Kamaludin Rashid

The effect of various media and hormones via suspension culture on secondary metabolic activities of (Cape Jasmine) Gardenia jasminoides Ellis.

The leaf of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis was used as explants and was cultured on MS and WPM media supplemented with various concentrations of NAA, IAA, 2,4-D, IBA, TDZ, and Kn (0 to 5 mg L−1 with 0.5 increment). After six months, the higher percentage of callus (100%) and the best dry and fresh weight of callus were formed on WPM medium supplemented with 2,4-D and NAA (2.0-3.0 mg L−1) and this amount was decreased from (84%) to (69%) when this media supplemented with Kinetin and TDZ (1 mg L−1) respectively were used. Leaf segments cultured on WPM media added with Kn (1 mg L−1) and TDZ (2 mg L−1) yielded the least amount of callus. It was found that WPM media added with IAA (4.5–5.0 mg L−1) were optimum for root induction from G. jasminoides plantlets. Antibacterial screening of leaf extracts (in vivo) showed no inhibitory effect against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and B. cereus, in contrast to callus extracts from leaf cultures supplemented with NAA, which showed inhibition activity against E. coli and B. cereus. The callus extracts from leaf cultures grown on both MS and WPM media showed higher antioxidant and superoxide dismutase activities than leaf extracts.

Micropropagation of an Exotic Ornamental Plant, Calathea crotalifera, for Production of High Quality Plantlets

A successful protocol was established for micropropagation in two selected varieties of exotic ornamental plants, Calathea crotalifera. The effects of different sterilization techniques, explant type, and the combination and concentration of plant growth regulators on shoots induction were studied. The axillary shoot buds explants sprouted from rhizomes in soil free conditions showed high induction rate of shoots with lowest contamination percentage when treated with combination of 30% (v/v) NaOCl, 70% (v/v) ethanol, and 0.3% (w/v) HgCl2. In the present study, the highest number of multiple shoots was obtained in MS basal medium supplemented with 3.5 mg/L 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP), 1.0 mg/L 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), 3% sucrose, and 6 g/L plant agar for both varieties and was used as multiplication medium. Microshoots were highly induced when the young shoot bud explants were incised longitudinally prior subculture. Chlorophyll analysis was studied to test the effects of activated charcoal and L-glutamine on reduction of necrosis problem. The maximum roots induction was recorded on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) compared to indolebutyric acid (IBA). The complete regenerated plantlets were successfully acclimatized in the soilless medium under greenhouse condition. This is the first report of rapid mass propagation for C. crotalifera.

Preliminary Screening of Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities and Establishment of an Efficient Callus Induction in Curculigo latifolia Dryand (Lemba)

Leaf, seed, and tuber explants of C. latifolia were inoculated on MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of BAP and IBA, alone or in combinations, to achieve in vitro plant regeneration. Subsequently, antioxidant and antibacterial activities were determined from in vitro and in vivo plant developed. No response was observed from seed culture on MS media with various concentrations of PGRs. The highest percentage of callus was observed on tuber explants (94%) and leaf explants (89%) when cultured on MS media supplemented with IBA in combination with BAP. A maximum of 88% shoots per tuber explant, with a mean number of shoots (8.8 ± 1.0), were obtained on MS medium supplemented with combinations of BAP and IBA (2.5 mg L−1). The best root induction (92%) and mean number (7.6 ± 0.5) from tuber explants were recorded on 2.5 mg L−1 IBA alone supplemented to MS medium. The higher antioxidant content (80%) was observed from in vivo tuber. However, tuber part from the intact plant showed higher inhibition zone in antibacterial activity compared to other in vitro and in vivo tested parts.

