Sains Malaysiana 50(5)(2021): 1267-1275

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2021-5005-07

Biocontrol Potential of Neem Leaf-Based Vermicompost as Indicated by Chitinase, Protease and β-1,3-Glucanase Activity

(Potensi Biokawalan Vermikompos Berasaskan Daun Semambu seperti yang Ditunjukkan oleh Aktiviti Kitinase, Protease dan β-1,3-Glucanase)

LOH KHYE ER¹, NOR AZWADY ABDUL AZIZ²*, MUSKHAZLI MUSTAFA² & INTAN SAFINAR ISMAIL³

¹Department of Bioscience, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Tunku Abdul Rahman University College, Jalan Genting Kelang Setapak, 53300 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

²Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

³Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Received: 20 May 2020/Accepted: 7 October 2020

ABSTRACT

The rising concern regarding the negative impact of synthetic pesticides has led to the search for alternative means of pest control. Vermicomposting the mixture of oil palm empty fruit bunch and neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves, with the latter known to have pesticidal value, is therefore of great interest and significance to be studied. The present study was conducted to evaluate the chitinase, protease and β-1,3-glucanase activity of neem leaf-based vermicompost as an indication of its biocontrol properties. The total microbial population of different composition of the vermicompost was also investigated. The results showed that at 10% neem composition, an increment in microbial population, chitinase and protease activities was observed in the end product. A higher concentration of neem exerted a suppressive effect on the microbial population as well as enzymatic activity. This study suggested that the addition of an appropriate composition of neem leaves as one of the raw materials for vermicomposting would potentially enhance the performance of vermicompost as biofertilizer as well as biopesticide.

Keywords: Biopesticide; chitinase; neem leaf; protease; β-1,3-glucanase

ABSTRAK

Kebimbangan yang semakin meningkat mengenai kesan negatif racun perosak sintetik telah menyebabkan pencarian kaedah alternatif kawalan perosak. Oleh itu, pengkomposan campuran tandan buah kosong kelapa sawit dan daun semambu (Azadirachta indica) yang diketahui mempunyai nilai racun perosak telah menarik perhatian dan lebih bermakna untuk dikaji. Kajian ini dilakukan untuk menilai aktiviti kitinase, protease dan β-1,3-glukanase vermikompos yang berasaskan daun semambu sebagai petunjuk sifat biokawalannya. Jumlah populasi mikroorganisma bagi vermikompos yang berbeza daripada segi komposisinya juga telah dikaji. Hasil kajian menunjukkan peningkatan populasi mikroorganisma, aktiviti kitinase dan protease pada produk akhir yang mempunyai 10% daun semambu. Kepekatan semambu yang lebih tinggi memberi kesan penindasan terhadap populasi mikroorganisma dan juga aktiviti enzim. Kajian ini mencadangkan bahawa penambahan komposisi daun semambu yang sesuai sebagai salah satu bahan mentah untuk pengkomposan berpotensi meningkatkan prestasi vermikompos sebagai baja dan racun perosak biologi.

Kata kunci: Daun semambu; kitinase; protease; racun perosak biologi; β-1,3-glukanase

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*Corresponding author; email: azwady@upm.edu.my