Abstract An unknown leaf spot disease was reported in the nursery of an oil palm estate. A study was conducted to isolate and identify the potential causal agents and to screen the efficacy of different fungicides in suppressing the isolated fungal genera under in vitro condition. Disease symptoms were recorded, and healthy and diseased leaflets were collected from the estate’s nursery for microbe community analysis. The leaflets were subjected to genomic DNA extraction for Illumina MiSeq sequencing to determine the fungal community in the samples. Additionally, sterilised leaflets were cut and placed on Rose-Bengal chloramphenicol (RBCA) agar for isolating fungal cultures. The DNA of fungal isolates were then extracted, sequenced, and compared with the database using BLAST program. MiSeq sequencing revealed that there were significantly higher relative abundances of Curvularia sp. (38.53 %), Colletotrichum sp. (14.19 %), and Thermoascus sp. (4.79 %) in diseased leaflets compared to healthy leaflets. Different fungicides were screened at the recommended rates using poison food agar assay to test their efficacy in suppressing the potential causal agents. Mancozeb 80% WP (0.188%), propineb 70% WP (0.300%), difenoconazole 23% + propiconazole 23% EC (0.100%), difenoconazole 23% (EC) (0.050%), and prochloraz manganese chloride 50% WP (0.100%) gave 100% mycelial growth inhibitions of Curvularia oryzae isolate and two Colletotrichum sp. isolates. This study provides insights into the effective fungicides for controlling leaf spot diseases in oil palm nurseries.

Abstract The study aims to assess the knowledge of plastic and microplastic pollution as well as the issues, determine students' attitudes and perceptions about the best practices for reducing plastic and microplastic pollution, and analyze the correlation between awareness, attitude, and opinion on the current efforts to decrease plastic pollution among UTHM students. An online survey was distributed over social media platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram. Four sections were utilized to collect data: demographic information; knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions about plastic and microplastic pollution. The 120 students who responded were 60 from each diploma and degree program. UTHM students showed a great awareness of plastic and microplastics, and as a result, they had a favorable attitude toward pollution reduction. Consequently, participants also had a positive opinion of current initiatives to reduce plastic and microplastic contamination. Besides, a moderate positive correlation exists between attitude and opinion on current efforts with a Pearson correlation of 0.574, implying that students should be taught plastic reduction and encouraged to participate in current initiatives. Plastic or microplastic pollution education via organized education, mass media, and substituting non-biodegradable plastics with eco-friendly alternatives may assist in alleviating the existing problem of plastic or microplastic pollution.