Introduction

     In intensified agricultural practices to feed the growing populations, large hectares of monocultures is the scenario.  This makes mechanization not only feasible but possible, too.  This environment is however, now a spawning ground for pests and pathogens to search for natural products from insects for use as biopesticide against insect pest.  With no rotation of crop varieties, pathogens appear and at times wipe out crops causing enormous economic losses.  Chemicals that are extensively used to protect the crops and animals in turn destroy the environment.  The search is thus for environment friendly or green agents.  Microorganisms are the saviors.

    Microorganisms have provided a wealth of bioactive products which have proved to be an invaluable source of agrochemicals to ward off pests and pathogens; plant growth promoters; animal health products, live feed and probiotics, biofertlisers, biocontrol and bioremediation agents. These microbial agents are natural and ecofriendly and thus reduce or eliminate the use of chemical agents that are toxic and hazardous. Not only can they be utilized in traditional ways but using molecular techniques desired genes can be cloned to offer protection to the host plant.

    Malaysia has been identified as one of the ten ‘hotspot’ mega diversity country.  However, to date its vast microbial resources has yet to be systematically explored for its potential for economic returns and wealth creation for the nation. 

Members

• Assoc Prof Dr. Md Yusoff Musa ( plant pathology)

• Assoc. Prof Dr Noorlidah Abdullah (plant protection)

• Prof Dr. Rofina Yasmin Othman (plant protection)

• Assoc. Prof Dr. Fauziah Abdullah (Chemical Ecologist/Applied Entomologist)

• Dr. Geok Yuan Annie Tan ( plant protection)

• Dr. Siti Nursheena Mohd Zain (plant protection)

Research Area

• Prof. Dr S. Vikineswary 

            Marine Microorganisms and their Bioactive Metabolites      

-           Exploitation of marine Actinomycetes and Fungi for Agrochemicals (Collaborative project with Novartis , Switzerland)  

• Assoc. Prof Dr. Noorlidah Abdullah

-             Metagenomics :Microbial Diversity and genomes of culturable and unculturable     microbes  from diverse ecosystems

• Dr Geok Yuan Annie Tan

-          Search and discovery of natural products from actinomycetes

-          selective isolation and characterization of actinomycetes from environmental samples:

        i). Molecular systematics

        ii). Microbial diversity

           iii). Soil metagenomics  

• Assoc. Prof Dr. Fauziah Abdullah  

-         Discovery of biopesticide from plants and natural products from insect for use as an alternative control strategy against pest of agriculture.

Awards

Expo Science and Technology ‘Invention and Innovation’ organized by Ministry of Science, Technology & the Environment, Malaysia , August 2003 

            Bronze Medal       Biocontrol of Fusarium wilt disease of banana

      Conference and Expo IPTA 2003  September  2003

      Silver Medal    Biocontrol of Fusarium wilt disease of banana  ( given  by Malaysian Plant Protection Society )

Contact

Prof. Dr S. Vikineswary 
Institute of Biological Sciences

Faculty of Science

Universiti Malaya

50603 Kuala Lumpur

 Email : viki@um.edu.my
Phone : 603-79674349/03-79674
Fax : O3-79674178