Green amaranth (Amaranthus viridis L.) is one of the most popular leafy vegetables cultivated in Malaysia. Photo-selective netting is a revolutionary agricultural-technical idea, allowing traditional nets to be improved to a sophisticated level, which can impact microclimate and solar radiation as well as protect crops from pests. This study aims to investigate the growth performance of green amaranth under different three different treatments of photo-selective nets including black, and yellow shade nets and control. The assessed physiological, pre-harvest and post-harvest parameters were air temperature and relative humidity, measurement of absorption of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), plant height, number of leaves, and dry weight. This study found that the yellow shade net showed the best performance in plant growth with the average difference in plant height (4.11 cm), average leaves number (7 leaves) and average dry weight (18.58 mg) were the highest compared to black shade net and control (without shading). In conclusion, photo-selective yellow shade net was able to enhance the growth development of green amaranth and could be applied in the large scale production to boost the growth and yield of leafy vegetables.
Black spot disease is a significant worldwide disease on the rose plant. Due to this infection, the leaves become yellow and eventually fall off. The occurrence of this disease has become a major problem, especially in landscape purpose. Therefore, this research was conducted to isolate fungal species from black spot disease in rose and identify using morphological characteristics. Then, all the isolates were tested for pathogenicity to confirm Koch’s postulates. In this study, four fungal isolates have been successfully isolated from black spot disease in rose namely Rhizoctonia sp. (one isolate), Colletotrichum sp. (two isolates) and Penicillium sp. (one isolate). Based on pathogenicity test result using potato dextrose agar (PDA) plug technique, fungus UMTT27R (Penicillium sp.) showed highly pathogenic on rose’s leaves with disease severity (DS) = 88.89% followed by UMTT13R (Colletotrichum sp.) with DS=72.22%, UMTT21R (Colletotrichum sp.) with DS=66.67% and UMTT4R (Rhizoctonia sp.) with DS=61.11%. Correct identification of fungal pathogens is very important to strategize a proper method to control the black spot disease in rose cultivation.
Many chilli producers in Malaysia are facing a huge problem of anthracnose disease that infect the chilli fruits either at pre- or post-harvest stage. Due to this infection, the chilli fruits become rotten and could be colonized by grey conidial masses which is unfit for human consumption and cannot be sold. This study was aimed to isolate the fungal species associated with anthracnose symptoms collected from several mini-markets near Gong Badak, Terengganu. Pathogenicity test was conducted for all these isolates to evaluate their pathogenic level. Based on the results, five fungal isolates were successfully isolated and morphologically identified as Colletotrichum spp. All these isolates were labelled as UMTT46C, UMTT48C, UMTT50C, UMTT52C and UMTT54C. From these, fungal isolate (UMTT54C) showed the highest pathogenic level with disease severity (DS), 68.9%. Other Colletotrichum spp. recorded percentage of DS ranged from 53.3% to 60%. Identification of fungal isolates and their pathogenic level from the infected chilli is very important to assist in control strategy which can further provide a good protection measure for many chilli producers.
Tomatoes have a short shelf life thus they pose a big challenge for growers to maintain the quality of tomatoes to increase customer acceptance. In this study, fungi associated with tomato disease symptoms were isolated and the potential of kaffir lime aqueous extract was evaluated in maintaining post-harvest quality of tomatoes. For this purpose, healthy tomatoes were dipped in 10% aqueous kaffir lime extract before evaluating the post-harvest parameters namely weight loss and firmness. A fungus namely Rhizophus stolonifer was isolated from the symptomatic tomatoes. Subsequently, it was confirmed to be pathogenic on healthy tomato fruits with 100% disease severity. Application of aqueous kaffir lime extract showed that tomato fruits dipped in 10% aqueous kaffir lime extract recorded higher weight loss and higher firmness as compared to untreated tomato fruits. The results showed that treatment with this concentration of plant extract did not help to reduce the weight loss, but it retained the firmness of the tomato fruits stored at room temperature at 27+2oC. Higher transpiration process would lead to shrinkage, weight loss, changes in texture and appearance of the fruits. Therefore, this study suggested an increased concentration of aqueous kaffir lime extract as a treatment agent in order to have a better effect in maintaining the quality of tomato fruits.
Soft fleshed tomatoes are easily damaged due to mechanical injuries. Later, the wounded tissue will be exposed to fungal infection thus fasten the deterioration rate and reduce the quality of tomato. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential aqueous ginger extract to inhibit fungal pathogen that causes tomato wilt and its potential in delaying the weight loss of tomato fruits. For this purpose, in vitro antifungal assay using poison plate technique was used to observe the inhibition of fungal pathogen. Then, healthy tomato fruits were dipped in aqueous ginger extract before evaluated for the post-harvest quality such as weight loss and firmness. The results of this study show that 10% aqueous ginger extract can inhibit the fungal pathogen (Fusarium oxysporum) that causes tomato wilt with 13.57% inhibition. Through in vivo antifungal assay, tomato fruits dipped in this plant extract showed lower weight loss (14.44%) and higher firmness (1.7 N) as compared to untreated fruit, but the data were not significantly different. Therefore, manipulation of this extract was suggested to increase its antifungal properties or as eco-friendly coating to lengthen the shelf life of agricultural produces.