Sulfur dioxide resistance of Indian trees I. Experimental evaluation of visible symptoms and SO 2 sorption

Saplings of 12 species of common Indian trees were exposed to varying concentration of SO₂ to determine the level of SO₂ causing no injury, mild injury and severe injury in plants. The following order of sensitivity was emerged, T. indica > P. dulce > M. indica > F. rumphii > H. integrifolia > B. ceiba > F. bengalensis > A. indica > F. religiosa > S. cuminii > P. guajava > F. racemosa. SO₂ sorption was extremely low in T. indica and M. indica while F. religiosa and F. racemosa exhibited best efficiency of SO₂ Aorption. A correlation was found between the efficiency of SO₂ sorption and alkalinity of cytoplasmic pH. Similarly plants rich in sulfite oxidase, in general, exhibited a better resistance. No single intrinsic factor could be held responsible for the manifested response of a tree towards SO₂.     

Soil morphological and chemical properties in homegardens on sandy beach ridges along the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia

The morphological and chemical properties of homegardens in the beach ridges with interspersed swales (BRIS) soils were evaluated in order to find a clue for developing sustainable agricultural management. Field survey and soil sampling were conducted at the homegardens and secondary forests in Sungai Ular Village and in the experimental farm of Malaysian Agriculture Research Institute (MARDI), Cherating Station. Chemical fertilizers including ash, charcoal waste and plant litter were applied to the homegardens in both the inland-ward area (HG-I) and in the shoreline area (HG-S). Manure was applied in HG-I and seafood waste from fish processing was buried in the soils in HG-S. High correlation was found between total carbon (T-C) and cation exchange capacity (CEC), indicating soil organic matter was the determinant factor for CEC in the very sandy BRIS soils. The levels of T-C, total nitrogen (T-N), and CEC at 0–10 cm in HG-I in parallel with increasing ages of homegardens. The soils in 0–10 cm and 20–30 cm showed higher levels of T-C and T-N with higher C/N ratios in HG-I than in HG-S and the MARDI farm. The high levels of exchangeable Ca, Mg, and K in HG-I compared with the MARDI farm, suggesting that improved CEC with increasing soil organic matter in HG-I heighten the retention of basic cations supplied as chemical fertilizer, ash, and manure. The level of available P was higher in HG-S than HG-I, attributed by the seafood waste application in the shoreline area. Thus, on the BRIS, the levels of soil organic matter and nutrients can be sustained by the homegarden management although it cannot be regarded as a closed system compared with those in the other tropical regions because chemical fertilizer was used and a certain amounts of nutrients seemed to leach down beyond plant rooting depth.     

Changes of Physical and Chemical Characteristics during Microbial Composting of Rice Straw at Various pH Levels

ABSTRACT

The physical and chemical parameters were monitored for seven weeks during Trichoderma/Aspergillus inoculated rice straw composting at various pH levels. Three treatments (A, B, and C) were inoculated with lignocellulolytic microbial consortium (Aspergillus niger, F44 and Trichoderma viride, F26) and three were un-inoculated (D, E, and F). pH of the starting materials was amended to 5.75 (A and D), 6.75 (B and E), and 7.75 (C and F) with either acetic acid or sodium hydroxide. Three typical phases of temperature were observed both in inoculated and un-inoculated treatments during composting: mesophilic phase, thermophilic phase, and followed by cooling and maturation phase. The bioconversion were maximum in Trichoderma/Aspergillus inoculated treatments within 14–21 days as indicated by the profiles of electrical conductivity, bulk density, total carbon and nitrogen, and germination index. After day 21, the germination index of Trichoderma/Aspergillus inoculated treatment (B) without any pH amendment was increased to 74.5 indicating the maturity of compost and suitability for field application.     

Carbon Dioxide Capture with Amine-Grafted Activated Carbon

There are several possible methods by which amine groups can be grafted on the surface of activated carbon (AC) to improve their capacity for CO₂ adsorption. Ethylenediamine and diethylenetriamine were selected as amino compounds for anchoring on the surface of an oxidized AC. Oxidation of AC was carried out by concentrated nitric acid. For each amino compound, two “in-solvent” and “solvent-free” methods with a number of grafting times were studied. Nitrogen adsorption–desorption at 77 K and proximate and ultimate analysis were used to determine physical and chemical characteristics of the samples. Temperature-programmed (TP) CO₂ adsorption test from 30°C to 120°C were performed to investigate the effect of modification on CO₂ capture. The modification clearly had a negative effect on the textural characteristics of the samples, so the samples showed a less CO₂ uptake at lower temperatures. However, the decrease of capture capacity with increasing temperature is to somewhat softer for amine-grafted samples, so that they have a capacity comparable to the parent sample or even more than that at elevated temperatures. This property may give the new adsorbents this opportunity to be used at flue gas temperature with a higher efficiency. CO₂ capture capacity per unit surface area of all the amine-modified samples, however, was significantly improved, compared to the parent sample presenting a great influence of amino groups on the CO₂ capture capacity. Moreover, the used amine compounds and grafting methods were compared in terms of adsorbent characteristics and CO₂ uptake curves. Cyclic adsorption–desorption tests showed a satisfactory regeneration for the modified samples.     

