DR. PAUZIAH MUDADirector

Horticulture Research Centre

Malaysian Agriculture Research and Development Institute (MARDI)

To generate feasible and

commercial value

technologies in food,

agriculture and agro-based

industry

National Agrofood Policy National Commodity Policy

OBJECTIVES

1. To ensure sufficient food supplies

2. To increase income of farmers

3. To increase export revenue

1. To increase export revenue

FOCUS

Enhancing food security

Complement & strengthening value chain

Increasing competitiveness

Sustainable development

Increasing productivity

Sustainable development

Widening markets

Strengthening R&D and technology

Expand downstream industry

OUTCOME Increase agriculture’s contribution to GDP

Ensure sufficient food supplies

National Agriculture Policies, 2011-2020

Competitiveness of Malaysia’s Fruits in the Global Market

NAP3 (1998-2010) and DAN (2011-2020) - identified banana, watermelon, papaya, pineapple, starfruit and mango as potential fruits to be developed for Malaysia’s export markets.

DAN forecasted that demand for local tropical fruits will increase to 2.7 million metric tonnes by 2020 with a growth rate of 2.3% per annum.

Production Status

Pineapple, banana and watermelon are highly produced in Malaysia. Each of them, respectively exceeds 200 metric tonnes (mt) per year.

Inconsistent production

Perishable

Strict quarantine requirement

High cost of transportation

High cost of labour

Limited production area

Slow in adopting new technology

Fruit industry has potential to expend and meet the local and export demand.

• MARDI play a significant role in the development and

moderizing new techniques of production for advancement

of horticulture industries in Malaysia

• Efficient production technology encompassing breeding,

agronomic practices, P&D management and post harvest

handling have been developed to increase productivity

• Mechanization and automation have been introduced to

reduce dependence on farm labour

• Mechanization and automation have been

introduced to reduce dependence on farm labour

• Improved post harvest handling technology has

enabled export of local horticulture produce to distant

markets

Priority Fruits

1. Non-seasonal – Increased yield and maintained

quality of fruits for premium market

Melons, pineapples, papaya, jackfruit,

banana, starfruits

2. Seasonal – Increased production and

maintained quality of selected fruits for market

expansion

Durian, mango and mangosteen/mesta

CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY ALONG THE VALUE CHAIN

( FROM FARM TO TABLE)

• Critical area that need immediate solution in order to protect/enhance the industry

• Based on market/ industry needs

Breed/Variety

Production

System

Handling

of Produce

Processing &

Product DevelopmentPackaging &

Storage

Marketing &

Distribution

ISSUES The industry – affected by papaya dieback

disease (PDD) since 2004

All commercial papaya varieties are

susceptible to PDD

Efforts are being made to produce varieties

that are resistant to PDD – through

conventional breeding and biotechnology

Right now, none of the papaya growing

areas in Malaysia can be categorized as

PDD free zones

Extra precautions and attention are

necessary in planting papaya in Malaysia

New resistance variety need to be

developed

R&D Approaches Resistant hybrid to PDD with extended

storage life (more than 5 weeks)

Sustainable crop systems - Formulation of

organic fertilizers, and microbial growth

regulator effective to control PDD

Papaya (Carica papaya)

Breeding strategies (1972)

have changed

changing of the consumer demands and the

industrial needs and constrains

PRODUCTSNew varieties

Various breeding strategies

Papaya mass selection program (1972-1975)

Papaya (Carica papaya)

High yield & excellence fruit quality

Including: Long shelf-life & resistance to critical

diseases (PDD)

Desirable traits (focus)

Research emphasis have

changed

Current focus - longer shelf-life (double cross technique) and resistant against Bacterial Dieback Disease (BDB).

Breeding for Papaya Ring Spot Virus (PRSV) (1991-2005)

Development of F1 hybrid program (1985-1991)

Backcross breeding program (1972-1987)

Flesh : aromatic and reddish orange (Royal

Horticulture Society Color Chart-N30B)

TSS (%) : between12.5 to 14.5oBrix

Fruit size : smaller (500 to 550g)

Skin color : attractive (yellow with minimum

freckles)

Yield : between 30 to 45 kg fruits/tree/year.

Promising DC: (Line 19 x PR217) X (Line 19 x Line 20)

reasonable extension of storage life and better fruit appearance

Can It Be Commercialized?

