The production of fruit juice often faces challenges in achieving high juice quality due to its high viscosity, pectin, and polysaccharide content. Enzymatic treatment has proved to be one of the most effective approaches for improving the juice yield, quality and nutritional properties. Enzymes such as pectinase, cellulase, and hemicellulase are commonly used in fruit juice production to degrade cell wall components, thereby enhancing the stability and quality of fruit juice. Optimisation of enzymatic treatment conditions, such as enzyme concentration, incubation time, and temperature, using a second-order central composite design (RSM), was crucial in achieving the desired quality outcome. From an extensive collection of literature and research, this comprehensive review explores the impact of optimised enzymatic treatment conditions on the physicochemical properties, including juice yield, viscosity, clarity, turbidity, total soluble solids (TSS), and the bioactive compounds of antioxidant activity and total phenolic content (TPC) of tropical fruit juices. Key findings suggest that different fruits all have different enzymatic treatment conditions due to the dependency of this treatment towards the pectin, cellulose, hemicellulose and other polysaccharide contents in the fruit. This selected treatment shows effectiveness in tackling the stated issues.
Forest fires represent a significant environmental and socio-economic challenge, driven by the complex interplay of climatic, topographic, and anthropogenic factors. Many studies have utilised a wide range of fire-influencing variables, such as temperature, precipitation, wind speed, elevation, and others, to model fire susceptibility maps and develop predictive models. However, these studies often assume that readers are already familiar with the underlying mechanisms that link these factors to fire occurrence, without providing detailed explanations of how each variable contributes to ignition probability and fire spread. This paper aims to address this gap by offering an accessible and comprehensive synthesis of key variables influencing forest fire susceptibility. Based on findings from previous systematic reviews and recent literature, 22 critical fire factors are categorised into three groups: climatic and environmental factors, topographic variables, and anthropogenic influences. For each factor, intuitive explanations of its relationship with fire occurrence are provided to guide hypothesis-driven feature selection for fire mapping and modelling. Crucially, this review emphasises that while these factors are globally prevalent, their application requires statistical validation to account for regional differences in fire regimes. By clarifying the mechanisms behind fire-influencing factors, this review supports more robust fire risk assessments and informs evidence-based strategies for wildfire prevention and management.
Kinabalu Park in Sabah, Malaysia, is renowned for its exceptional biodiversity, particularly its diverse orchid (Orchidaceae) flora, many of which grow in ultramafic soils. These soils are known to contain high levels of nickel and magnesium, low levels of calcium, few essential nutrients, and low water retention, hence bringing serious ecological problems to the survival of plants. This paper summarises existing information on the ecology and conservation of orchids in the ultramafic zone of Kinabalu Park, with emphasis on how the species adapt and why conservation efforts are necessary. This work is completely grounded on secondary data and is based on an in-depth evaluation of scientific literature (articles, books, journals, and online herbarium records) to evaluate the orchid diversity and ecological significance in the park. It has been found that there are up to 340 orchid species in the ultramafic sections of the Kinabalu Park, the highest density of which is Marai Parai (136 species), home to the locally endemic Dendrobium maraiparense Wood and Chan, described first at this location. Significant dangers such as excessive collection, illegal commerce, poaching, and climate change demonstrate the necessity of a more powerful conservation and rescue policy. The use of in-situ and ex-situ methods of conservation, increasing community education, and legal enforcement of the control of orchid species are required to protect the orchid species and preserve the ecological health of Kinabalu Park.
Portunid crabs, including the genus Scylla and genus Portunus, are highly commercial due to their tasty flavour and high meat yield. However, until now, crab demand is still heavily dependent on wild-caught crabs, and the domestication of crabs is necessary for the production of viable seed in hatcheries and the grow-out of portunid crabs. To enhance portunid crabs farming, reproductive technologies should be improved, and this information still needs to be compiled and reviewed. As such, the purpose of this paper is to review reproductive technologies for sustainable portunid crab’s aquaculture. This manuscript provides a narrative review of reproduction technology, with an emphasis on the portunid crab from two genera, Scylla and Portunus, covering literature from 2000 up to 2025, which focuses on practical hatchery applications. Three methods, including hormonal injections, dietary feeding, and manipulation of culture conditions, can be implemented in hatcheries to obtain as many spawned crabs as possible. Pregnenolone, 5-HT, GnRH, methyl farnesoate, prostaglandin, thyroxine and estrogen have been proven to support ovarian maturation in portunid crabs. Formulated diet rich in lipids, adding astaxanthin or using natural diet from fish, blood cockle and squid has been shown to stimulate gonad development and increase spawning rates. Manipulating temperature and photoperiod can also lead to improvements in the egg incubation period and hatching success, with higher water temperatures and longer light periods yielding better results. Through this review, knowledge on reproductive technologies has been gathered and could be further implemented during the farming of portunid crabs, making hatchery-based reproduction more reliable.
