Rice In Malaysia Research Articles

Fusarium andiyazi, a Pathogenic Species Associated with Rice Bakanae Disease in Malaysia.

Rice is the main staple food crops for the Malaysian population. Rice is also susceptible to bakanae diseases caused by some Fusarium species and reducing yield, and quality of rice also profit. In this study, several rice fields were surveyed to collect Fusarium isolates associated with bakanae disease. The morphological features of Fusarium andiyazi isolates found on infected rice plants were identified in this investigation. For biological species identification, MAT-1 (Mating type idiomorphs) bearing isolates were crossed with MAT-2 isolates. Crossing was succeeded between cross of two different mating type bearing field isolates. Consequently, there is a possibility of exchange of genetic material within the F. andiyazi population in Malaysia. The identity of the isolates was further determined up to the species level by comparing DNA sequences and phylogenetic analysis of two genes. The phylogenetic analyses of the joined dataset of translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1-α) and RNA polymerase subunit II (RPB2) revealed that all the isolates were F. andiyazi. In pathogenicity tests, F. andiyazi were found to be pathogenic on the susceptible rice cultivars MR211 and MR220. Inoculated rice seedling produced typical bakanae symptom like elongation, thin and yellow leaves. F. andiyazi was further confirmed as pathogenic species by Ultra High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) detection of Gibberellic acid (GA3) and Fusaric acid. In this study, F. andiyazi strains have been identified as the responsible pathogen for causing rice bakanae disease in Malaysia and it is the first report of F. andiyazi, as a pathogenic species on rice in Malaysia.

Variations in the relative abundance of hemipteran species in different seasons and stages of rice growth depending on weather variations

Rompin has played an active role in Malaysia's rice production for several decades. However, it also faces a threat, particularly from the hemipteran insect pests. There is limited documentation on the abundance of these insects and their relationship with climatic factors. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the abundance of hemipterans in different growth stages and to understand the effects of climatic factors on their population in rice fields. The study was conducted in farmers' rice fields in Rompin, Pahang, Malaysia, during the main and off-season rice planting. Sweep nets, yellow sticky traps, and yellow pan traps were utilized in each plot. Trapped insects were identified based on the rice planting seasons and growth stages. The trends of climatic factors such as rainfall, temperature, light intensity, and wind speed were analysed and correlated with insect abundance. A total of 23,023 individuals belonging to eight families and eleven species of the hemipteran order were recorded. Nine of these species were pests, namely Leptocorisa oratorius, Recilia dorsalis, Nephotettix virescens, N. nigropictus, Amaurochrous dubius, Nilaparvata lugens, Sogatella furcifera, Nezara viridula, and Scotinophara coarctata. The remaining two species were predators, Cyrtorhinus lividipennis and Polytoxus fuscoviftatus. R. dorsalis, N. lugens, S. furcifera, and A. dubius were found in significantly higher numbers and exceptionally high during rice's late vegetative and early reproductive stages. The maximum temperature significantly increased during the main season, while wind speed increased dramatically during the off-season. Wind speed significantly correlated with N. virescens, S. furcifera, L. oratorius, and A. dubius. On the other hand, rainfall exhibited a significant correlation with L. oratorius. Various pest species and their high populations in this study pose a significant threat to plants due to their preferences for different plant parts and strata.

Evaluation of Field Performance and Energy Consumption of a Medium-sized Combine Harvester for Harvesting Glutinous Rice in Malaysia

