Elucidating the fluctuations in microorganism related to Rafflesia Kerri in Lojing Highlands, Kelantan

This study investigates the microbial dynamics associated with various blooming stages of Rafflesia kerri, focusing on the morphological characteristics, density, and biochemical activity of microorganisms in three male flowers. The objective is to assess microorganism density at different blooming stages and determine the biochemical activity of selected microorganism species. Morphological analysis revealed that bacterial cultures exhibited milky, cloudy appearances with filamentous, circular, and irregular shapes across all samples. Microorganism density varied significantly between different blooming stages. The early blooming stage showed the highest microorganism density, decreasing progressively through the mid and late stages. Biochemical tests, including Gram staining, IMViC tests, hydrogen sulfide production, and urease activity, demonstrated that microbial metabolic processes evolved through the blooming stages. In the early stage, the tests showed active metabolic activity with positive results for indole production, Voges-Proskauer reaction, hydrogen sulfide test, and urease activity. For example, in Male Flower 1, urease activity was 50% positive at the 10^-3 dilution. In the mid stage, test results indicated metabolic changes with positive Gram staining across all dilutions and mixed results for IMViC tests.