Category Archives: b_original_articles

Moses Kopong Tokan¹, Mbing Maria Imakulata¹, Yantus A. B Neolaka^*2, Heri Septya Kusuma³

¹Biology Education Department, Faculty of Education and Teachers Training, University of Nusa Cendana, Kupang, 85001, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia

²Chemical Education Department, Faculty of Education and Teachers Training, University of Nusa Cendana, Kupang, 85001, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia

³Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Industrial Technology, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Surabaya, 60111, Indonesia

Abstract

This research was directed to analyze the level of species diversity and distribution patterns of arboreal organisms on the mangrove forest environment of Paradiso coastal of Kupang Bay. The observation unit is a circle of mangrove stems that is divided into three levels of height, i.e., 0.0 – 1.0 m, 1.1 – 2.0 m and 2.1 – 3.0 m. The assessment of mangrove trees as the observation unit is zigzagged by following the Z pattern starting from the lowest tide to the highest tide. Mangrove trees encountered in Z pattern were defined as observation units. The data collected in this study consisted of species and the number of individuals from each species attached to mangrove stem. Data of arboreal organisms were analyzed for relative abundance, diversity Index and species evenness, and distribution pattern. The results showed that in the mangrove forest area found 8 species of arboreal organisms consists of 7 species of molluscs and 1 species of crustacean. Mangrove mollusc group consisted of Littorina scabra, Littorina undulata, Terebralia sulcata, Nerita plasnospira, Nassarius distortus, Morula margariticula and Saccostrea cucullata. Species included in the Crustaceae group is Semibalanus sp. The index of species diversity is 1.119 (in low category), and species evenness of 0.704 (in high category).  A total of 7 species from 8 arboreal organisms distributed in clustered patterns and 1 species in a uniform pattern. All environmental parameters support the life of arboreal organisms.

Keywords: Vertical distribution, Mangrove molluscs, Species diversity, Species evenness, Abundance

Pongsak Rattanachaikunsopon, Parichat Phumkhachorn*

Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand

Abstract

This study aimed to isolate lactic acid bacteria (LAB) carrying cadmium resistant genes on plasmids from foods. A total of 30 fermented food samples were collected from local markets and supermarkets. Isolation of cadmium resistant LAB colonies was performed by spread plate technique using MRS agar medium supplemented with cadmium (MRS-Cd). One hundred and fifty cadmium resistant isolates were randomly selected and subjected to plasmid extraction. Only one isolate (LAB-V12) from a fermented vegetable harbored a single plasmid of about 9 Kb. 16S rDNA sequencing data showed that LAB-V12 was likely to be Lactobacillus plantarum. The results from plasmid curing demonstrated that a cured strain of the LAB-V12 was sensitive to cadmium. Hence, probably cadmium resistant marker is plasmid mediated. The plasmid containing cadmium resistance gene was tested for stability in its host. It was observed that the LAB-V12 could maintain the plasmid after approximately 100 generations of growth without cadmium selection. The plasmid might be further developed to be a food-grade cloning vector that is useful for genetic modification of LAB.

Keywords: Lactic acid bacteria, Fermented food, Cadmium resistance gene, Plasmid

Hamid¹, I Wayan Supartha^2*, I Wayan Susila², dan I Putu Sudiarta²

¹Doctoral Program (S3) of Agricultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Udayana University, Denpasar-Bali, Indonesia

²Integrated Pest Management Laboratory (IPMLab), Faculty of Agriculture, Udayana University, Denpasar-Bali, Indonesia

Abstract

Liriomyza sp. leafminer fly is an important pest of shallot crops that spread widely in Southeast Asia and Pacific regions such as Indonesia, China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam. This study aims to identify the type of Liriomyza species attacking onion plants in Bali, Indonesia through morphological and molecular characterization. Onion leaf samples showing symptoms of Liriomyza attack, taken from the study site, were subsequently cultured in the laboratory. Adult flies obtained from breeding were then identified based on their morphological characteristics. While the molecular characteristics were identified through several steps: DNA isolation, DNA electrophoresis, PCR chain reaction, then put back into the re-electrophoresis box, and finally sequencing method was applied. The results showed that the Liriomyza species was found to have a morphological characteristic such that it has a simple color pattern on a simple abdomen with no connecting line between the segments and the next segment, dark grey or near black scutellum. These characteristics refer to the species L. chinensis. GenBank data tracking results through identification of squamous alignment results indicate that the Liriomyza COI nucleic acid found showed the highest homology with L. chinensis (EF104701.1), L. chinensis (AB721340.1) and L. chinensis (AB721343.1) with identical rate of 99%. Based on the results then Liriomyza species found attacking onion planting on the island of Bali is L. chinensis.