A medium-sized combine harvester has been recently deployed to harvest newly introduced high-value glutinous rice in Malaysia. Thus, efficient utilisation of combine harvesters during harvest is essential to minimise operating costs and grain loss. This study evaluated a medium-sized combine harvester’s performance and energy consumption for harvesting glutinous rice. The experiment was carried out on a one-hectare paddy field with three sub-plots using a central composite design (CCD). A time-motion study was conducted during the harvesting operation to determine the combine harvester’s performance parameters, which included field operating speed (FS), field efficiency (FE), theoretical field capacity (TFC), effective field capacity (EFC), grain throughput capacity (GTC), fuel consumption (FC) and field machine index (MI). The energy expended during the operation, which included machinery energy (ME), fuel energy (FCE), human energy (HE), and total energy (TE) input, were also computed. The average FS, FE, TFC, EFC, FC, and MI values were 2.42 km/h, 59.78%, 0.56 ha/h, 0.33 ha/h, 14.89 l/ha, and 0.30, respectively. The mean values of ME, FCE, HE, and TE were 305.35, 711.69, 3.62, and 1020.66 MJ/ha, respectively. The combine harvester achieved an average grain throughput capacity (GTC) of 1796.91 kg/h, demonstrating its effectiveness in handling glutinous rice harvesting. The average time distribution for the harvesting operation, such as effective harvesting time, turning/reversing time, and unloading time, was 1.85 h/ha, 0.38 h/ha, and 1.05 h/ha, respectively. Based on the results, it is concluded that the medium-sized combine harvester is technically and economically suitable for harvesting glutinous rice.

Resource partitioning among bat species in Peninsular Malaysia rice fields.

Resource partitioning among tropical bats in agricultural areas of Peninsular Malaysia remains unclear. This study was conducted to evaluate resource partitioning among bats by examining their fecal samples. The main bat species sampled included: Rhinolophus coelophyllus, Rhinolophus malayanus, Rhinolophus pusillus, Rhinolophus refulgens, Taphozous melanopogon and Hipposideros larvatus. Two harp traps were set at different elevations on a hilltop (Gunung Keriang) and two high nets were used in neighboring rice fields at three sites, for three consecutive nights per sampling from April 2021 to February 2022. A total of 301 bats and 1,505 pellets were analyzed using a conventional approach which examined the fecal sample under the microscope. All of the bat species within the study had insects from the order Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera and Hemiptera in their diet. Larger bats exhibited a greater variety of prey consumption. Male individuals were observed to be generalists while female individuals were specialists, particularly during pregnancy and lactating reproductive stages. Bat species and insect order had a significant impact on the percentage fragment frequency of the insects consumed. Rhinolophus coelophyllus specialized in feeding on Coleoptera and Diptera, H. larvatus fed on Coleoptera, R. malayanus fed on Hemiptera, R. pusillus and T. melanopogon fed on Lepidoptera. Future molecular analysis can be carried out to further identify the insect pests consumed by these bats up to species level. These findings enhance our understanding of bats' ecological roles in agricultural landscapes and contribute to conservation and pest management strategies.

A review of bacterial diseases of rice and its management in Malaysia

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the staple foods in the world including Malaysia. Rice production has been affected due to disease infections that is usually destructive and cause many losses to rice productivity. The common bacterial diseases listed in Malaysia include bacterial leaf blight (BLB) (Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae), bacterial leaf streak (BLS) (Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola), sheath brown rot (SBR) (Pseudomonas fuscovaginae) and bacterial panicle blight (BPB) (Burkholderia glumae). Currently, there is less information on the bacterial disease occurrence of rice in Malaysia. Hence, this study aimed to discuss the current report on the severity and the economic losses of rice production due to BLB, BLS, SBR and BPB in Malaysia and the possible management strategies to control the disease that consequently reduce the losses. In general, management strategies for bacterial diseases are challenging due to the lack of suitable chemical control that is not harmful to the environment and human health. Furthermore, other management strategies can be used to control these diseases such as cultural control and biological control. There is a need for the control method to be upgraded to reduce the occurrence of these diseases. All the information provided in this study may contribute as a useful tool for identification of the bacterial disease in paddy fields and as a source of effective strategies to control the disease before it becomes worse.

