SERDANG - Tropical fruits such as banana (Musa paradisiaca) cavendish cultivars and pineapple (Ananas cosmosus) MD2 cultivars or also known as 'Golden pineapple' have commercial value in international and local markets as fresh fruits and commercial products. However, in Malaysia this crop is still poorly produced because require comprehensive care and not resistant to diseases like sigatoka, moko and panama caused by bacteria and fungi.

The "Putra Paradize" project is a research collaboration network of tissue culture and plant system development that can increase the yield of tropical fruits such as banana and pineapple. 

This project involve collaboration network between UPM and Agrofresh International Sdn. Bhd. 

Focuses on 3 main areas: 

1. To overcome plant diseases (banana, pineapple and other plants) in Good Agricultural Practice to improve product quality, productivity and quantity of crop yields. 

1. Developing eco-friendly plant systems, maximizing recycling and minimizing excess waste with zero waste concepts. 

1. Halal compliance and certification that can be used as a guideline for markets around the world. 

Headed by Y.Bhg. Prof. Dato 'Dr. Mohd Azmi Mohd Lila and Prof. Dr. Abdul Rahman Omar, Director of IBS as Project Coordinator. To support the mission of UPM and strengthening the agriculture, collaboration of the Faculty and Institute of technology-based on agriculture and AgriBio consisting of the Faculty of Agriculture (FP), Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences (FBSB), Faculty of Forestry (FP), Institute of Biosains (IBS) and Institute of Halal Products Research (IPPH) also involved. 

In order to realize this collaboration, research agreement (MoA) was signed in 29 May 2015 for five (5) years. 

The first results proved that Cavendish banana fruit weight were able to reach about 28 and 34 kilos and produced 8 to 9 hands. 

The "Putra Paradize" research area will also be used as an example of a research model based on six priority areas of agriculture such as controlled environment, precise agriculture, biological control, fertilizer technology, agrobiogen banks and aquaculture production to community and international visitors.

By,

Julia Abdul Aziz

Date of Input: 30/08/2017 | Updated: 10/02/2021 | azah