Keywords: Morphological and molecular characteristics, L. chinensis, Onion

Muhammad Anwar Zaka¹, Khalil Ahmed¹*, Hafeezullah Rafa¹, Muhammad Sarfraz¹, Helge Schmeisk²

¹Soil Salinity Research Institute, Pindi Bhattian, Punjab, Pakistan

²Faculty of Organic Agriculture Sciences, University of Kassel, Germany

Abstract

A lot of crop residues, kitchen wastes and tree leaves are wasted annually. These materials can be composted and used for improvement of soil health. The possibility of using compost in reclamation of salt affected soil was studied with the treatments i.e. control (no amendment), gypsum @ 100 % GR, compost 20 t ha^-1, gypsum 50 @ % GR+ compost @ 20 t ha^-1, gypsum 50 @ % GR+ compost @ 10 t ha^-1, gypsum 25 @ % GR+ compost @ 20 t ha^-1 and gypsum  @ 25 % GR+ compost @ 10 t ha^-1_.in rice-wheat rotation at farmer field in Haveli Karimdad, Pindi Bhattian district Hafizabad, Punjab, Pakistan. The selected field was prepared and leveled. The design of the experiment was randomized complete block (RCBD) with four replications having the plot size of 8m x 6m. The prepared compost was applied and incorporated according to the treatments plan thirty days before transplanting of rice. Uniform cultural practices were applied to all the treatments.  Rice-wheat crop rotation was used. The data for paddy yield of rice and wheat grain were recorded at maturity. The results showed that gypsum application @ 50% GR + compost @ 20 t ha^-1 remained statistically at par with gypsum application @ 100% GR for producing biomass, paddy and wheat grain yield. However other treatments remained inferior but significantly better than control. The pH_s and SAR were decreased significantly after harvesting of 2^nd rice crop in two treatments i.e. gypsum application @ 100% GR and gypsum @ 50% GR+ compost @ 20 t ha^-1. The EC_e was reduced to less than 4 dS m^-1 in all the treatments except control after 1^st rice crop. The physical properties of soil such as bulk density, porosity and hydraulic conductivity were also improved with passage of time. Results of current study suggested that salt affected soil can rehabilitate to their original potential if gypsum is applied at the full rate (100% GR) alone or decrease its quantity 25 or 50% by combining it with compost at rate of 20 or 10 t ha^-1.

Keywords: Saline sodic soil, Gypsum, Compost, Reclamation, Rice-wheat rotation 

 Gharabi Dhia¹, Hassani Abdelkrim^1*, Hellal Benchaben², Labdaoui Djamel³

1Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and Nutrition in dry areas, Ibn Khaldoun University, Tiaret, Algeria

²Laboratory of Geomatics and Sustainable Development, Ibn Khaldoun University, Tiaret, Algeria

³Laboratory of plant protection, Abdelhamid Ibn Badis University, Mostaganem, Algeria

Abstract

The objective of this work is to determine the effect of salinity on the morpho-physiological behavior of young olive plants in cuttings and grafted plants, including two local varieties (Chemlal and Sigoise) and two introduced varieties (Manzanilla and Arbiquina). The experiment took place in a greenhouse with a well-controlled condition. The experimental plan is in a complete randomization of two factors (salinity and varieties); plants without NaCl application were used as control. The plant material (young 2-year-old olive seedlings) was selected and brought from a crop nursery. The experimentation started by the irrigation of the control plant with a nutrient solution. About the salinity treatment, the tree seedlings received a nutrient solution fortified by the addition of 100mM of NaCl. Four repetitions are being done according to the field capacity. The study covered the variation of the relative water content in leaves as well as the leaf surface, stomata density, stomatal size and the wax rate on the upper foliar epidermis. RWC leaf area and stomatal density of the treated plants decreased compared to the control. On the other hand, the wax level increases in the case of salt stress compared to the control, both for the grafted plants and for the plants not grafted.

Keywords: Olive-tree, Local varieties, Salt stress, RWC, Wax rate  

Dalia Sukmawati*, Nur Saidah, Tri Handayani K, Sri Rahayu

Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Jakarta, Campus B, Jl. Pemuda No. 10 Rawamangun, East Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Fungi can cause contamination in animal feed. Contamination of the feed may result in damage to feed quality and decrease the health of livestock. The aim of this study was to isolate and identify fungi strains in cage- and warehouse-based chicken feed. Fungal isolates was collected using the dilution plating method. A sample was taken from the cage and feed in Tegal village, Bogor, West Java. The numbers of sample taken were 10 g of each plot. The isolation, identification and characterization of mold, was based on its phenotype macroscopic and microscopic. Forty-six molds [7 sourced from cages (15.21%) and 39 from warehouses (84.78%)] were isolated from 10 samples of the cage and warehouse-based chicken feed. The selection of representative mold isolates amounted to 22 isolates, consisting of four mold isolates from cages and 18 isolates from the warehouse. Six genera were identified, based on their morphological characteristics: Aspergillus (3 isolates), Penicillium (8 isolates), Fusarium (3 isolates), Trichoderma (3 isolates), Cladosporium (1 isolate), Paecilomyces (2 isolates) and Mycelia sterilia (2 isolates). The highest occurrence of mold isolates in chicken feed was Penicillium (36.36%), and the lowest of it was Cladosporium (4.54%).  The findings are in line with the information about occurrence fungi in the chicken feed of poultry. These results showed that a potential exists for fungi contamination in chicken feed can be found at cage- and warehouse poultry feeds.  Occurrence of fungi gives information to farmers to prevent a health of their livestock from excessively contaminated fungi genera Penicillium. Controlling as prevented by early detection or visual inspection and good management is a better choice compared to curing.

