Pertanika Vol. 10 No. 3 December 1987
PERT-0432-1987
Occurrence of the Root-knot Nematode Meloidogyne Incognita on Guava in Malaysia
A.R. Razak and T.K. Lim
Keywords: Root knot nematode; Meloidogyne incognita; guava decline; Psidium guajava
ABSTRACT
Incidence oj decline in growth of guava caused by the nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, in
several states in Malaysia is reported for the first time. The nematode infested plant manifested a
drastic reduction in plant growth, small leaves, absence of fine roots, a poorly developed root
system, and a decline in yield quality and quantity. Severely infested roots are distorted by small
and large multiple galls. Factors influencing the spread and survival oj the nematode are also
discussed.
PERT-0433-1987
Propagation and Maintenance of VAM Cultures
H. Azizah Chulan
.
Keywords: VAM species; Seteria grass, Allium ascalonicum
ABSTRACT
This paper reports the establishment of eight vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungal
species under Malaysian conditions. VAM fungi can be propagated and maintained on Setaria as
the host plant.
PERT-0434-1987
The Physico-chemical Changes in Ciku (Achras sapota L.) of Jantung Variety
Mohamad Nordin Bin Abdul Karim, Sapii Ahmad Tarmizi and Abdullah Abu Bakar
Keywords: Ciku; sapota; physico-chemical changes; respiration; maturity.
ABSTRACT
Ciku of jantung variety attains maturity after six months from fruit set. The weight, length, width
and volume of the fruit increase until harvest but slows between six to seven months. The slow
rate of growth coincides with the colour changes of the pulp and pip. The firmness of the fruit
decreases towards maturity. Moisture and tannin content reach maximum level between the fifth
and the six month. At the same time, total titratable acidity starts to decrease gradually. Total
soluble solid, total sugar and reducing sugar increase throughout fruit development, being
particularly rapid between the seventh and eighth month. Starch- content decreases as growth
increases. Respiratory pattern of ciku is similar to that of a climat eric fruit. Fruit harvested after
six months have a low rate of respiration. The lengths of width of the fruit are greatly influenced
by age and can be used as an index of maturity.
PERT-0435-1987
The Microfabric Changes in a Weathering Profile over Quartz-Mica Schist in Peninsular Malaysia
Siti Zauyah
Keywords: Saprolite; scanning electron microscope; halloysite; weathering.
ABSTRACT
A scanning electron microscope has been used to observe the microfabric changes that are
brought about by weathering in a quartz-mica schist. A large morphological variety is revealed
from rock to soil Alteration of the biotites and feldspars causes the tightly packed rock fabric to
open up into a porous fabric. The fabrics of the saprolite and pedoplasmation zone consist of
aggregates of tubular halloysite, euhedral gibbsite and goethite discoids. The resultant soil
material, however, is dominated by platy kaolinite showing face-to-face packing.
PERT-0436-1987
The Bacterial Flora of the Trachea, Liver, Spleen and Heart Blood of Chicken
M. Shah Majid and H. Jah
Keywords: Chicken organs; bacterial flora.
ABSTRACT
A total of 184 tracheas, 147 livers, 150 spleens and 148 hearts from apparently healthy and dead
chickens were sampled and the bacterial flora was determined. The bacteria most commonly
cultured from these four organs of healthy birds were Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp.,
and Escherichia coli. Escherichia coli, Aeromonas spp., Staphylococcus spp., Proteus spp., and
Citrobacter spp., were the common isolates from dead chickens. Pasteurella haemolytica was
present in small numbers in the trachea, liver and spleen of healthy chickens and liver, spleen
and heart of dead chickens.
PERT-0437-1987
Comparison of the Frying Performance of Market Samples of Palm Olein, Corn Oil and Soya Oil
in Malaysia
M.A. Augustin, K.H. Lee and K.T. Yau
Keywords: Frying performance; palm olein; corn oil; soya oil.
ABSTRACT
The frying performance of market samples of palm olein, corn and soya oils sold in Malaysia were
compared. The oils were used for intermittent frying of potato slices at half hour intervals for a
period of5hr per day for four consecutive days. Analyses of oils showed that during drying (i) the
oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids, as shown by changes in iodine value and the fatty acid
composition, was less in palm olein than in corn and soya oils, (ii) polymer formation was least in
palm olein compared to corn and soya oils, (Hi) the rate of change in acid value was highest in
palm olein and (iv) that after 4 days of frying, corn oil had the lightest colour.
PERT-0438-1987
Food Energy from Palm Oil and its Fractionation Products, Palm Olein and Palm Stearin*
T.K.W. Ng, Y.H. Chong and H.T. Khor
Keywords: Palm oil; palm olein; palm stearin; food energy; calorific value; energy availability rat
assay.