Achievement

Suceptable to PDD

ISSUES Commercial pineapple varieties (MD2 and

Josapine) susceptible to bacterial heart

rot (BHR)

Tissue culture materials – high percentage

of somaclonal variation

R&D Approaches New varieties comparable to MD2 and at the same time

tolerant to BHR

Efficient techniques for mass propagation of plant

material

The need for appropriate fertilizer, specific nutrients and

hormonal techniques for pineapple

Management of mealy bug and BHR disease through

biological approaches (Bacillus, actinomycetes and

fungi)

Potential varieties in the pipe line

• Josa base lines

INSTITUT PENYELIDIKAN DAN KEMAJUAN PERTANIAN MALAYSIA

• Kulit nipis, berisi padat• Saiz sederhana-1.75 kg• Menarik–kuning keemasan

• Manis, TSS 16-23%• Citarasa enak-agak rangup• Beraroma, kurang lidas

INSTITUT PENYELIDIKAN DAN KEMAJUAN PERTANIAN MALAYSIA

• Pokok bersaiz sederhana Daun tidak berduri

• Saiz jambul sederhana besar

• Banyak sulur tangkai• Respon aruhan hormon

baik • Pengeluaran jambak bunga

(red-heart) ~ 45 hari lepas aruhan

• Anggaran hasil 56 t/hektar

ISSUES Crop acreage 28,000 ha with production of 180,000

tones valued at RM 90mil

However, Fusarium wilt (FOC) and bacterial blood

disease (BBD) caused yield reduction <40% (72,000

tones)

Almost all the local banana varieties are susceptible

(fresh and cooking) to the BBD and FOC

R&D Approaches Identification and selection of resistant against

BBD and FOC

Improvement of cultural practices including

biological approaches to reduce incidence of BBD

and FOC

Banana• Most devastating diseases :1.Fusarium wilt, Fusarium oxysporum race 4

Banana Most devastating diseases:

2. Bacterial Blood Disease (BBD); Ralstonia sp. nr solanacearum

ISSUES Harumanis – limited growing area to Zone 1.

Low yield

Chok Anan – limited production

R&D Approaches New varieties of Harumanis and Chok

Anan, 'free flowering’, free insidious fruit

rot (IFR), attractive skin color, quality and

high yielding

Technology packaged to increase

production and consistant supply (off-

season)

Biological control approach for major

diseases (Anthracnose)

Extended storage life of Chok Anan and

Harumanis more than 5 weeks

Harumanis - before rehabilitation

Harumanis - after rehabilitation

Chock Anan

Chock Anan – grafted with Harumanis

REHABILITATION MATURE GRAFTING

ISSUES Long juvenile period – between 6-10 years.

Mangosteen/mesta variants – Availability of

quality planting materials – especially on

selected variant such as mesta

R&D Approaches Mangosteen variants (fruit quality and

precosity)

Postharvest handling and quarantine protocol

of mangosteen for exports

* Focus on development of efficient propagation system

‘Micro-cutting technique’ has been developed for mngosteen to compliment the present seed propagation technique

Micro-cutting – gave better rooting system, hence better growth

Seedling Micro-cutting Seedling Micro-cutting Micro-cuttingsSeedlings

ISSUES Off season and continuous

production

Pest and disease management of

durian

Short storage life (less than 3

weeks)

R&D Approaches Clonal rootstock resistant to Phytophthora

Off season and continuous production

approaches

Mixed clones with different maturity periods

Produce in different agroclimatic zones

Pest and disease management of durian

through biological and chemical cultural

Storage life extension (more than 3 weeks)

Research on fertilizer and flower induction technique

Potential clone which is still under research programme in MARDI

Research Management on pests and diseases

ISSUES Bacterial wilt disease and pulp rust

No resistant varieties to bacterial wilt

J33 is susceptible to pulp rust

Lack of technology for exporting fresh fruit

(whole fruit)

R&D Approaches Management of major diseases (bacterial wilt

and rust)

Crop load according to the size of the export

market optimum (12-15 kg)

New varieties tolerant bacterial wilt and rust

free

Postharvest handling and quarantine

protocols for export

‘Rust’ occurrence of Tekam Yellow (J33) jackfruit

ISSUES

To address the shortage of functional food products based on local fruits in local market

Empower food security in terms of dependence on imported products substitute for rice, wheat and meat

Lack of functional products from fruit for the elderly and athletes in the Malaysian market

Development technology of composite food

from local fruit as a substitute for rice, wheat

and meat

Development technology of production high-

energy food for athletes

Development technology of production

functional food products using fruit as a health

product geriatric (for elderly)

Just Great

Functional drink from mixed fruits (soursop, mango & limau kasturi)(High in free phenolic antioxidants)

Processing Technology for High Antioxidant Mixed Fruit Pulp

Fruit Composite High In Fiber And Antioxidant Pineapple Prebiotic Powder

Dietary Fibre Powder from Pineapple By-Products

• Research and develoment are geared

towards increase productivity and

production of high quality and safe

horticulture products.

• Collaboration with other

research institution, department,

extention agents, producer and

exporters at national and

international level is crucial.