Pertanika Journal of TROPICAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE Vol. 32 (2) Aug. 2009 A scientific journal published by Universiti Putra Malaysia Press Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science About the Journal Pertanika is an international peer-reviewed journal devoted to the publication of original papers, and it serves as a forum for practical approaches to improving quality in issues pertaining to tropical agriculture and its related fields. Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science which began publication in 1978 is a leading agricultural journal in Malaysia. After 29 years as a multidisciplinary journal, the revamped Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science (JTAS) is now focusing on tropical agricultural research. Other Pertanika series include Pertanika Journal of Science and Technology (JST) and Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (JSSH). JTAS is published in English and it is open to authors around the world regardless of the nationality. It is currently published two times a year, i.e. in February and August. Goal of Pertanika Our goal is to bring the highest quality research to the widest possible audience. Quality We aim for excellence, sustained by a responsible and professional approach to journal publishing. Submissions are guaranteed to receive a decision within 12 weeks. The elapsed time from submission to publication for the articles averages 5-6 months. Indexing of Pertanika Pertanika is now over 30 years old; this accumulated knowledge has resulted in Pertanika journals being indexed in SCOPUS (Elsevier), EBSCO, and AGRICOLA, etc. Future vision We are continuously improving access to our journal archives, content, and research services. We have the drive to realise exciting new horizons that will benefit not only the academic community, but society itself. We also have views on the future of our journals. The emergence of the online medium as the predominant vehicle for the 'consumption' and distribution of much academic research will be the ultimate instrument in the dissemination of research news to our scientists and readers. Aims and scope Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science aims to provide a forum for high quality research £ related to tropical agricultural research. Areas relevant to the scope of the journal include: S agricultural biotechnology, biochemistry, biology, ecology, fisheries, forestry, food sciences, genetics, microbiology, pathology and management, physiology, plant and animal sciences, production of plants and animals of economic importance, and veterinary medicine. Editorial Statement Pertanika is the official journal of Universiti Putra Malaysia. The abbreviation for Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science is Pertanika J. Trop. Agric. Sci. Editorial Board ARCHIVE COPY (Please Do Not Remove' Editor-in-Chief Tan, S.G., Malaysia I Molecular population genetics Executive Editor Kanwal, Nayan D.S., Malaysia Environmental issues- landscape plant modelling applications Editorial Board Ab-Shukor, N.A. Othman, Rofina Y. Tree improvement, Forestry genetics Agricultural biotechnology & biotechnology Universiti Malaya, Malaysia Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia Radu, S. Ambak, M.A. Food safety. Risk assessment, Fisheries Molecular biology Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Malaysia Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia Anuar, A.R. Saleh, G.B. Soil fertility and management Plant breeding and genetics Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia Bignell. David E. Salleh, B. Soil biology and termite biology Plant pathologist/Mycologist University of London, U.K Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia Bryden, Wayne L. Saw, L.G. Animal nutrition, Toxicology, Food safety Botany and conservation, Plant ecology University of Queensland, Australia Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Kepong, Malaysia Clyde, M.M. Genetics (Cytogenetics) Shamshuddin, J. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia Soil science, Soil mineralogy Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia Gan, Yik-Yuen Molecular biology, Genetics, Biotechnology Siddique, K.H.M. Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Crop and environment physiology, Germplasm enhancement Ibrahim, Y.B. The University of Western Australia, Agricultural entomology Australia Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia Tan, W.S. Idris, A. B. Molecular biology. Virology, Protein Entomology (Insect taxonomy and chemistry biodiversity, Integrated pest management, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia Biological control, Biopesticides) Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia Yap, C. K. Biology, Ecotoxicology Jamilah, B. Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia Food science and technology, Food quality /processing and preservation Zamri-Saad, M. Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia J cterinaty pathology Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia Editorial Advisory Board Baas, P. Matthews, G. Systematic botany Pest management National Herbarium of The Netherlands, Leiden Imperial College London, U.K University Branch, The Netherlands Napompeth, B. Hughes, Jane M. Entomology Genetics Kasetsart University, Thailand Griffith University, Australia Rahman, A. llyas, Syed M. Plant protection Post harvest engineering and technology' AgResearch, Raukara Research Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Hyderabad, Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand India Walkinshaw, M. Kang, M.S. Biochemistry Plant breeding & genetics University of Edinburgh, Scotland Punjab Agricultural University, India / Louisiana State University Agric. Center Baton Rouge, USA Woodruff, D. Evolution and conservation of Khan, Tanveer N. animal species, International Plant breeding & genetics education Department of Agriculture and Food, South Perth, University of California, San Diego, Western Australia USA Mather, Peter B. Wright, Denis J. Ecology and genetics Pest management Queensland University of Technology, Australia Imperial College London, U.K Editorial Office Pertanika, Research Management Centre (RMC), 4th Floor, Administration Building Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia Tel: +603 8946 6192, 8946 6185 • Fax: +603 8947 2075 E-mail: ndeeps(5)admin.upm.edu.my Publisher The UPM Press Universiti Putra Malaysia 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia Tel: +603 8946 8855, 8946 8854 • Fax: +603 8941 6172 [email protected] URL: http://penerbit.upm.edu.mv The publisher of Pertanika will not be responsible for the statements made by the authors in any articles published in the journal. Under no circumstances will the publisher of this publication be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on the advice, opinion or information obtained either explicitly or implied through the contents of this publication. All rights of reproduction are reserved in respect of all papers, articles, illustrations, etc., published in Pertanika. All material published in this journal is protected by copyright, which covers exclusive rights to reproduce and distribute the material. No material published in Pertanika may be reproduced or stored on microfilm or in electronic, optical or magnetic form without the written authorization of the Publisher. Copyright © 2009 Universiti Putra Malaysia Press. All Rights Reserved. Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science Vol. 32 (2) Aug. 2009 Contents Review Article Net Primary Productivity of Forest Trees: A Review of Current Issue 111 Hazandy Abdul-Hamid, Maurzio Mencuccini and Nor-Aini Ab-Shukor Regular Articles Responses of Musa AAA Berangan to 1-methylcyclopropene 125 Phebe Ding and Khairul Bariah Darduri Juvenile Stem Volume Equations for Planted Azadirachta excelsa in the State of 133 Johore, Peninsular Malaysia Ong Kian Huat, Lim Meng Tsai and John Keen Chubo Biocoversion of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch by Aspergillus niger EB4 under 143 Solid-state Fermentation Azhari Samsu Baharuddin, Nor Asma Abd Razak, Nor Aini Abdul Rahman, Satiawihardja Budiatman, Yoshihito Shirai and Mohd Ali Hassan Selected Articles from the 7th National Genetics Congress 2007 Overexpression of Wildtype Periostin and Transforming Growth Factor Beta I Genes 153 in Colorectal Carcinoma: A Preliminary Study Chia Sze Wooi and Edmund Sim Ui Hang Improved Accuracy for Diagnosis of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma by the Combination 161 of Recombinant EBV Proteins ZEBRA/IgA and LMP2A/IgG ELISA S.H. Wong, E.L. Tan, C.C. Ng and C.K. Sam Selected Articles from the 3rd Biology Colloquium 2007 New Records of Terrestrial Pteridophytes in Genting Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia 169 Salifah Hasanah Ahmad Bedawi, Rusea Go and Muskhazli Mustafa Antibacterial Activity of Methanolic Crude Extracts from Selected Plant Against 175 Bacillus cereus Muskhazli M., Dirnahayu M., Nor Azwady A.A., Nurhafiza Y., Nor Dalilah E. and Che Ku Nurshaira C.K.N. Selected Articles from the UPM Rice Research Colloquium 2008 Somatic Embryogenesis from Scutellar Embryo of Oryza sativa L. var. MR219 185 Syaiful Bahri Panjaitan, Siti Nor Akmar Abdullah, Maheran Abdul Aziz, Sariah Meon and Othman Omar Influence of Flooding Intensity and Duration on Rice Growth and Yield 195 Abdul Shukor Juraimi, Muhammad Saiful, A.H., Mahfuzah Begum, Anuar, A.R and Azmi, M. Influence of Root Exudate Carbon Compounds of Three Rice Genotypes on 209 Rhizosphere and Endophytic Diazotrophs Naher, U.A, Radziah, O., Halimi, M.S, Shamsuddin, Z.H. and Mohd Razi, I. Upland Rice Varieties in Malaysia: Agronomic and Soil Physico-Chemical 225 Characteristics M.M. Hanafi, A. Hartinie, J. Shukor and T.M.M. Mahmud Seed Germination and Proline Accumulation in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) as Affected by 247