¹Faculty of Food Science and Biotechnology, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor
Malaysia. ²Advanced Biotechnology and Breeding Centre, Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), No.6,
Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi, Kajang 43000, Selangor, Malaysia. ³Genome Centre, Institute
of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

(Received 9 November 2000 / Accepted 5 April 2001)

Abstract.
A full length calmodulin cDNA (OPZE3A) was isolated from a zygotic embryo cDNA library of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.). The sequence of the clone was analysed and used for a preliminary investigation to study gene expression during oil palm embryogenesis. Sequence analysis show that the protein has been highly conserved between plants and other organisms. RNA expression profile for calmodulin shows that it is developmentally regulated during embryogenesis as well as in other tissues such as inflorescence, young leaves and meristems. Genomic analysis shows that it is a member of a multi copy gene family. Calcium efflux has been shown to be important in polarity establishment during embryogenesis. Thus, it will be interesting to further characterize this gene in order to determine its cellular localisation and role during embryo development.

Keywords: calmodulin, embryogenesis, oil palm, tissue culture

¹Research Institute for Coastal Fisheries, Jalan Makmur Daeng Sitakka No. 129, Maros, Sulawesi
Selatan, 90511, Indonesia; ² Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia Terengganu,
Mengabang Teliput, 21030, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia; ³Faculty of Medicine and Health Science,
Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor D.E, Malaysia.

(Received 16 April 2001 / Accepted 5 July 2001)

Abstract.
Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique has been widely applied for genomic mapping, taxonomy/identification, genetic inheritance, sex determination, conservation, population study, and DNA fingerprinting of fish. The grouper, Epinephelus merra collected form Makassar Strait, South Sulawesi, Indonesia was used for the study. Ten RAPD primers (OPA 02, OPA 06, OPA 08, OPA 10, OPA 15, OPA 16, OPA 17, OPA 18, OPA 19, and CA 5) out of twenty four screened primer were selected for further analysis based on the clarity and sharpness of amplification fragment profiles. The ten primers generated a total of 72 loci (fragments) with 41 polymorphic fragments (56.9%). The number of genotypes produced for each primer varied from three to six. The OPA 15 produced the highest polymorphism (85.7%) while OPA 18 produced the lowest polymorphism (33.3%). RAPD bands of E. merra ranged from five to eight and its size range between 200 3000bp. The average of genetic distance between individuals was 0.2737±0.1051.

Keywords: DNA fingerprinting, Epinephelus merra, PCR, polymorphism, RAPD

¹Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Food Science and Biotechnology, Universiti Putra Malaysia; ²Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Iran; ³Department of Genetic and Plant Physiology, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands Tehran, Iran; ⁴Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia

(Received 31 October 2000 / Accepted 20 February 2001)

Abstract.
An assessment on the infection status and viability of endophytic fungi in Iranian tall fescue would aid in identifying potentially desirable endophyte strains for use in genetic improvement of pasture and turf species. Nineteen tall fescue accessions collected from various regions were screened for Neotyphodium infection. Fifty seeds per accession were evaluated by microscopic staining methods to detect the presence of endophyte(s), and also to determine the infection rate in the collected tall fescue accessions. Out of the 19 accessions evaluated, 16 (84.2%) were found to be infected with endophyte(s) at infection rates of between 20 to 95%. Out of those infected, five accessions recorded infection rates of more than 90% while 3 accessions were free of endophytes. The occurrence of endophytic fungi were also determined in seedlings as an indication of fungal viability. Fifty tillers per accession were microscopically examined; and out of the 16 infected seed accessions analysed, 14 had viable endophytes in the seedlings. The incidence of endophytic fungi infection, based on the percentages of infection in seedlings, varied from 15% to 100%. The average rate of infection marginally decreased from seeds to seedlings suggesting the reduction in fungal viability upon seed storage. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the presence of endophytic fungi in Iranian tall fescue germplasm c61lection and consequently the germplasm collection can provide a greater diversity of plant and fungus genotypes for introduction into future plant breeding programs.

Keywords: Endophytic fungi, Neotyphodium sp., Acremonium sp., tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea, symbiosis

¹Jabatan Kimia, 2Jabatan Biokimia dan Mikrobiologi, Fakulti Sains & Pengajian Alam Sekitar Universiti
Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Malaysia.

(Received 12 December 2000 / Accepted 10 April 2001)

Abstract.
Enzymatic synthesis of medium chain glycerides (MCG) from caprylic acid and glycerol was studied using lipase from Candida rugosa. The effects of various reaction parameters such as time course, type of organic solvents, molar ratio of substrates (mmol glycerol/mmol capric acid), amount of enzyme, and initial water activity (aw) were studied. The best condition tested for MCG synthesis at 37oC were respectively, at time, 24 h: molar ratio of substrates, 0.4 and amount of enzyme, 100.0 mg. Generally, the activity of lipase was high in non polar solvents with log P values from 3.60 to 5.60. The enzymatic synthesis of MCG was preferably carried out at an initial aw of 0.328, which resulted in maximum yield. Analysis of the products of reaction using gas chromatography showed that lipase from Candida rugosa seemed to produce only dicaprylin and tricaprylin.

Keywords: medium chain glycerides, lipase, esterification, solvents, water activity