The impacts of reforming agricultural policy support on cereal prices: a CGE modeling approach

PurposeThis paper investigates the effects of the total abolition of all forms of agricultural subsidies to producers and border tariffs on the prices of staple cereals.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use the GTAP global economy-wide model and focus on 27 countries and 8 regions. The GTAP database that is used contains information on budgetary transfers to producers and market price support such as domestic price support, tariffs, export subsidies, quotas on exports or imports and other border measures.FindingsThe removal of subsidies is estimated to significantly increase the prices of wheat and other cereal grains in Japan, paddy rice in Malaysia and Indonesia, processed rice in Malaysia and Indonesia and wheat in Brazil and India. When border tariffs are removed, cereal prices are projected to fall in several countries, but the decline is more pronounced for wheat in Kenya and Japan, other cereal grains in South Korea and all staples in Nepal.Research limitations/implicationsThe alternative scenarios on the removal of agricultural subsidies in all agricultural sectors and the elimination of border tariffs are purely speculative as the analysis ignores important political economy considerations of agricultural and food policy reforms.Practical implicationsThe findings from this study point to the importance of implementing additional policy measures to mitigate the possible negative effect of repurposing the support to agriculture and ensure the food security and welfare of those categories of buyers who heavily depend on the price of staple food for their livelihoods.Social implicationsThis study’s findings confirm that the elimination of agricultural subsidies would impact global food security directly by making staple food less affordable to the poorest and indirectly by decreasing the available household budget for other presumably more nutritious food groups. Consequently, it is expected that these price increases could make segments of the world population poorer, particularly the net-food buyers due to a decline in their real income.Originality/valueThe authors assess the impact of removing the subsidies on the economy in a comprehensive way, particularly given the recent policy focus on net zero emissions and Sustainable Development Goals that include healthy foods. The authors also consider the counter effects of tariff reduction on this, which is price-reducing.

First report of Burkholderia gladioli causing bacterial panicle blight of rice in Malaysia.

Rice (Oryza sativa) is a staple food for most of the world's populations, particularly in Asia (Gumma et al. 2011). The rice sector provides Malaysians with a food supply, food sufficiency, and income for growers (Man et al. 2009). From January to February 2022, panicle samples showing symptoms of bacterial panicle blight (BPB) disease, including reddish-brown, linear lesions with indistinct margins on flag-leaf sheaths and blighted, upright, grayish straw-colored florets with sterile and aborted grains on panicles were collected in granary areas in Sekinchan, Selangor, Malaysia with 90% disease incidence in fields. Surface-sterilization of infected leaf tissue was performed using 75% ethanol and 1% sodium hypochlorite, followed by rinsing three times in sterilized water. Leaf tissue was macerated in sterilized water and aliquots were spread on King's B agar medium, then cultured for 24 h to 48 h at 35 °C. All isolated bacteria were Gram-negative rods, positive for catalase and gelatinase but negative for indole, oxidase and hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and utilized sucrose, inositol, mannitol, glucose, and citrate. Colonies were circular and smooth-margined, producing a diffusible yellowish-green pigment on King's B agar medium, which are characteristics of Burkholderia species (Keith et al. 2005). Five representative isolates (UPMBG7, UPMBG8, UPMBG9, UPMBG15, UPMBG17) were selected for molecular and pathogenicity tests. PCR using specific primers targeting the gyrB gene for molecular characterization was performed, and the ∼470 bp amplicons were sequenced (Maeda et al. 2006) and deposited in GenBank (OM824438 to OM824442). A BLASTn analysis revealed that the five isolates were 99% identical to the B. gladioli reference strains MAFF 302533, GRBB15041, and LMG19584 in GenBank (AB190628, KX638432, and AB220898). A phylogenetic tree using Maximum-likelihood analysis of the gyrB gene sequences showed that the five isolates were 99% identical to B. gladioli reference strains (AB190628, KX638432, and AB220898). To verify the identification of these isolates, the 16S rDNA gene was amplified using 16SF/16SR primers (Ramachandran et al. 2021), producing ~1,400 bp amplicons. The resulting sequences of the five isolates (OM869953 to OM869957) were 98% identical to the reference strains of B. gladioli (NR113629 and NR117553). To confirm pathogenicity, 10 ml suspensions of the five isolates at of 108 CFU/ml were inoculated into the panicles and crowns of 75-day-old rice seedlings of local rice varieties MR269 and MR219 grown in a glasshouse with temperatures ranging from 37 °C to 41 °C (Nandakumar et al. 2009). Control rice seedlings were inoculated with sterilized water. All isolates produced BPB disease symptoms like those originally found in the rice fields at four weeks after inoculation. Control seedlings remained asymptomatic. To fulfill Koch's postulates, the bacteria were reisolated from symptomatic panicles and were confirmed as B. gladioli by sequence analysis of the gyrB and 16S rDNA genes. To our knowledge, this is the first report of B. gladioli causing BPB disease of rice in Malaysia. Since BPB disease causes a significant threat to the rice industry, it is crucial to investigate the diversity of this destructive pathogen for effective disease management strategies in Malaysia.

