Use of synthetic herbicides to control weeds poses serious threats to sustainable agricultural production around the globe. The phytotoxic effect of different plant water extracts (i.e., sorghum, sunflower and mulberry) against weeds has been previously studied; however, their combined effects at different rates are yet to be explored. In this study, mixtures of allelopathic water extracts of sorghum + sunflower and sorghum + sunflower + mulberry were sprayed each at 12, 15, 18 and 21 L ha-1 at 40 and 55 days after sowing in wheat to control wild oats (Avena fatua), little seed canary grass (Phalaris minor), lamb’s quarters (Chenopodium album) and swine cress (Coronopus didymus). A synthetic herbicide Affinity 50 WP (Carfentrazone-ethyl 0.75% + Isoproturon 50% applied at 1000 g a.i., ha-1) and a weedy check were kept as a control treatment. The increasing order of water extract dose 12-21 L ha-1 showed substantial reduction in total weed density and their dry biomass production of both narrow and broad-leaved weeds in all the treatment combinations. Mixture of sorghum + sunflower + mulberry water extracts each at 18 L ha-1 applied at 40+55 DAS resulted in an 87.14% decrease in total weed dry matter with a 19.5% increase in grain yield of wheat and higher net benefits of Rs. 100525 with 777.5% marginal rate of return. Nonetheless, application of sorghum + sunflower water extracts each at 12 L ha-1 at 40+55 DAS was more economical than the other treatments in terms of higher marginal rate of return of 799.82%. Based on this study, it can be suggested that the use of allelopathic plant water extracts in a mixture may act as a potential weed control strategy in wheat.

Kaempferia parviflora plants derived from in vitro culture were grown in the glasshouse. A comparison of the yield of total phenolics and total flavonoids under varying extraction conditions from rhizomes harvested from plants of different ages was undertaken. The results showed that phenolic and flavonoid contents in the rhizomes were highest 8 months after planting. Another study found that 2 g rhizomes extracted in 50 ml of water at 90˚C for 120 minutes gave the best yield of phenolics and flavonoids. Under these conditions, an average of 210 mg GAE/g dry weight of total phenolics and 81 µg QCE/g dry weight of total flavonoids were obtained.

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of agitation rate on the increase in fresh weight of MD2 pineapple protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) and shoots cultured in liquid medium. PLBs were cultured in 250 ml Erlenmeyer flasks (7 g per flask) containing MS medium and plant growth regulators (1.5 mg/L 6-Benzylaminopurine, BAP and 0.2 mg/L 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid, NAA). The orbital shaker was set at speeds of 50, 80, 100, 120, and 150 rpm. After 40 days, the cultures shaken at 80 rpm showed the highest fresh weight and the highest number of shoots at 76 g and 41 shoots, respectively. A comparative study of agitation found that 80 rpm was the best speed which enhanced both PLB and shoot formation. The findings in the present study would be helpful in setting up large-scale in vitro mass propagation of MD2 pineapple.

Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) is known as the 'Queen of tropical fruits' and comes from the tropical forests of Southeast Asia such as Malaysia. Mangosteen is used for fresh consumption or as a beauty and health supplement. However, difficulties during the harvesting process with limited effective harvesting machines have prevented large scale mangosteen production. This study was conducted to determine the strength of the harvesting force at each stage of the maturity indexes and the appropriate force required for the development of mangosteen harvesting machines. The study samples were classified based on six stages of the indices of mangosteen and mesta varieties. The fruit samples taken at MARDI Sintok, Kedah were subjected to harvesting force, weight, diameter and stalk size. The result shows that the highest yield strength was mangosteen at maturity index 1 with 51.81 N while the lowest was mesta at maturity index 5 with 13.45 N. The study also found that the optimum harvesting force to drop the mangosteen and mesta from a tree was 30.19 N. This study indicated that the higher maturity indexes the lower the harvesting force needed to harvest mangosteen and mesta.

Abundance of marginal soils is among the major constraint to achieve high yield for crop production due to unsuitable physical and chemical properties of the soils. Commonly, farmers would manage the marginal soil by adding soil amendment, compost and fertilizer which increase the cost of production. Alternatively, application of fertilizer together with plant growth regulator (PGR) during crop management can be practiced to utilize the marginal soil effectively. The aim of this experiment was to determine effects of phosphorus (P) fertilizer and PGR namely ethephon on growth performance of sweet corn grown in three marginal soils namely Rasau, Kuah and Dampar. The treatments were arranged as factorial randomized complete block design with four rates of P fertilizer and standard rate of ethephon replicated four times. The results indicated that the physical properties of the marginal soils vary which Rasau dan Kuah series have low content of silt (10.30% and 36.10%), respectively and clay (9.40% and 11.86%) while Dampar series has low sand content (21%). Consequently, Dampar series depicted highest soil moisture content (18.80%) compared to Rasau and Kuah with high content of silt and clay at 42.43% and 36.43%, respectively. At tasseling stage, where application of P fertilizer with combination of ethephon at 0 and 15 kg P 2 O 5 ha-1 there were significant difference between soil series on root length, total biomass wet and dry weight but exception for total biomass dry weight at 0 kg P 2 O 5 ha-1. Moreover, at 45 kg P 2 O 5 ha-1 there were significant difference among soil series on leaf number and total biomass dry weight whereas at highest P rate of 60 kg P 2 O 5 ha-1 only root length and root volume were affected. Most of the results were observed highest on Rasau soil series which contain highest sand particle instead of silt and clay compared to Kuah and Dampar series. However, the addition of ethephon and several P rates did not affect plant height among soil series. The results suggest that, the marginal soil can be utilized for sweet corn production by addition of combined P fertilizer at low rate and PGR.