Journal Articles by CHOONFAH J BONG
Journal of Oil Palm Research, 2015
Currently, the most known devastating oil palm disease throughout South-east Asia is basal ... more Currently, the most known devastating oil palm disease throughout South-east Asia is basal stem rot (BSR) caused by Ganoderma boninense. However, there is insufficient information on G. zonatum which also has been associated with the BSR, and upper stem rot (USR). Thus, this study reports pathological symptoms and degree of aggressiveness amongst G. zonatum and G. boninense of USR and BSR on oil palm seedlings. All the Ganoderma isolates tested showed positive signs of infection on the seedlings at 12 and up to 24 weeks after inoculation. However, the symptoms of infection on the seedlings were indistinguishable amongst the Ganoderma species tested. In fact, they showed significantly different degree of aggressiveness in terms of area under disease progress curve (AUDPC), epidemic rate, severity of foliar symptoms (SFS), disease severity index (DSI), stem bole necrosis and primary roots necrosis. The present findings suggested that G. zonatum of USR was the most aggressive, followed by G. zonatum and G. boninense of BSR, and G. boninense of USR was the least aggressive. Hence, a new mechanism of control strategies is urgently required to contain the disease from spreading especially for USR and also for G. zonatum in Malaysia.
Papers by CHOONFAH J BONG
Malaysian Journal of Science, 2010
A study was conducted to assess the biological activity of Annona muricata hexane, methanol and c... more A study was conducted to assess the biological activity of Annona muricata hexane, methanol and chloroform seed extracts. Both the hexane and methanol extracts showed moderate larvicidal activity against the Aedes aegypti larvae while the chloroform extract exhibited strong larvicidal property with an LC50 value of 0.9005µg/ml and an LC90 value of 6.1776µg/ml. Fraction 44b and 45b of the chloroform extracts were very toxic towards mosquito larvae with LC50 values of 0.7460 and 1.0402µg/ml, respectively. Identification of bioactive compounds revealed the presence of solamin, an acetogenin. From the cytotoxic assay against brine shrimp (Artemia salina), the methanol extract showed high toxicity with an LC50 value of 11.8823µg/ml. The results suggest potential application of the extracts in insecticidal formulations.
Entomology, Ornithology & Herpetology: Current Research, 2014
Coptotermes curvignathus (C. curvignathus) are subterranean termites that feed on living-tree as ... more Coptotermes curvignathus (C. curvignathus) are subterranean termites that feed on living-tree as their sole diet, which consist mainly of cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin, plant allele chemical and other environmental residues such as insecticide. The xenobiotic compounds, plant allele chemical and insecticide are hazardous to termites health and need to be transported out of their body via xenobiotic and detoxification metabolism. This paper highlighted the potential enzymes that play vital role in the xenobiotic and detoxification metabolism. Transcriptomic data were generated from 200 termite's digestive system using Illumina HiSeq 2000. Raw data was trimmed and assembled by SOLEXAQA and Bowtie before loaded into Gene Ontology based data mining software, Blast2GO (B2G). The result showed that, C. curvignathus contain enzymes that involved in all three biotransformation phases of xenobiotic and detoxification metabolism, which included cytochrome P450s monooxygenases, glutathione S-transferase, carboxylesterase, UDPglucuronyltransferases and N-acetyltransferase. The result of this study is the first insight into Cc xenobiotic pathway.
Universiti Putra Malaysia Press eBooks, 2013
Journal of Entomology, Feb 15, 2012
Oil palm is an important oil producing crop. The sustainability of oil palms in Southeast Asia re... more Oil palm is an important oil producing crop. The sustainability of oil palms in Southeast Asia region, including Malaysia, is threatened by a basidiomycete fungus, Ganoderma species, which causes upper stem rot (USR) and basal stem rot (BSR). There was limited information on USR compared to BSR, and better understanding is needed to distinguish between USR and BSR. Information on site specific occurrence and distribution of the disease are important for better experiment planning and effective site specific management. Hence, two study plots, consisted of 15 and 16 hectares, were established in Betong (18-year-old palms) and Miri (11-year-old palms) plantation, respectively, which were located in Sarawak, Malaysia. Each palm was examined for presence of the stem rot disease based on appearance of external symptoms. The number and location of infected palms within each plot were recorded. Geographical Information System (GIS) and geostatistical tools were used to graphically present ...