Influence of silicon on growth,yield, and lodging resistance of MR219, a lowland rice of Malaysia

Lodging has limited yield and potential of increasing yield in rice. Lodging could be minimized by increasing the mechanical or physical strength of the rice culm. Silicon (Si) is associated with sturdiness and rigidity. Therefore, the objectives of this experiment were to evaluate the effects and optimum rate of Si application to improve yield, growth, and lodging resistance of MR219, a popular rice variety in Malaysia. Si, in the form of fertilizer, was applied at the onset of reproductive stage as topdressing. All Si-treated plants showed an increase in number of tillers, number of spikelets per panicle, number of effective tillers, percentage of filled spikelets, and weight per panicle in Si-treated plants as compared to control. Lodging resistance was higher in plants treated with Si as shown by bending parameters. Si-treated plants showed significant increase in flag leaf area, chlorophyll content, and Si content.     

Molecular confirmation of candidate Hsp70 gene associated with heat tolerance in BC3F2 advanced backcross lines and their phenotypic resemblance with recurrent chilli Kulai

ABSTRACT

Domestic production of chilli in Malaysia is insufficient which accounted for 52% self-sufficiency level. Poor performance of local varieties under high temperatures above 42°C is one of the major factors affecting chilli production. This study was conducted with the objective of introgress heat-tolerant gene (Hsps) from AVPP0702 donor into Kulai using marker-assisted backcrossing. A total of 68 SSR markers, including Hsp linked markers that showed polymorphism between the parents were used to assess the generation of backcrossing; BC1F1, BC2F1, BC3F1 and BC3F2 and the average RPG percentage of the recurrent parent was found to be 81, 90, 95 and 97%, respectively. The pattern of Hsp expression in the backcross generations was similar to the donor parent (upregulated with more than 4-fold increase). Twelve improved heat tolerant chilli lines were developed. Most of the morphological and agronomical traits were recovered in the selected improved heat-tolerant genotypes from Kulai such as plant height, number of days to 50% flowering, number of fruits, fruit length and total fruit yield per plant. Improved high-yielding heat-tolerant chilli lines showed tolerance to high temperature as well as did not express any negative effect on agronomic traits in comparison with Kulai variety.     

Trait phenotyping and SSR markers characterization of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) germplasm for breeding early maturing wheat’s for Western-Himalayas

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - The study involved evaluation of 96 wheat genotypes for early maturity and related traits and molecular characterization of trait specific candidate genotypes...     

Distribution and status of the Sumatran rhinoceros in Peninsular Malaysia

Distribution and status of the Sumatran rhinoceros Dicerorhinus sumatrensis in Peninsular Malaysia were studied from 1975 to 1981. We compiled information collected from field surveys, interviews with people living near rhino areas, and the literature. Most potential rhino areas were surveyed on the ground to confirm the presence of animals, estimate numbers, and evaluate the status of the habitat. We confirmed that rhinos presently occur in ten isolated areas scattered throughout the Malay Peninsula. The number of rhinos is estimated at 50 to 75 animals with the Endau-Rompin (20–25), Taman Negara (8–12), and Sungai Dusun (4–6) areas containing the largest contiguous populations. The Sumatran rhino appears threatened with immediate extinction in Peninsular Malaysia. Excessive killing of rhinos because of the high commercial value of their body parts has greatly reduced numbers. Habitat destruction from logging and forest clearance has separated and isolated already small populations. We recommend that conservation efforts for this species in Malaysia be concentrated in the Endau-Rompin region because this population has the best chances for survival.     

Efficiency of Coated Urea on Nutrient Uptake and Maize Production

A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of coated urea with urease inhibitor [copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn)], nitrification inhibitor (DMPP), biochar and geopolymer on ammonium, nitrate, Cu, Zn content and crop yield of maize. The treatments were composed of urea alone (control), urea coated Cu and Zn (UCuZn), urea coated with Cu, Zn, and DMPP (UCuZnDMPP), urea impregnated with biochar (Ubio) and urea coated with geopolymer (Ug2). Data showed that treatments with Cu, Zn, and DMPP produced lower ammonium (NH₄) and nitrate (NO₃) in UCuZn and UCuZnDMPP while they had the highest concentration of Cu and Zn in soil and plant tissues. Plots treated with UCuZn and UCuZnDMPP produced maximum N concentrations in grains and yield, with increases by 79.5% and 74.1%, respectively, as compared with urea (control). This finding demonstrates that by slow down the hydrolysis and nitrification process using urease and nitrification inhibitor were beneficial to increased N uptake, ultimately produced higher yield.