Rice stem borers are among the most damaging pests in paddy fields and are a growing concern for farmers. This is concerning due to the decline in rice production they may cause, especially in areas with high infestation, where infestation coincides with critical stages of paddy growth. This review discusses existing knowledge on the life cycle, feeding behaviour, and oviposition patterns of six main recognised species in Southeast Asian regions, particularly Scirpophaga incertulas, Scirpophaga innotata, Chilo suppressalis, Chilo polychrysus, Chilo auricilius, and Sesamia inferens. Their distinct characteristics in egg-laying behaviour, feeding sites, and the infestation timing were then further discussed and correlated with rice phenology to observe the variation of damage expression and how it affects yield, ultimately. Though common symptoms such as deadheart and whitehead are expected after infestation, the occurrence and severity of damage, as well as the chances of plant recovery, may differ. The differences between the infestation events are crucial, especially when considering management controls in the field to produce better alignment with paddy growth stages, together with suitable ecological factors. However, there is still limited information on specific economic thresholds in many parts of Southeast Asia. This research gap provides the need for future research, as it may support more targeted IPM control strategies and reduce dependence of farmers on broad-spectrum insecticides.
This study explores the microbial diversity within the newly discovered UNISEL Bird Sanctuary using a metagenomics approach. The objective was to establish the first baseline shotgun metagenomic profile of the UNISEL Bird Sanctuary soil microbiome to support future ecological, environmental, and conservation research. Soil samples were subjected to whole-genome shotgun sequencing to characterise microbial community structure and functional potential. Approximately 2.85 million contigs were generated, predicting 3,282,381 genes. Taxonomic profiling using Kraken 2 showed that bacteria represented a major proportion of the community, accounting for approximately 30.01% of clean reads and 34.83% of assembled contigs. A large number of reads remained unclassified, indicating the presence of potentially novel microbial diversity. Functional annotation successfully classified 44% of coding genes against databases including RefSeq, Swiss-Prot, InterProScan, eggNOG, MEGARes, and KEGG. Comparative metagenomic analysis with publicly available datasets revealed similarities and differences in taxonomic composition, Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG) classification, and metal resistance genes. The UNISEL Bird Sanctuary soil sample (S3) exhibited higher abundances of copper, iron, and mercury resistance genes, suggesting adaptation to specific environmental conditions. This study highlights the importance of documenting microbial diversity for ecosystem health monitoring, ecological understanding, and conservation planning. Further studies involving deeper sequencing and advanced analyses are required to better understand the functions and adaptive mechanisms of uncharacterised microbial communities in this ecosystem.
Yarrowia lipolytica yeast is a versatile platform that can be used to produce high-value fatty acids from various feedstocks, including the underutilised kopyor coconut. This study aims to explore the differences in valuable lipid-based metabolites from different types of kopyor coconut through fermentation by Y. lipolytica. The experiment in this study used three levels of coconut oil concentration (2.5%, 5%, and 7.5%) derived from kopyor coconut waste (var. Genjah and Dalam), which was further processed to obtain oil, and variations in fermentation time (0, 24, 48, 72, and growth of Y. lipolytica; higher concentrations led to greater cell biomass. After 96 hours of incubation, fatty acids are detected in the cell extract. Substrate fermentation influences the fatty acid profile of Y. lipolytica. Yeast Nitrogen Base (YNB) media without coconut oil addition produced alkanes as the majority compound. Meanwhile, YNB with coconut oil addition from var. Genjah produced the usual various fatty acid profiles. The addition of coconut oil from var. Dalam to Y. lipolytica pellets resulted in the production of unusual fatty acids with complex derivation. These various free fatty acids hold promise for important applications in biodiesel, nutraceuticals, and food flavouring agents.
