Taxonomical and Antifungal Study of Selected Mapania spp. (Cyperaceae Juss.) from Sarawak

• Main Authors: Ivy Geralyn Nangan, Melana, Dr. Zinnirah, Shabdin, Associate Prof. Dr. Freddy, Yeo, Dr. Qammil Muzzammil, Abdullah
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English; English; English
• Published: Centre for Graduate Studies 2023
• Subjects: Q Science (General); QK Botany
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/45272/3/DSVA_IVY%20GERALYN%20NANGAN.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/45272/4/THESIS%20MSC_IVY%20GERALYN%20NANGAN%20-%2024%20pages.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/45272/5/THESIS%20MSC_IVY%20GERALYN%20NANGAN.ftext.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/45272/

The largest state in Malaysia is Sarawak, with a total size of about 124,450 km2. Several types of forests, including understory plants, cover 67% of the total area and are home to variety of fascinating flora. An important genus with a high endemism rate among Sarawak’s flora continues to remain unfamiliar to many. In order to gain better understanding of this genus, taxonomical and antifungal study of the Sarawak Mapania were done. From August 2017, a series of field trips have been conducted throughout Sarawak. New localities were found and more than 100 samples had been collected. Majority of the species were found in lowland habitats, such as swamps and lowland Mixed Dipterocap Forest. A new species was described based on their vegetative and reproductive characteristics, viz. M. multifolia sp. nov. A complete field key to Sarawak Mapania collected was presented in this dissertation. In addition, the anatomical characteristics were also examined to add the information for delimiting the species. Morphologically, Mapania were divided into 2 major groups based on their leaf blade. The described anatomical characters were able to delimit the species within the groups. The anatomical characters in Mapania are linear with elongate cell, hexagonal, polygonal, and random shape of epidermal shape; sinuous and undulate pattern of anticlinal walls; anomocytic, diacytic, and tetracytic type of stomata; concave, concave with keel shape, flat, U shape, V shape, and narrowly V shape of petiole and mirib cross section. Although the anatomical characteristics were less meaningful for in species identification, M. cuspidata variety can be delimit based on the presence of cell inclusion. In addition, the screening of the antifungal activity also provides new information for this genus. Methanol crude extract obtained from leaves and root of 10 selected Mapania species were tested against four crop pathogenic fungi. Five root methanolic crude extracts and one leaves methanolic crude extracts showed significant effect against C. musae, three leaves methanolic crude extracts and one root methanolic crude extracts showed significant effect against P. oryzae (isolates POSA 1) while two leaves methanolic crude extracts showed significant effect against P. oryzae (isolates POSA 2). Eventhough the results of the antifungal activity were considered as weak, the informations obtained benefits greatly in understanding and encouraged the conservation effort of this genus.