Predicting Climate Change Impact on Water Productivity of Irrigated Rice in Malaysia Using FAO-AquaCrop Model

Water productivity (WP) is a key indicator of agricultural water management, since it affects the quantity of water used for crop yield in various management scenarios. This study evaluated the WP of irrigated rice due to a changing climate in the Northwest Selangor Rice Irrigation Scheme (NSRIS) by using field experimental data and the FAO-AquaCrop Model. Pertinent soil, water, climate, and crop data were acquired by executing a field investigation during the off-season (dry season, January–April) and main season (wet season, July–October) in 2017. The AquaCrop 6.0 model was calibrated and validated using the measured data. A Climate-smart Decision Support System (CSDSS) with an ensemble of 10 Global Climate Models (GCMs) was used to downscale climate variables under RCP4.5, RCP6.0, and RCP8.5 emission scenarios during baseline (1976 to 2005) and future (2020 to 2099) periods. The AquaCrop model fairly predicted rice yields under field conditions with root-mean-square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), prediction error (PE) and index of agreement (d) between the observed and estimated yields of 0.173, 0.157, −0.31 to 5.4 and 0.78, respectively for the off-season; and 0.167, 0.127, −5.6 to 2.3 and 0.73, respectively for the main season. It predicted a 10% decrease in actual crop evapotranspiration (ETc) in both crop seasons in the future. The WP of rice based on total water input (WPIrr+RF), applied irrigation (WPIrr), and actual crop evapotranspiration (WPETc) will likely increase by 14–24%, 14–19%, and 17–29%, respectively under the three RCP emission scenarios in the off-season. The likely increase in WP for the corresponding base is 13–22%, 15–24%, and 14–25% in the main season. Various agronomic management options linked to WP will most likely become important in making crucial decisions to cope with the risk of impacts on climate change.

Disease resistance of improved MR220 lines against Pyricularia oryzae Cavara and their preliminary agronomic performance

Blast disease caused by Pyricularia oryzae is one of the most destructive fungal diseases of rice in Malaysia. Utilisation of resistant varieties is the most efficient management approach towards reducing yield losses. The line IRTP21683 with the Pi9 gene has shown strong resistance against the isolate MPO988.3 of pathotype P<sub>0.0</sub>, the most prevalent P. oryzae pathotype in Malaysia. Crossing of IRTP21683 was undertaken with the recurrent parent MR220, a susceptible elite Malaysian rice variety, using a marker assisted backcrossing technique with two simple sequence repeat markers, RM19776 and RM7311, as the tag for the Pi9 gene. Twenty BC<sub>3</sub>F<sub>4</sub> lines with the Pi9 gene were resistant when challenged with MPO 988.3. The cluster analysis based on seven agronomic parameters showed that the resistant BC<sub>3</sub>F<sub>4</sub> lines could be divided into four groups, of which the members in group 1 and 2 have shown comparable or better performance than MR220. Five lines in group 1, B220PI9-3-48, B220PI9-3-76, B220PI9-3-77, B220PI9-3-79 and B220PI9-3-82 showed outstanding yield performance with early maturation.