Azolla is a floating aquatic plant that offers numerous advantages, including high growth rates and significant protein content, making it a valuable resource for animal feed, fertiliser, and a potential carbon capture agent. Taxonomic analysis and the diversity of Azolla in Indonesia remain unclear. Therefore, this study explores the diversity of Azolla species in the Progo and Opak river basins, using 20 morphological characters and 10 primers of inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR). Morphological characters that strongly contribute to differences between genotypes are branching patterns, dorsal lobe shapes, presence of ventral stomata, lobe length, hyaline ratio, and number of branches. The genotypes are identified as Azolla cristata, which are synonyms of conspecific species Azolla mexicana and Azolla microphylla. Among 10 inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR), UBC 814 and UBC 841 exhibit the high PIC (0.29; 0.28) and RP (19.71; 23.29), respectively. The unweighted pair group method cluster analysis grouped the accessions into two clusters based on their morphological and genetic traits. Diversity indices were moderately high across the two populations, with Nei’s gene diversity (He) = 0.230 and Shannon’s information index (I) = 0.342. AMOVA revealed that 93% of the overall genetic variation occurred within populations, while only 7% was attributed to differences among populations. The low differentiation suggests high gene flow between the two river basins, likely facilitated by water currents, waterfowl, or humans, effectively maintaining a single large, genetically diverse metapopulation.
Malaysia's poultry industry heavily relies on imported grain maize, posing challenges to national food security and economic sustainability. To address this, the development of high-yielding maize varieties is critical. This study evaluated morphological and yield-related traits often maize genotypes, which were five experimental hybrids (GH, GJ, HI, HJ, JK) and five check varieties (BTL 1, Pacific 338, Suwan 5, TVDC, GWG888) using a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Selangor. Significant differences were observed across all measured parameters. Experimental hybrids, particularly GJ, outperformed check varieties in key yield determinants, including dehusked ear weight, ear diameter, and kernel row count. The most distinctive finding was that hybrid GJ achieved the highest grain yield of 11,794 kg/ha, substantially exceeding that of the check varieties. Strong positive correlations were identified between dehusked ear weight and grain weight (r = 0.85, p-value = 0.02, alpha = 0.05), and between plant and ear height (r = 0.78, p-value = 0.05, alpha = 0.05), indicating synchronised plant development. Importantly, dehusked ear diameter emerged as a key yield predictor, showing moderate but meaningful correlations with grain yield, kernel rows, and ear weight (r = 0.61-0.68, p-value = 0.05, alpha = 0.05). These results highlight the pivotal role of ear diameter as a selection criterion in maize breeding programs. The superior performance of hybrid GJ presents a promising solution to Malaysia's maize yield gap. Adoption and further development of such high-performing genotypes could reduce import dependency, strengthen local feed grain supply chains, and enhance national food security.
In oil palm plantations, the application of secondary nutrients, especially calcium and sulfur is often negligible due to the focus on merely primary nutrients and magnesium. Calcium is responsible for proper plant cell division and for strengthening cell walls while sulfur improves the oil synthesis rate in oil palm. Polyhalite (K2SO4 & centerdot;MgSO4 & centerdot;2CaSO4 & centerdot;2H2O) is a natural marine evaporite mineral produced by successive marine evaporation events throughout history. Its huge potential as a potassium fertiliser, due to its very low quantities of chlorine but richness in potassium, calcium, and magnesium, has attracted its use in various crops to achieve higher yields and better-quality crops. In addition to potassium, magnesium fertilisation can increase crop yield and quality. Previous studies focus on applying Polyhalite in cash crops and are less prominent in the oil palm. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the vegetative growth performance of Polyhalite on oil palm aged one-year-old in addition to the conventional programme. Results showed that applying 0.3 kg ERP + 0.3 kg AgCOTE 18/6/8/2+ME + 0.3 kg Polyhalite into planting holes during transplanting the oil palm seedlings in the field is most cost-efficient while delivering the same vegetative growth compared to the conventional practices.
