Comparing interfertility data with random amplified microsatellites DNA (RAMS) studies in Ganoderma Karst. Taxonomy
The taxonomy of the causal pathogen of basal stem rot of oil palms, Ganoderma is somewhat problematic at present. In order to determine the genetic distance relationship between G. boninense isolates and non-boninense isolates, a random amplified microsatellites DNA (RAMS) technique was carried out. The result was then compared with interfertility data of G. boninense that had been determined in previous mating studies to confirm the species of G. boninense. Dendrogram from cluster analysis based on UPGMA of RAMS data showed that two major clusters, I and II which separated at a genetic distance of 0.7935 were generated. Cluster I consisted of all the biological species G. boninense isolates namely CNLB, GSDK 3, PER 71, WD 814, GBL 3, GBL 6, OC, GH 02, 170 SL and 348781 while all non-boninense isolates namely G. ASAM, WRR, TFRI 129, G. RES, GJ, and CNLM were grouped together in cluster II. Although the RAMS markers showed polymorphisms in all the isolates tested, the results obtained were in agreement with the interfertility data. Therefore, the RAMS data could support the interfertility data for the identification of Ganoderma isolates.
Basal Stem Rot of Oil Palm : Incidence, Etiology and Control
Basal stem rot (BSR) caused by Ganoderma spp. is a disease of 
economic importance in oil palm in Malaysia. Although much is known 
on the occurrence of this devastating disease, fundamental studies on 
it and its pathogen are rather limited. At present, there appears to 
be ambiguity in the identity of the causal organisms: there is 
difficulty in getting oil palms to be artificially infected and that 
control measures advocated are largely inadequate to contain the 
disease. Present studies are thus focused on answering these issues. 
An assessment of the BSR situation on selected estates was also carried 
out to assist in the understanding of the disease. 
The assessment carried out showed that serious incidence of the 
disease was "confined to coastal and riverine estates. However, the 
disease can now be seen to occur in a few in land estates albeit 
sporadically and at very low incidence. It was demonstrated that 
previous crops did not necessarily dict ate significant incidence of 
BSR. The underplanting technique and certain soil types can predispose 
plantings to much higher BSR incidence.
Instrumentation and Automated Photometric Titration Procedure for Total Acidity Determination in Red Wine Employing a Multicommuted Flow System
An automated procedure for photometric titration of red wine and associated instrumentation is described. The procedure was based on the flow-batch approach implemented employing multicommutation. The photometric detection was carried out using a homemade LED-based photometer. The mixing device, LED, and photodetector were attached to the titration chamber in order to form a compact and small-sized unit. The flow system comprised an automatic injector and three-way solenoid valves, which were controlled by a microcomputer through an electronic interface card. The software, written in Quick BASIC 4.5, was designed with abilities to accomplish all steps of the titration procedure including data acquisition and real-time processing to decide about the course of titration in the following step and so forth, until the titration endpoint was reached. The usefulness of the proposed titration system was demonstrated by analyzing red wine samples. When results were compared with those obtained using the AOAC reference method, no significant difference was observed at the 95% confidence level. A relative standard deviation of ca  2% (n=9 ) was obtained when processing a typical red wine sample containing 7.3 gl -1 total acidity expressed as tartaric acid.