Extension Agent Performance Level in Granary Areas, Malaysia as Perceived by Farmers

The consumption of rice in Malaysia are increasing and highly. However, Malaysia’s food self-sufficiency and security are under threat as the adoption and application level of the rice check technology among farmers still require development. This study was done in advance to avoid weak performance at new granary would be just the same as the old granary. This research was aim to determine the level of planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation (IVs) and work performance (DV) of extension agents in granary areas of Malaysia. The data were collected using quantitative research method. Cluster sampling technique was used to meet 542 respondents from granary areas; IADA KETARA,IADA Seberang Perak, IADA Rompin and IADA Pekan. The data were analysed using SPSS to determine the level of planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation and work performance of extension agents in granary areas of Malaysia. The finding of this research proved that the level of planning is high while, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of extension agents in both granary areas are in a moderate level. This means that improvement of planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation will improve the work performance. As a result, in order to improve work performance, extension programmes in granary areas should focus on these three variables. Modules and training should be offered to strengthen the capacity of extension agents in technology transfer in order to realise maximum output potential from both granaries.

Do Erratic Rainfalls Hamper Grain Production? Analysis of Supply Response of Rice to Price and Non-Price Factors

Increasing rice production has become one of the ultimate goals for South Asian countries. The yield and area under rice production are also facing threats due to the consequences of climate change such as erratic rainfall and seasonal variation. Thus, the main aim of this work was to find out the supply response of rice in Malaysia in relation to both price and non-price factors. To achieve this target, time series analysis was conducted on data from 1970 to 2014 using cointegration, unit root test, and the vector error correction model. The results showed that the planted area and rainfall have a significant effect on rice production; however, the magnitude of the impact of rainfall is less conspicuous for off-season (season 2) rice as compared to main-season rice (season 1). The speed of adjustment from short-run to long-run for season-1 rice production is almost two-and-a-half years (five production seasons), while for season-2 production, it is only about one-and-a-half year (three production seasons). Consequently, the study findings imply the supply of water to be enhanced through better water infrastructure for both seasons. Moreover, the area under season 2 is continuously declining to the point where the government has to make sure that farmers are able to cultivate the same area for rice production by providing uninterrupted supply of critical inputs, particularly water, seed and fertilizers.

Stakeholders’ Attitudes Toward Genetically Modified Rice in Malaysia

Rice, as a staple food for a large proportion of the world, is a vitally important food crop. More than 3.5 billion people in the world depend on rice, which provides 20% of human calorific needs per day. This paper aims to analyze several sociodemographic factors that affect stakeholders’ attitudes toward genetically modified (GM) rice in Malaysia. This research involved a total of 509 adult respondents in the Klang Valley. The results of the study showed that Malaysian stakeholders’ attitudes toward GM rice can be classified as positive. They perceived GM rice as having moderate benefits and risks, and they considered the moral aspects to be moderate, as was religious acceptance. One-way MANOVA initially detected a significant difference in attitude toward GM rice across stakeholder groups, educational level, and age. Additionally, univariate as well as post hoc analysis, confirmed significant differences in attitudes across stakeholders (perceived moral concerns, religious acceptance, and encouragement); educational level (perceived benefits, religious acceptance); and age (religious acceptance). These findings are useful for scientists and government regulators in terms of understanding the effects of sociodemographic factors on attitudes toward GM rice in Malaysia.

Impact of climate change on food security of rice in Malaysia: An empirical investigation

Since rice is the staple food of the nation, the production of rice would strongly influence the country’s food security. Thus, the objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between carbon dioxide emissions and rice yield in Malaysia that is, as a mean to assess the impact of climate change on the food security of the country. The results of the empirical analysis conducted using ARDL reveal that the impact of climate change as measured by carbon dioxide emissions does not significantly affect the rice yield in the short-run but positively affect it in the long-run. Further analysis using OLS regression however shows the adverse impact of carbon dioxide emissions on rice yield is traced when interaction effects are incorporated in the regression. The positive impact of carbon dioxide emissions on rice yield occurs depending on the consumption of fertilizers and the harvested area utilized. The results postulate a long-run positive impact of carbon dioxide emissions on rice production in Malaysia despite the expectation of pure negativity.