International Journal of Agriculture and Biology
The objectives of this study were to investigate the diversity of Ganoderma species isolated from... more The objectives of this study were to investigate the diversity of Ganoderma species isolated from upper stem rot (USR) and basal stem rot (BSR) infected palms in term of their genetic and morphological characteristics. A total of 46 samples of Ganoderma species were collected randomly from two oil palm plantations, namely Betong and Miri in Sarawak, Malaysia. The samples were identified using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (multiplex PCR) to reveal three pathogenic Ganoderma species (G. zonatum, G. boninense and G. miniatocinctum). Ganoderma zonatum was the dominant species (71.7%), followed by G. boninense (26.1%) and G. miniatocinctum (2.2%). This suggests that G. zonatum may have played a more vital role in the epidemiology of the disease than previously believed. The multiplex PCR was a precise identification technique compared to morphological based identification. Ganoderma species in the oil palm plantation was genetically heterogeneous based on somatic compatibility test which is suggestive of disease spread via spore dispersal that generates new genetically distinct individuals. There were also significant variations within and between Ganoderma species in terms of their cultural morphology and basidiospore characteristics. Cluster analysis of the cultural morphology and scattered plot of basidiospore features also indicated that there was no distinct relationship within and between species, disease types or geographical origins of Ganoderma species.
Journal of Economic Entomology, 1983
Field trials were conducted in the summer of 1981 to determine the effectiveness of the DD 136 st... more Field trials were conducted in the summer of 1981 to determine the effectiveness of the DD 136 strain of Neoaplectana carpocapsae Weiser in controlling, corn earworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie) larvae. The corn ears were artificially infested with H. zea larvae and subsequently sprayed with nematodes at 0, 4 × 103 and 4 × 104 nematodes/ml suspension. Eighty-eight percent control was obtained with 4 × 104 nematodes/ml in early June but less, 80% and 58% respectively, was observed in late June and early July. Thus, N. carpocapsae , survives better and is more effective in the early part of the season. All ears in the treated and control plots received some damage, but damage in all the treated plots was significantly lower than in the control.
American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences, 2008
Biology and growth performance of Red Stripe Weevil, Rhynchophorus schach Oliv. were studied usin... more Biology and growth performance of Red Stripe Weevil, Rhynchophorus schach Oliv. were studied using meridic diets. The diets consisted of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) bagasse, copra (Cocos nucifera L.) cake and sago (Metroxylon sagus Rottb.) flour as main ingredients. Larvae or locally known as sagoworm, in copra cake diet exhibited the fastest growth with maximum weight gain of 1609 mg in week 5, while those of sugarcane bagasse diet had slowest growth with peak weight gain of 1024 mg in week 9. Sago flour diet gave the longest larval period at 96.3 days with the highest final larval weight of 8132.1 mg. The R. schach larvae had 8 instars. Head capsule width within each instar was constant irrespective of diets given. Instar period was dependent on diets given and varied from 6.3-12 days. Pupal duration ranged from 38.5-41 days. Adult emergence was 90%. Sago flour diet had the heaviest pupae and adults. Male weevils emerged earlier than the females, but females lived 10-13 days longer. Fecundity was low at 67 eggs per female but the hatchability was 92%. Life cycle for the insect ranged from 130.2-138.8 days, with a lifespan of 178.2-183.8 days. Larvae raised on sago flour diet had the highest fat content at 57.8% but with the lowest fiber at 4.7%. Larvae were generally rich in Mg, Ca, Zn and Fe, but low in Cu. This study showed that sago flour constituted the most suitable diet. The results also suggested that growth and development of the weevil could be further improved by incorporating copra cake and sugarcane bagasse into the sago flour diet. Larvae could be readily mass produced as a source of nutritious food, besides its potential use as a laboratory test organism.
Journal of oil palm research
Currently, the most known devastating oil palm disease throughout Southeast Asia is basal stem ro... more Currently, the most known devastating oil palm disease throughout Southeast Asia is basal stem rot (BSR) caused by Ganoderma boninense. However, there is insufficient information on G. zonatum which also has been associated with the BSR, and upper stem rot (USR). Thus, this study reports pathological symptoms and degree of aggressiveness amongst G. zonatum and G. boninense of USR and BSR on oil palm seedlings. All the Ganoderma isolates tested showed positive signs of infection on the seedlings at 12 and up to 24 weeks after inoculation. However, the symptoms of infection on the seedlings were indistinguishable amongst the Ganoderma species tested. In fact, they showed significantly different degree of aggressiveness in terms of area under disease progress curve (AUDPC), epidemic rate, severity of foliar symptoms (SFS), disease severity index (DSI), stem bole necrosis and primary roots necrosis. The present findings suggested that G. zonatum of USR was the most aggressive, followed by G. zonatum and G. boninense of BSR, and G. boninense of USR was the least aggressive. Hence, a new mechanism of control strategies is urgently required to contain the disease from spreading especially for USR and also for G. zonatum in Malaysia.