ABSTRACT
The energy availability of palm oil, palm olein and palm stearin was determined by growth
responses of young rats under conditions of energy restriction. The energy values are found to be
8.92 kilocalories per gram (kcal/g) for refined, bleached and deodorised (RBD) palm oil,
9,06kcal/gfor RBD palm olein and 8.55kcal/gfor RBD palm stearin, based on the energy
availability of 8.93kcal/g established for cottonseed oil. These findings indicate that for practical
purposes, the traditional use of 9.0kcal/g as the energy availability of edible fats is appropriate for
RBD palm oil and RBD palm olein.
PERT-0439-1987
Conductance and Cryoscopic Measurements in Aqueous L-Ascorbic Acid Solutions
C.E. Seng, Mohd. Shamim and Mohd. Baki
Keywords: Conductance; cryoscopic; L-ascorbic acid; aqueous solution.
ABSTRACT
Molar conductances at 25°C and depression oj freezing point in the concentration range of 0.01 0.20 M aqueous L-ascorbic acid solutions have been measured. The limiting molar conductance
and the first dissociation constant oj the acid have been found to be 380.4 S cm 2mol -1and 6.03 x
10 smoldm respectively.
PERT-0440-1987
Synthesis of 2-acetyl-5-t-butyl-l,4-benzoquinone
Faujan Bin H. Ahmad
Keywords: Quinone synthesis; 2-acetyl-5-t-butyl-l,4-benzoquinone.
ABSTRACT
2-Acetyl-5-t-butyl-l,4-benzoquinone (1), was synthesized since addition oj substituted buta-V, 3dienes to it should give the adduct (2); a compound required for further study of the acetyl shift
mechanism, suggested by Ahmad, et al. (1981). A series of reactions for the synthesis of the
uinone (l)from t-butylhydroquinone (3) is discussed.
PERT-0441-1987
The Sorption Characteristics of Lead and Copper by the Moss, Calymperes delessertii Besch
K.S. Low and C.K. Lee
Key words: Moss; Calymperes delesertii Besch; sorption characteristics; lead; copper.
ABSTRACT
It was found that the moss, Calymperes delessertii Besch could sorb more than 99% of lead and
copper ions in a 40QJUM solution in less than 5 minutes. Its maximum sorption capacity for lead
and copper is 241.3 and 426.5fxmol g l respectively. pH> surfactants, sodium ions, chloride and
sulphate ions do not have any apparent effect on the sorption of these metals. In the presence of
EDTA, the metals are bound more strongly to the complexing reagent than to the moss. The
order of retention of mixed heavy metals in solution is found to be lead, copper > cadmium, nickel
> zinc. Studies on moss columns indicate that lead and copper are effectively removed from
solutions and that the heavy metals are sorbed on the upper layer of the moss column. Eluants
contained no detectable metals ions.
PERT-0442-1987
The Removal of Cationic Dyes by a Natural Moss: I. Adsorption Studies
C.K. Lee and K.S. Low
Keywords: Adsorption; moss; contact time; diffusion; rate.
ABSTRACT
The adsorption of two basic dyes, methylene blue and Astrazone red violet 3R on the moss,
Calymperes delessertii Besch, was studied. The parameters studied included contact time,
particle size and dose of absorbent, initial concentration and pH of dye solution and temperature.
The results indicate that the moss is an efficient adsorbent and the rate determining factor is
probably a combination of surface adsorption and diffusion within the moss.
PERT-0443-1987
The Removal of Cationic Dyes by a Natural Moss: II Equilibrium and Column Studies
C.K. Lee and K.S. Low
Keywords: Adsorption; moss isotherm; contact time; 50% breakthrough; bed-depth service time.
ABSTRACT
The adsorption of a series of Astrazone cationic dyes and methylene blue on the moss,
Calymperes delessertii Besch, was studied. The results indicate that Langmuir isotherm can be
successfully applied, and adsorption of these dyes on the moss is a feasible process. A series of
fixed bed experiments was undertaken and the results were compared with the bed depth service
time model for adsorption columns.
PERT-0444-1987
Mixed Adsorbent for Colour Removal from Aqueous Solution
Sunil Kumar Khare, Vishwanath Singh and Ram Mohan Sri Vastava
Keywords: Mixed adsorbent; fly ash-wollastonite; victoria blue; diffusion; mass-transfer;
Langmuir isotherm; pH desorption.