Evolution of imidazolinone-resistant weedy rice in Malaysia: the current status

AbstractWeedy rice (Oryza sativa f. spontanea or O. sativa complex) has become a severe threat to Malaysian rice (Oryza sativa L.) granaries after the direct-seeding method of rice cultivation was introduced in the late 1980s. Since then, researchers have studied the biology and ecology of weedy rice and espoused the evolutionary theory of the origin of Malaysian weedy rice. This review paper aimed to synthesize the body of knowledge about weedy rice and the evolution of herbicide-resistant (HR) weedy rice in Malaysia. The imidazolinone (IMI) herbicide component of the Clearfield® Production System (CPS) rice package is among the most effective tools for weedy rice control. However, dependence solely on this technology and farmers’ ignorance about the appropriate use of IMI herbicides with the CPS rice package have resulted in the evolution of IMI-resistant (IMI-R) weedy rice. This has reduced the efficacy of IMI herbicides on weedy rice, ultimately nullifying the benefit of CPS rice in affected fields. At present, it is assumed that IMI-R weedy rice populations are widely distributed across the rice granaries in Malaysia. Therefore, it is important that integrated management measures be adopted comprehensively by Malaysian rice growers to curb the spread of IMI-R weedy rice problem in Malaysia, especially in fields planted with CPS rice. This review focuses on the biology of Malaysian weedy rice, the history of the establishment of weedy rice in Malaysian rice fields, the impact of HR rice technology on the evolution of IMI-R weedy rice in Malaysia, the distribution of resistant weedy rice populations across Peninsular Malaysia rice granaries, the weedy rice resistance mechanisms, and weedy rice management. The synthesis of all this information is helpful to researchers, policy makers, the private agricultural industry, advisers to farmers, and proactive farmers themselves with the goal of working toward sustainable rice production.

Identification Spectral Signature of Weed Species in Rice using Spectroradiometer Handheld Sensor

Productions of rice in Malaysia is less compared to other rice producers such as Thailand. One of the reasons is lack of management in weeds. Losses due to weeds must be solved in rice production system, they interfere with the activities involved in the field throughout crop growing period. The main problem in rice field is to detect the presence of weeds among the paddy plant. It is hard to detect from plain sight for weeds in the green field by farmers. This research developed a technique to detect and control the weeds in the rice field. Spectral signature of weeds was collected and stored in the mobile apps for weed management application. The spectral signature of weeds species is unique and has their own characteristics. It can be used as a reference on how to detect weeds in the rice field using remote sensing. In this study, the result outcomes are mainly targeting to help all the paddy farmers in Malaysia to increase their production numbers of paddy. In addition, paddy farmers will be introduced with much advance technique to spot on the weeds that have been infesting in their paddy field and can prepare with what strategy to control on different kind of weeds. Different weed species has different physiological characteristics and it requires different type of strategy to counter the growth in the paddy field. Every weed in the paddy field need to be recognized in order to plan a control strategy. By using only naked eyes of a human and the limited view through the side view of the paddy field contributes to the problem of recognizing type of weeds that infesting the area.