The well-being of companion animals is heavily dependent on public understanding and adoption of preventive health measures, such as neutering, vaccination, and antiparasitic treatments. This study investigated the knowledge and perceptions of Selangor residents regarding these practices and identified the demographic factors influencing their views. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using online and paper-based questionnaires, which covered demographic details, pet management practices, knowledge and perception on veterinary care, and educational intervention. Data were analysed using the IBM SPSS Statistics, employing descriptive statistics and inferential analysis (e.g., Linear Regression and Spearman’s correlation). A total of 381 Malaysians residing in Selangor participated in this survey. Findings showed that most respondents were female (n = 281, 74.5%) and aged between 21-30 years old (n = 172, 45.1%). Most respondents were also pet owners (n = 351, 92.1%), with the majority having cats (n = 306, 87.2%). Results showed that 97.4% agreed that pets should be vaccinated, and 96.9% of respondents were aware of the importance of neutering, despite 79.5% (n = 303) being concerned about pain after neutering. Furthermore, although 74% (n = 282) of respondents were aware of recommended antiparasitic regimens, adhering to these practices was inconsistent. Age (p = 0.045) and education level (p = 0.006) revealed significant influence towards knowledge on preventive healthcare, meanwhile gender (p = 0.010) showed significance regarding the perception on neutering and preventive healthcare. Selangor residents showed a moderate level of knowledge regarding pet preventive healthcare. Given that most respondents rely on veterinarians as their primary information source, future educational campaigns led by veterinary professionals are essential to improving animal health and welfare in Malaysia.
Artocarpus odoratissimus, an indigenous tropical fruit native to Borneo, is highly valued by local communities for its captivating aroma and promising market potential. However, its commercialisation is hindered by limited knowledge of its phenology and inefficient harvesting practices, both of which significantly affect its shelf life. This study aims to elucidate the phenological growth stages and establish maturity indices forA. odoratissimus to determine the optimal harvest maturity. The study adopts the extended BBCH scale, employing a three-digit numerical system to define the phenological stages ofA. odoratissimus, encompassing four principal growth stages: from stage 5 (reproductive part development) to stage 8 (fruit maturation). Fruit maturation progresses through three distinct phases: (i) a 40-day lag phase after anthesis (AA), (ii) a 40-day logarithmic growth phase, and (iii) a declining growth phase lasting 15 to 20 days. Detailed phenological observations indicated that optimal harvesting occurs at similar to day 90 AA, when the fruits can be effectively stored, whereas harvesting at day 95 yields fruits suitable for direct consumption. These findings underscore the utility of the BBCH scale as a valuable tool for crop management, particularly for farmers. By providing a clear framework for understanding growth stages, it enables precise harvest timing, reduces fruit wastage, enhances fruit quality, and improves the marketability of A. odoratissimus produce.
The cabbage white butterfly (Pieris rapae L.) is a major pest of cruciferous crops, causing significant yield losses through larval feeding. Although synthetic pyrethroids such as deltamethrin are widely used for control, their efficacy may be compromised by larval behavioural responses that reduce lethal exposure. This study quantified the behavioural and toxic effects of deltamethrin on P. rapae larvae using a standardised one-way no-choice laboratory bioassay. The experiment was performed in a completely randomised design with three replications for each treatment under controlled conditions (20-23 degrees C; 30-60% relative humidity). Cabbage leaves were subjected to three coverage levels: water-treated control, 50% insecticide coverage, and 100% insecticide coverage at the recommended field rate (0.65 mL/L). Late-instar larvae were exposed to treated leaves. Larval survival, movement, and leaf area damage were recorded at multiple time points up to 72 hours. Complete insecticide coverage significantly reduced larval survival, locomotion, and feeding damage compared with partial coverage and controls, resulting in near-complete mortality by 72 hours. Partial coverage produced moderate but highly variable suppression, indicating inconsistent exposure. Early reductions in larval movement and feeding suggest avoidance of treated surfaces, while progressive declines over time indicate cumulative neurotoxic effects. These findings demonstrate that uniformity in insecticide coverage strongly influences both behavioural responses and control efficacy. Hence, optimising spray coverage is critical for effective P. rapae management and for reducing the risk of resistance development associated with sublethal exposure.
