespread applications of phenol in manufacturing industries and oil refinerieshaveresulted in unprecedented leakageof phenol into the environment. Its toxicity, remediation methods and degradation pathways were outlined in this review. Upon contact or ingestion, phenolcausesserious health effects such as tissuenecrosis and cardiac arrhythmia. Plantsexposed to phenolhavereducedseed germination index, inhibitedgrowthoreven fatality. There are many technologies currently practised to remediate phenol pollutionsuch asphysicochemical methods(adsorption to activated carbon and chemical oxidation), biological methods (biodegradation by bacteriaor fungus,andsoil bioaugmentation),and phytoremediation method (using hairy rootsof plants). As physicochemicaland microbial phenol degradation are destructive and costly, phytoremediation is widely studied as an alternative phenol remediator which is environmental friendly and cost-effective.Microorganisms can detoxify the aromatic xenobiotic through the aerobic or anaerobic pathway. Aerobic degradation of phenol is througheitherthe meta-or ortho-pathway of catechol cleavage while anaerobic degradation occurs through the benzoate pathway. In plants, degradation of phenol is also through catechol cleavage as in microorganisms. However, different enzyme systems areutilisedin the differentpathways involved

Awareness of operators on the requirements and procedures for animal quarantine and the distribution of temporary animal quarantine stations in Peninsular Malaysia

Temporary quarantine stations (TQS) are transitory premises that have been approved to facilitate the quarantine of imported live animals in Malaysia. These stations must abide to the standard operating procedures (SOP) for animal quarantine as outlined by the veterinary authority in Malaysia. However, the level of awareness for the quarantine procedures among the TQS operators and managers has not been assessed. This study was conducted to describe the distribution of the TQS in 2012-2013 and the level of awareness among its operators on the quarantine procedures and the fundamental requirements for quarantine establishments. Eight TQS from 25 were selected and operators or managers were interviewed using a questionnaire and the facility was visited. The study found that majority (82.5%) of the TQS operators were aware of the quarantine procedures but the auditors from the veterinary authority revealed vice versa

Isolation, cloning and characterisation of new fragrance-related floral transcripts of Vanda Mimi Palmer

A subtracted cDNA library of open flower was constructed using the suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) technique, to identify fragrance-related transcripts of Vanda Mimi Palmer. In total, 107 transcripts up-regulated during blooming were identified and sequenced. Only 33 clones (4 singletons and 29 contigs) showed similarities to known sequences in the public database. Of these, thirty-two clones were transcripts encoding fragrance-related enzymes including sesquiterpene synthase, (±)-germacrene D synthase, tyrosine decarboxylase and putative acyltransferase. Two fragrance-related transcripts, VMPAAT encoding a putative alcohol acyltransferase and VMPSTS encoding a sesquiterpene synthase, were subjected to full-length cDNA isolation and characterization. The full length cDNA of VMPAAT has a 1343bp open reading frame (ORF) of 448 amino acid residues whereas VMPSTS is predicted to encode a polypeptide of 561 amino acid residues with 1682bp ORF. VMPAAT and VMPSTS show high homologies with plant alcohol acyltransferase and terpene synthase, respectively. Real time RT-PCR indicated that both transcripts were expressed preferentially in floral tissues, with high levels in blooming and full bloom flowers. VMPAAT and VMPSTS transcripts were expressed in a rhythmic pattern. The results presented in this study will be potentially useful in providing additional insights into the fragrance-related pathways of Orchidaceae members, which until today is still limited

Anthocyanin stability studies in Tibouchina semidecandra L.

The effects of pH, storage period, temperature, light and dark conditions on the stability of anthocyanins extracted from Tibouchina semidecandra flowers of different developmental stages was evaluated. Fully formed but unopened flower bud had the highest amount of total anthocyanin extracted from fresh petals. The anthocyanin contents for all flower developmental stages were stable at pH 0.5–3.0 but the colour of the extracts faded at higher pH values. Degradation percentages of total anthocyanins in the extracts kept at 25 °C were 7–20% lower than that maintained at 31 °C. Extracts stored in darkness at 25 °C maintained their purple colour for 26 days while light exposure reduced it to an average of 10 days. The study shows that suitable storage condition for coloured anthocyanin pigments in extracted form is in acidic conditions in the dark. This implies the potential usage of coloured anthocyanins as natural food colourants and shelf life indicator for acidic foods

Ice Machine Design Es Puter for Small Industries and Household With Quality Function Deployment Method (QFD)

Designing icemakers (es puter) technology (hard ice cream) have evolved from manual to automatic . In designing a tool not only to consider the technological aspects but also pay attention to other aspects in accordance with the needs and the level of consumer interest . Therefore needed an alternative design Es Puter making machine with the application of the method of Quality Function Deployment ( QFD ), to find and translate the desires and needs of consumers in small industry and households . Through the stages of the design process and product development , as well as the results of the questionnaire are tabulated in QFD found that respondents wanted the  machine of es puter -power, ease of maintenance and has a reliable and produce good quality products . From the research produced a prototype for an ice machine puter with a 12V DC electric motor drive 40W , portable design, with a production capacity of 5 liters each. And equipped with automatic key features , 12V 7Ah battery and place the glass for presentation. Keywords : Es Puter , QFD, Small Industrie

Transcriptome of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) roots treated with Ganoderma boninense

Basal stem rot (BSR) is the most devastating disease of oil palm. In this study, we examined the transcriptional responses of oil palm roots treated with a causal agent of BSR, Ganoderma boninense using a cDNA microarray approach. A total of 61 from 3,748 transcripts examined were found to be significantly up- or down-regulated in oil palm roots infected with G. boninense at 3 and 6 weeks post inoculation compared to those from uninfected roots. The differentially expressed genes identified in the artificially infected oil palm roots included genes encoding isoflavone reductase, Em protein H2, SPX domain-containing protein 1, pathogenesis-related protein 1, vicilin-like antimicrobial peptide. The gene expression of isoflavone reductase, which is involved in the production of phytoalexin and three related genes in the phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway was also profiled in the treated oil palms using real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR. This information has contributed to our understanding of the defense mechanisms of oil palm in response to G. boninense, the future development of molecular markers for marker assisted breeding and screening of oil palms that are tolerant to G. boninense