Oil palm is widely cultivated in Indonesia and Malaysia. However, the sustainability of oil palm ... more Oil palm is widely cultivated in Indonesia and Malaysia. However, the sustainability of oil palm is threaten by Ganoderma species which cause stem rot disease. The outbreak of a disease or pathogen could be monitored using sophisticated tools, such as Geographical Information System (GIS). Thus, the objective of this study is to demonstrate the use of GIS in small scale to generate a spatial distribution map of Ganoderma species in an oil palm plantation. The study was conducted in a 16 hectare (200 x 800 m) experimental plot of oil palm plantation. Each palm within the plot were located based on the field planting row and column, and they were observed and coded either 0 for absence of Ganoderma or 1 for presence of Ganoderma. The data were collected from 2011 to 2012 at six months intervals. The data were then analyzed (interpolated) based on ordinary kriging fitted to spherical model of semivariogram using ArcMap of ArcGIS 10 to generate a spatial pattern map of Ganoderma species. The occurrence of Ganoderma in the study plot reached up to 9.80% during the study period. Graphical maps generated demonstrate spatial distribution pattern of Ganoderma, and they showed ranges of intensity (0-100%). Higher intensity indicates that there were higher occurrence of Ganoderma in a particular area, and vice versa. Moreover, there were changes in the spatial pattern throughout the year which indicate rapid spread of Ganoderma species. The information provided by the GIS map could be useful in various aspects.
Pellitorine (1), which was isolated from the roots of Piper nigrum , showed strong cytotoxic acti... more Pellitorine (1), which was isolated from the roots of Piper nigrum , showed strong cytotoxic activities against HL60 and MCT-7 cell lines. Microbial transformation of piperine (2) gave a new compound 5-[3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenyl]-pent-2-ene piperidine (3). Two other alkaloids were also found from Piper nigrum. They are (E)-1-[3',4'-(methylenedioxy)cinnamoyl]piperidine (4) and 2,4-tetradecadienoic acid isobutyl amide (5). These compounds were isolated using chromatographic methods and their structures were elucidated using MS, IR and NMR techniques.
pertanika journal of science and technology, 2009
An investigation, on the roots of Piper nigrum and the aerial parts of Piper betle, has yielded s... more An investigation, on the roots of Piper nigrum and the aerial parts of Piper betle, has yielded several alkaloids. The dried root sample of Piper nigrum was extracted using various solvents in increasing polarity. The dried aerial part of Piper betle was extracted using the Soxhlet extraction method. The alkaloids isolated were pellitorine(1), (E)-1-[3',4'- (Methylenedioxy)cinnamoyl]piperidine(2), piperine(3), piperolactam D(4), cepharadione A(5), and 2,4-tetradecadienoic acid isobutyl amide(6). These compounds were isolated using chromatographic methods, while the elucidation of the structures was carried out using MS, IR and NMR techniques. The extracts of Piper nigrum and Piper betle were also tested for cytotoxicity activities. This is the first report on (E)-1-[3',4'-(Methylenedioxy)cinnamoyl] piperidine(2) from Piper nigrum as a natural product.
The stem bark of Artocarpus kemando furnished 24-methylenecycloartenyl acetate (fatty acyl ester)... more The stem bark of Artocarpus kemando furnished 24-methylenecycloartenyl acetate (fatty acyl ester) (1) together with cycloartobiloxanthone (2). Compound 1 was obtained for the first time from this species. Structures of both compounds were determined using NMR and MS analysis. A cytotoxic study showed that the crude extract of the stem bark of Artocarpus kemando was significantly active against the HL-60 (human promyelocytic leukemia cell) and IMR-32 (human neuroblastoma cell) cell lines. This is the first report on the cyctotoxic activity of Artocarpus kemando. Dynamic Metadata(s).
In the forest or in an oil palm station, we sometimes see soil mounds that could be up to 1 meter... more In the forest or in an oil palm station, we sometimes see soil mounds that could be up to 1 meter tall. These are termite mounds. The common termite species that is a mound builder is the Macrotermes gilvus Hagen. The mound is actually a sort of 'house' that contains numerous living 'quarters' or lamellae which are interconnected by an intricate network of tunnels for instant and efficient communication and accessibility, or escape.
An improved mechanized pepper thresher was designed, at the Universiti Pertanian Malaysia Cawanga... more An improved mechanized pepper thresher was designed, at the Universiti Pertanian Malaysia Cawangan Sarawak, to carry out three main functions: to detach berries from the spikes, to separate detached berries from the empty spikes or stalks, and to separate large berries ( 5mm diameter) for white pepper production. Three stages of tests: threshing efficiency, sieving effectiveness, and threshing and sieving combination tests were conducted to obtain the best drum rotating and sieve vibration speeds. The best combination speed was 800 and 320 rpm for drum and sieve respectively. At these rpm, the thresher was capable of threshing 250 kg/hour green berries giving 99.9% threshing efficiency with less than 10% damaged berries, and effective sieving.
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Journal Articles by CHOONFAH J BONG
Papers by CHOONFAH J BONG