Toxic Trace Elements in Selected Edible Rhizomes of Medicinal Plants Using INAA and ICP-MS Techniques

The interaction between chemical extracted compounds from plants and the human body go through the same identical process to those well understood for the chemical compounds in conventional drugs. Similarly, the herbal medicine may cause the same potential to cause a side effect [1]. Zingiber zerumbet (lempoyang), Boesenbergia rotunda (temu kunci), Zingiber officinale var. rubrum (halia bara) and Zingiber officinale roscoe are belonging to Zingiberaceae or Ginger family consisting of aromatic perennial herbs with creeping horizontal or tuberous rhizomes planted locally. The same species can be found throughout tropical Africa, Asia, and the America. These rhizomes are a common edible ingredient in many countries, in South East Asia and serve as culinary herbs due to their aromatic flavor to promote appetite.

Agronomic, Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Expression Analysis of Aroma Gene (badh2) under Different Temperature Regimes in Rice

Aroma of rice is controlled by the badh2 gene and its expression is highly influenced by the environmental factors, genotypic condition and cultivation practice. The effects of environmental factors such as salinity, water, aging, heat, cold and shading on 2AP concentration or badh2 gene expression or agronomic traits were investigated individually but the effects of the optimum temperature (20°C to 30°C) were not studied extensively. Therefore, this study investigated the consequences of three different temperatures (ambient or 28.29 ± 0.91°C, 25°C and 20°C) on agronomic performance, badh2 gene expression, 2AP concentration and phenotypic aroma score of five aromatic and a non-aromatic (control) rice genotype. The agronomic performance such as the flowering days (121.60), days to maturity (151.20), plant height (119.80 cm), panicle length (34.80 cm), fertile grain per panicle (151.40), 1000 grain weight (32.67 g) and grain yield per plant (76.73 g) were higher at 25°C temperature compared to the ambient and 20°C temperature. The maximum down-regulation of badh2 gene (-12.20 ± 0.01 fold), the highest concentration of 2AP (0.14 ± 0.02 ppm) and the excellent phenotypic aroma score (score 4) was also observed at 25°C temperature. Hence, the badh2 gene expression level and 2AP concentration were influenced by the temperature, which also regulated the phenotypic expression of aroma and agronomic performance of aromatic rice. This information will enlighten the consequences of optimum temperature and the possible reasons of variation in aroma quality of rice, which could open the possibility of high quality aromatic rice production around the globe.

Influence of Drought Stress on Leaf Traits of Different Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa L.) Varieties in Natural Environment

A study was carried out to explore leaf traits analysis of three strawberry varieties under different drought conditions in Malaysian upland environment in 2013. Plants of three strawberry varieties were grown in three different soil moisture levels including 25 percent (severe stress), 50 percent (mild stress), and 75 percent (normal irrigation) and remained for 60 days as a duration of stress to get appropriate observations of plants to drought stress. Significant differences were observed among varieties, treatments, and duration of drought stress in different traits (P < 0.05). Leaf area, leaf number, chlorophyll content, chlorophyll stability index, leaf moisture, leaf expansion rate, and leaf yield were diminished under stress especially when treated with 25 percent of soil moisture level and 60 days of duration. Moreover, there were remarkable differences among plants in terms of leaf thickness in 25 percent, 50 percent, and control. Severe stress reduced leaf thickness significantly compared to other treatments.

Effect of Landfill Leachate on Brassica chinensis Dry Matter Weight and Iron Concentration

To compare the dry matter yield and iron uptake of Brassica chinensis, soil iron content at 15, 23, 31, 39 days after transplanting the seedlings of Brassica chinensis with respect to different concentration of landfill leachate concentrations at 0, 33.3, 50 and 100% application on soil were measured. Treated B. chinensis with 100%, 50% and 33.3% leachates increased in dry matter yield by 59.2%, 66.4% and 95.7% respectively compared to control irrigated water. The highest and lowest iron uptake by B. chinensis observed at fifteen and twenty-three days after transplanting respectively. The iron concentrated in soil showed significant differences only at twenty tree days after transplanting the seedlings of B. chinensis to 100, 0, 33.3 and 50% of landfill leachate concentrations respectively.