SENSORIAL ACCEPTABILITY OF GLUTEN FREE MALAYSIAN TRADITIONAL KUIH FROM LEFTOVER COCONUT PULP FLOUR FLOUR

Gluten is a protein found in cereals, giving foods a pleasant elasticity and body structure. Cereal products, containing gluten are rich in dietary fibre. Although gluten plays a vital role in food production, it is harmful to gluten intolerant people (GIP). Hence, GIP is forced to follow a lifelong gluten-free diet, affecting their dietary fibre intake, essential against diarrhoea, constipation and colon cancer. Coconut (Cocos Nucifera) is the largest local commodity after rice in Malaysia. Coconut meat is usually processed for coconut water, coconut milk and coconut oil, while the leftover coconut pulp (LOCP) is disposed or used for livestock feeding. However, this LOCP is rich in dietary fibre and gluten-free, making it the best alternative for making gluten-free Malaysian Traditional Kuih (MTK), suitable for GIP. Apam Balik Kuih (ABK) is a highly popular MTK. Therefore, this study focused on providing gluten-free MTK from leftover coconut pulp flour (LOCPF), high in dietary fibre and consisting of three formulations; 60% LOCPF and 40% rice flour (F2), 100% LOCPF (F3) and a control sample from 100% wheat flour (F1). Two sensorial evaluations were conducted (semi-trained panel and consumer acceptability). The semi-trained panel showed similar results for appearance, texture, and mouthfeel for all variants of all, F3 was rated as unpleasant tasting. F1 was graded medium brown, while F2 and F3 were graded brown in colour. F2 was rated as the best for overall acceptability. For consumer acceptability, F1 rated “slightly like” in all criteria. F2 rated “neutral” for colour, texture, mouthfeel and “slightly like” for appearance, taste and overall acceptability. F3 rated “neutral” in all criteria. Among all, F2 showcased the best formulation as depicted by higher mean score rated. Based on these results, LOCPF proved a good gluten-free alternative flour with high fibre content, beneficial for pharmaceutical and food industry application.

Qualitative Resistance of Sarawak Rice Landraces Against Pyricularia oryzae

Malaysia rice production is threatened by rice blast disease, caused by Pyricularia oryzae. Yield can be greatly reduced by this disease as it can attack all the aerial parts of rice including leaves, node, neck, and collar. The use of resistant cultivar, which can be produced from resistance breeding, can control the disease effectively. Sarawak, in Malaysian Borneo, has diverse rice landraces, which can be genetic resources for resistance breeding. Study on the resistance of Sarawak rice landraces against P. oryzae, is still limited. In this study, diseased leaf samples were collected from rice fields in Serian division, Sarawak. One isolate was successfully obtained and designated as B2PG. The morphological characteristics were documented. Six Sarawak rice landraces were challenged with isolate B2PG. Four of the rice landraces were resistant and might carry resistance gene(s), which can be utilised in future breeding program.

Climate change and Paddy Yield in Malaysia: A short communication

Rice is the most important staple of the Malaysian and paddy is the second most produced crop of the nation. Traditionally, population rise generates higher demand for milled rice in Malaysia. However, in the past 30 years, milled rice production in Malaysia has been falling short of the demand, prompting import of rice from other nations. The impact of climate change on paddy yield is foreseen to widen the gap of local supply and demand. Increasing temperature has been shown to be more damaging to paddy yield than rainfall variation. 1% increase in temperature could result in 3.44% drop in current paddy yield while a 1% increase in rainfall could cut current paddy yield by 0.12%. With rising temperature, increasing CO2 concentration is not predicted to enhance paddy yield though the photosynthetic rate of paddy depends on atmospheric CO2 concentration. This implies a more deleterious effect of temperature on paddy yield. Draught ensuing rainfall variability can also severely reduce paddy yield. Adaptation of paddy farmers to the impacts of climate change is crucial and this can be achieved with technology advancement in agricultural practices as well as research and development of new paddy breeds. Keywords: Climate change; Malaysia; Paddy; Rice; Yield

Complete Genome Sequence of Rice Tungro Bacilliform Virus Infecting Asian Rice (Oryza sativa) in Malaysia.

Rice tungro disease was discovered in Malaysia in the 1930s. The first and only genome of Rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV) isolated from rice in Malaysia was sequenced in 1999. After nearly two decades, here, we present the complete genome sequence of an RTBV isolate in rice from Seberang Perai, Malaysia.

First Report of Bipolaris cactivora Causing Brown Leaf Spot in Rice in Malaysia

First Report of <i>Bipolaris cactivora</i> Causing Brown Leaf Spot in Rice in Malaysia