ABSTRACT
A homogenous mixture of fly ash and wollastonite (1:1) has been used as mixed adsorbent to
study the removal of victoria blue (CI Basic blue — 26, 44045) from its aqueous solution. The
parameters studied were initial dye concentration, temperature and pH of the solution. The
kinetics of adsorption indicates the process to be diffusion controlled. The equilibrium data at
different temperatures fit well into the Langmuir isotherm. Maximum adsorption and desorption of
victoria blue from the interface of fly ash-wollastonite was noted at pH 8.5 and pH 3.0 respectively
PERT-0445-1987
An Empirical Study of the Treasury Bill Market in Malaysia: Part 1 — Using Treasury Bills as a
Predictor of Inflation
Annuar Md. Nasir, Shamsher Mohamad and Zainal Abidin Mohamed
Keywords: Treasury bill; efficient market; interest rates; expected inflation; nominal return; real
return.
ABSTRACT
The main objective of this study is to test Fama s theory of short term interest rates as predictors
of inflation. The study found that, using 3 months treasury bill discount rates to approximate
monthly nominal return, the Malaysian 91-days treasury bill market was not efficient. We found
that there is no basis to use short term interest as proxy for expected inflation.
PERT-0446-1987
Real versus Nominal Adjustment Mechanism in the Malaysian Demand for Money Function
Roslan A. Ghaffar and Muzafar S. Habibullah
Keywords: Money demand; stock adjustment; specification test; stability; ex-post forecast.
.
ABSTRACT
This article investigates the issue of real versus nominal adjustment mechanism in the Malaysian
demand for money function. The test for stability and ex-post forecasting ability of the model are
also conducted. The results suggest that for Ml, both specifications are the 'true' model, and for
M2 and M3, the nominal specification is the 'true' model. The stability test indicates that only the
real specification for M2 and M3 are stable, and the results of the ex-post forecast suggest that
the nominal specification has a better forecasting ability compared to the real specification of the
Malaysian money demand function.
PERT-0447-1987
Satu Pengubahsuaian bagi Kaedah Hansen untuk Menghitung dan Membatasi Pensifar Nyata
Fungsi-fungsi dengan Satu Pembolehubah
(A Modification of Hansen's Method for Computing and Bounding Real Zeros of Functions with
One Variable)
ISMAIL BIN MOHD
.
Keywords: Teorem taylor; kaedah newton; matematik selang.
ABSTRACT
Some of the ideas which have been used in an algorithm for computing and bounding real roots
off: R1 -> R1 (MBPN) in a given interval are described.
PERT-0448-1987
Rantau Tarikan bagi Sistem Kawalan
Malik Hj. Abu Hassan
Key words: Liapunov; kestabilan; rantau tarikan; Zubov.
ABSTRACT
A control system with a single nonlinearity which satisfies the sector condition in the interval (m},
mj and leaves the interval at o < m; < 0 and o > m 2> 0 is studied. The regions of attraction for
three types of nonlinearity were obtained and it was found that the numerical method gives a
good approimation of the true stability boundaries
PERT-0449-1987
COMMUNICATION I
An Inter-industry Analysis of the West Malaysian Economy
Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman
ABSTRACT
This paper analyses the structural interrelationship of the West Malaysian economy based on the
1982 inter-industry table. Four types of direct interdependence are examined, namely, industrial
share of final demand and primary input components, input requirement and intermediate
transactions of industries. The study indicates that a substantial proportion of private consumption
in the economy comprises expenditure on food and services. The fixed capital formation structure
is dominated by the construction and motor vehicle industries while the export mix is dominated
by the petroleum products, rubber processing and oils and fats industries. In general, the nonagrobased manufacturing industries are the major purchasers of imported inputs whereas the
agricultural and service industries are the major users of primary inputs. The analysis of structure
of intermediate transactions indicates that there are only a few industries that possess extensive
technological linkages with the rest of the economy. The majority of high-linkage industries
comprise those that are involved in the processing of imported inputs for domestic or export
markets such as chemical fertilizers, plastic products and other metal products.
PERT-0450-1987
COMMUNICATION II
Satu Kaedah Baru Menentukan Nilai Ambang Tindakan Serangga Perosak Tanaman Padi
.
ABSTRACT
Data on mean population density (x̅) and proportion of infestation (P(I)) per hill for the
whitebacked planthopper (Sogatella furcifera), brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens), green
leafhoppers (TsJephotettix spp.), moths of the stemborers (Chilo spp.), Malayan black rice bug
(Scotinophara coarctata) and rice bugs flLeptocorisa spp.) were obtained during one growing
season at a paddy estate, Bukit Cawi, Seberang Perak. Each species indicated best fit (r 2 = 0.96)
to a negative binomial model when P(I) values from 4 binomial models were regressed against
P(I) values from the data. This model is used to form a graph of P(I) versusH. Value of x̅ where
saturation commences is suggested as the action threshold value for management of the
particular pest species.
PERT-0451-1987
COMMUNICATION III
Pembetulan pada makalah Satu Kajian Teori Tentang Penyejukan Air di dalam Labu Sayong
Key words; Pekali pemindahan haba; perbezaan suhu.