Erythrina variegata L. (dedap), from the Fabaceae family, has been widely used as an antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant and wound healing agent. There is a lack of literature data regarding the optimisation of extraction parameters from this plant on antioxidant activities, particularly involving Ultrasound-assisted Extraction (UAE). Therefore, this study aims to determine the optimum extraction parameter for the UAE technique from E. variegata leaves extracts on in-vitro antioxidant activities by applying a multi-level factorial design. The solvent (methanol) concentration (X1) and extraction time (X2) were the independent variables, while the dependent variables are antioxidant assays: DPPH radical scavenging activity (Y1), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) (Y2) and total phenolic content (TPC) (Y3). The results showed that the optimised extraction condition was at 100% solvent concentration and 60 minutes of extraction time, which demonstrated 0.301 +/- 0.013 mg/mL, 54.624 +/- 0.143 mg FeSO4/g and 29.433 +/- 0.062 mg GAE/g of DPPH activity, FRAP assay and TPC values, respectively. However, the highest extraction yield of 18.56% was obtained when extracted at only 25% solvent concentration and 60 minutes. This research has provided basic scientific evidence that optimum UAE conditions for E. variegata are crucial to maximising antioxidant activity.
Rice productivity on marginal land is significantly affected by salinity stress. However, biological approaches to improve rice growth tolerance remain insufficiently explored. This study aimed to evaluate the potential use of various actinomycete strains (SD 008, SD 021, SD 027), microalgae (Chlorella sp.), and their consortia to improve rice seedling growth and the physiological responses under different salinity levels (0, 50, and 100 mM NaCl). Rice seedling growth was assessed using several parameters, including seedling height, root length, number of roots, number of leaves, and biomass. In addition, the physiological condition of the plants was analysed using stress indicators consisting of chlorophyll a and b contents, proline, and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation. The results showed that treatment with strain SD 027 and the actinomycetes-microalgae consortium had a significant effect on several growth parameters. This treatment was able to increase the germination index, maintain root development, and enhance chlorophyll content under moderate to high salinity conditions. Furthermore, the increase in proline content, coupled with a decreased MDA level, indicates an improvement in plant tolerance to oxidative stress. Our findings indicate that the combination of actinomycetes and microalgae provides a synergistic effect in enhancing rice seedling growth under salinity conditions. This approach has the potential to be developed as a more environmentally friendly strategy to support plant growth on degraded land. However, further field trials are required to evaluate its effectiveness before it can be implemented in broader agricultural practices.
Pteropodid bats are important pollinators for tropical fruits like durian (Durio zibethinus), which is very important for both the economy and culture of Southeast Asia. This study aimed to examine the ecological interactions and habitat relationships of pteropodid bats in durian orchards. From August 2021 to November 2022, mist-netting surveys were done at 13 orchards and documented 839 individuals from ten pteropodid species. Cynopterus brachyotis was the most common species seen. Floral observations showed that anthesis in D. zibethinus started at roughly 16:30 with the opening of flower buds, succeeded by anther dehiscence at 19:00, coinciding with the initiation of feeding activity in pteropodid bats. Pollen analysis verified floral visitation, revealing that 82% of pollen-positive captures were attributed to C. brachyotis. Bat captures peaked during the flowering period, especially from September to November. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Generalised Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs) were used to look at the habitat, and they showed that the size of the durian orchard (ha) was the sole important factor that affected the number of bats. Other variables, such as orchard age and the quantity of flowering trees, did not exhibit statistical significance. These results show how important durian orchard sites are for bat-mediated pollination services and propose that conservation should be a part of how orchards are managed.
Amorphophallus muelleri Blume, belonging to the Araceae family, has a high economic value due to the glucomannan content used in both food and non-food industries. Propagation of A. muelleri through seed is more efficient than through bulbs and corms because the seed offers higher multiplication andbulking rates. However, limited information on the seed composition and storage behaviour poses challenges for handling and storage. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the seed chemical composition, classify the storage behaviour, and assess the effect of storage temperature on viability. The results showed that the seed contained 51% starch as the primary reserve compound and 15.74% glucomannan. Rapid drying at 35 degrees C with 40% relative humidity (RH) was found lethal to the seed, while slow drying at 22 degrees C with 10% RH was harmless for viability. Seed preserved the viability (78-91 %) when the moisture content remained above 50%, but lost viability when the moisture content reduced slowly to 30.9%(MDN1), 21.3 %(MDN2), and 43.25%(PWTA), showing thatA. muelleri seed is recalcitrant. Moisture content of 60.2% (L1), 62.9% (L2), and 60.2% (L3) led to loss of seed viability with germination average of 5 % during the third month at refrigerator storage (5-7 degrees C, 40-50 % RH). In contrast, controlled temperature storage of 27-32 degrees C (>60% RH) maintained seed quality, including water content above 48% and germination above 80% during five months, and for three months.
