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Disease Severity of Agriculture Produce Associated with Fungal Infection
Nora Asyikin binti Ibrahim
Supervisor: Dr. Nurul Faziha binti Ibrahim
Co-supervisor: Dr. Suhaizan binti Lob
Bachelor of Science Agrotechnology (Postharvest Technology)
School of Food Science and Technology
Pitaya plant is easily infected by fungal pathogens that will limit the fruits production,
shorter the shelf life and increase management cost. Therefore, this study was aimed
to evaluate the potential of silicon solution to inhibit the development of pathogenic
fungal isolates. For in vitro study, pathogenic fungal isolates were subculture onto PDA
mixed with silicon in plates. For in vivo study, the preventive method was performed
by inoculating the pathogenic fungal isolates on detached stems and fruits dipped with
0.15%, 0.25% and 0.5% silicon concentrations. The results showed that 0.15% silicon
has significantly higher percentage of inhibition as compared to 0.25% and 0.5%
silicon. Lowest average disease severity was observed on stem (24.4%) and fruits
(40%) dipped with 0.15% silicon. As a result, postharvest quality such as, colour, TSS,
TA can be maintained in longer period in fruits dipped with 0.15% silicon. So, was
important mechanism of control disease.
1047 | UMT UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH DAY 2018