PROPOSAL FOR GSAS PROGRAMME

Main Supervisor:

Dr. Rosimah Nulit,

Department of Biology,
Faculty of Science,
University Putra Malaysia,
43400 Serdang, Selangor.

Co-Supervisor:

Dr. Mohd Haniff Harun,

Head,
Tropical Peat Research Institute (TROPI),
Biological Research Division,
43400 Kajang, Selangor.

Student:

Ili Nadhrah Bt Hj Norsilan,

University Putra Malaysia,
43400 Serdang, Selangor.

CONTACT NO. : 013 300 7365

TITLE: Role of nitric oxide (NO) in oil palm seedling growth and physiology under
different stress condition

Introduction

Nitric oxide is an endogenous component in plant cell metabolism which involve in

multiple physiological processes such as seed germination, stomatal movement and root
development (Courtois et al., 2008). NO was classified as a phytohormone that might function
as a gaseous endogenous plant growth regulator as well as nontraditional plant growth
regulator (Taldone et al., 2005). Under stress conditions such as water stress, flooding and
nutrient stress, the cell homeostasis and process of nitric oxide can be deregulated and cause
to imbalanced that bring damage to cellular component in plant itself such as protein, lipid and
nucleic acid. Moreover, NO has an ability to act simultaneously with other molecules and
signals in plants, thus effect on the plant growth. Therefore, in recent years, the role of NO in
regulating various physiological and biochemical activities in plants has become an important
area of research.

Since the nitric oxide (NO) is recognized as a novel biological messenger in plants and
animals, it has received special attention from most of the branches of biological sciences,
including medicine, biochemistry, physiology, and genetics. Heading to our largest world’s
production of palm oil that comes from South-East Asia, in particular Malaysia and Indonesia, it
is possible for us to study more about this plant. Currently, Malaysian crude palm oil production
increased from 8.3 million tonnes in 1998 to 11.2 million tonnes in 2002, maintaining the
country’s position as the world’s largest supplier of palm oil. There are still many options to find
out about palm oil’s benefit. To optimize those benefits, more researches have to be done to
increase the quality and to find out other use of oil palm in our industry. Therefore, the
objectives of this study are:

 To study the effect and role of NO in oil palm seedling growth, seed dormancy,
senescence, respiration, photosynthesis and chlorophyll content.
 To study the function of NO and RNS (reactive nitrogen species) in the biochemistry and
physiology of plant under stress condition.
 To examine the physiological sources of No in an actively growing tissue of oil palm at
the onset of germination.
 The purpose of this work is to present recent advances in the role on nitric oxide on oil
palm physiology.
Benefits of the study
NO have many benefits in plant physiological aspects especially in:

 Seed dormancy: NO stimulated seed germination in Paulonia tomentosa (Giba et al.,

1998) under normal conditions as well as in Suaeda salsa under NaCl stress (Li et al.,
2005).
 Antioxidant system: The ability of NO to exert a protective function against oxidative
stress.
 Study the role of NO that has the ability such the classical plant hormones have.

NO contribute many benefits in palm oil growth and development.

Methodology
1) Plant materials: oil palm seedling that was treated with various environmental stresses will
be used for NO determination. Six replicates of oil palm will be planted for every treatment.

Normal growth for oil palm also being observed to compare the NO in oil palm seedling grown
in environmental stresses.

2) Plant growth methodology:

1. Salinity stress- different concentration of salt will be given to the oil palm seedlings.
2. Water stress- amount of water is reduced to give stress to the oil palm seedling.
3. Nutrient stress- different part of fertilizer will be given to the oil palm seedling. (non-
organic and organic fertilizer)

3) NO determination:

 Determination of NO by specific electrodes.

 Determination of NO by spectropfotometric and Fluorometric methods.
 Determination of NO by electron paramegnatic resonance.

Environmental stress condition

 Salinity stress
 Water stress
 Nutrient stress

Research Activities, Schedule & Milestones

 Schedule & Milestones

Research Activities
2010 2011 2012

Dec Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct Dec

Literature Review.

To acquire oil palm

seedlings grown
under different stress
condition.

To screen the
presence of NO by
spectrophotometric
and fluorometric
methods.

Find physiological
sources of NO in an
actively growing
tissue at the onset of
germination

Present poster for

PIPOC 2011 on the
results obtained.

Writing up thesis and

submission to UPM.

COST OF RESEARCH
RA Allowance = RM 1560 x 24 months = RM 37440

Study Fee = RM 1600 x 4 semesters = RM 6400

Research Expenditures = RM 20 000

TOTAL : RM 37 440 + RM 6 400 + RM 20 000 = RM 63 840

References
Courtois, C., Besson, A., Dahan, J., Bourque, S., Dobrowolska, G., Pugin, A., and Wendehenne, D.
(2008) J. Exp. Bot., Vol. 59, pp. 155–163.

Giba, Z., Grubuisic, D., Todorovic, S., Saje, L., Stojakovic, D., and Konjevic, R. (1998) Plant
Growth Regulation., Vol. 26, pp. 175–181.

Taldone, F.S., Tummala, M., Goldstein, E.J., Ryzhov, V., Ravi, K., and Black, S.M. (2005) Nitric
Oxide, Vol. 13, pp. 176–187.

W. Q. Li, X.J. Liu, M.A. Khan , and S. Yamaguchi (2005) J. Plant Res., Vo.l 118, pp. 207–214.