Coffea liberica has encountered challenges related to infraspecific taxa, leading to confusion and difficulty in taxonomic identification. This study aims to determine the Liberica coffee variant in the Kalipuro Sub-district based on morphological traits, to clarify whether it is more closely related to Coffea liberica var. liberica or Coffea liberica var. dewevrei. A field study was conducted to identify reference morphological traits used as the basis for grouping Liberica coffee variants. Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the vegetative and reproductive phases were assessed and recorded. Coffea liberica exhibits four representative branch types: drooping with upward-curving tips, horizontal, declinate (drooping branch), and leaning upward. The study discovered that Liberica coffee in Kalipuro varies in leaf shape, colour, margins, apex, fruit colour, bean colour, and shape. However, some traits showed relatively low variability among accessions, and inconsistencies remained. Therefore, key characters i.e., leaf surface and shape index, number of flowers/inflorescences, fruit volume, bean shape, were used to determine the taxonomic position of Liberica coffee. The variety found in the Kalipuro more closely resembled C. liberica var. dewevrei than C. liberica var. liberica, based on a Jaccard similarity index of 0.6. Nevertheless, additional genetic research is required to clarify the taxonomic status of Liberica coffee in Kalipuro, as numerous shared characteristics lead to ambiguity among these varieties.
Zinc (Zn) and Boron (B) are micronutrients required by plants in small amounts but play an important role in plant growth. Zn and B contents are also essential nutrients for human health. There has been no research on the effects of Zn and B as biofortification on the Srikandi variety corn (non-hybrid). This study aimed to determine the effect of Zinc and Boron spraying on growth, productivity, seed quality, and Zn and B content in the Srikandi variety. This experiment consisted of four treatments of Zinc and Boron spraying on leaves, namely (1) Zinc 0% + Boron 0%; (2) Zinc 0.5% + Boron 0.5%; (3) Zinc 1% + Boron 1%; (4) Zinc 2% + Boron 1.5%. The results showed that Zn and B applications significantly affected the growth, seed quality, and nutritional content of the Srikandi variety corn. Application of Zn 1% + B 1% was the best treatment for increasing the number of leaves, stover weight, seed germination and vigour, growth homogeneity, and Zn and B content in corn.
Droughts are a significant cause of reduced rice yields in South Asia, particularly in rainfed areas, where they affect over 23 million hectares of cultivated land. The prediction is that 15 million hectares of flooded-irrigated rice crops in Asia will become drought-prone by the end of 2025. This present study used a Malaysian commercial established variety, the MR219, which possesses high yield potential but is drought sensitive, as a recurrent parent and was screened with four selected genotypes (IURON 6, IURON 18, MR219-4, and DULAR) as donor parents of drought tolerance. The objectives of the present study are to screen and identify the most potentially tolerant rice genotypes and identify link foreground markers that respond to drought among parental plants. The sensitivity of rice genotypes to drought stress was observed, where DULAR recorded the highest score of leaf rolling, which was grouped in the most sensitive genotypes, followed by MR219 as susceptible genotypes; meanwhile, MR219-4 and IURON6 were intermediate ranking, while IURON 18 was less sensitive (moderately resistant) genotypes according to leaf rolling score which was negatively correlated with stomatal conductance. It was found that out of 21 linked/functional markers that were screened for polymorphism, five (RM201, RM28148, RM511, RM3392, and RM520) showed polymorphism between the two parents. The RM511 functional marker linked to IURON18 was tested and polymorphic between the two parents. The rice variety IURON 18 was identified as a valuable source for creating drought-resistant rice through marker-assisted backcrossing.