Keywords: Fungal, Cladosporium, Isolation, Penicillium, Poultry feed contamination, Warehouse

Farhana Hussain¹, Md. Reazul Karim^*1, Fahmida Hossain², Faisal Hasan³

¹Department of Microbiology, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh

²Department of Chemistry, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh

³University of Science and Technology, Chittagong, Chittagong-4202, Bangladesh

Abstract

Water pollution due to the desertion of enormous volume of effluent like synthetic dyes mostly azo dyes from the textile dyeing industries has become an alarming trend in the present world.  Biological degradation of synthetic dye is gaining popularity because of its cost effectiveness and ecofriendly procedure. Hence, the present study was aimed to isolate and identify the indigenous azo dye decolorizing bacteria from dyeing industry effluent and to assay their dye decolorization potential in order to use them as an efficient bio-agent for decolorizing and mineralizing toxic azo dyes. Thirty indigenous bacterial colonies were isolated initially from which eight bacterial isolates were selected by further screening method, exhibiting 10% Novacron Red SB decolorization in semi-solidified screening medium. The decolorizer isolates were identified upto species as Bacillus alvei, Bacillus polymyxa, Corynebacterium rathayi, Staphylococcus aureus, Zymomonas anaerobia, Bacillus megaterium, Aerobacter aerogenes and Micrococcus conglomeratus on the basis of their morphological, cultural, physiological and biochemical characteristics. The maximum decolorization by the isolates was achieved with 5% dye concentration at 37°C temperature and pH 9 and peptone as co-substrate. So, this study demonstrates that the selected eight indigenous isolates can be used as efficient biological agent for the removal of toxic industrial novacron dyes by maintaining the above mentioned optimum value of the process parameter.

Keywords: Water pollution, Dyeing industry effluents, Azo dyes, Decolorization, Biodegradation    

Raja Nur Rahifah Inani¹, Afzan Mat Yusof^2,3*

¹Department of Biomedical Science, Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Bandar Indera Mahkota, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

²Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Kulliyyah of Nursing, International Islamic University Malaysia, Jalan Hospital Campus, 25100 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

³Integrated Cellular and Molecular Biology Cluster (iMolec), International Islamic University Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Bandar Indera Mahkota, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

Abstract

Gastrointestinal parasitic infection is a major concern to livestock sector as it causes severe diseases and death to the goats. This study was designed to measure the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasitic infections in goats and its association with the seasonal variations in a commercial farm located in Kuantan, Malaysia. A total of 480 faecal samples were collected randomly from 40 goats in 12 months. All samples were processed under faecal flotation technique for morphology and size of the egg/oocyst of parasites and McMaster modified technique for the OPG/EPG of parasites. Coproculture examination was performed to identify the species of strongyles infected goats in the present study. The obtained data were analysed by using SPSS software under independent t-test and chi-square test. Out of 480 faecal samples, 429 samples were positive and give the overall prevalence 89.4%. The infection rate was significantly higher in a dry climate (92.1%) than wet climate (85.5%). The mean egg counts of strongyles, Strongyloides and Enterobius were significantly higher in a dry climate than wet climate (P<0.005). Meanwhile, the mean egg or oocyst counts of Trichuris, Moniezia and Eimeria were higher in wet climate than dry climate, but the results were not significant. The findings from the present study suggested that appropriate preventive measures such as maintaining cleanliness and provide appropriate anthelminthic to goats need to be applied to the goats, farms and farm workers to prevent the widespread of infections to goats and humans.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal parasitic infection, Goats, Seasonal, Livestock, Malaysia

Muhammad Aslam, Khola Rafique*

Pest Warning and Quality Control of Pesticides, Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

To monitor Tikka or Cercospora leaf spot disease of groundnut, surveys were carried out in the groundnut areas of four major districts of Pothwar region viz. Chakwal, Attock, Jhelum and Rawalpindi during main crop season in 2017. To assess prevalence and incidence of Tikka disease, 997 farmer’s fields were visited. Clear disease symptoms were noted in the fields during the season. The disease prevalence ranged from 7.85 to 45% where highest prevalence was recorded in district Jhelum (45%) and lowest in Attock (7.85%). The disease incidence also varied and ranged from 9.35 to 22.48%. The highest mean disease incidence (22.48%) was observed in district Chakwal, whereas the lowest (10.57%) was observed in district Rawalpindi. The results of the study indicated that Tikka disease is significantly distributed in all the major groundnut producing districts of Pothwar region therefore, timely and possible management strategies are of vital importance to control this potential threat.

Keywords: Cercospora, Tikka disease, Leaf spot, Incidence, Prevalence

Johanna Suek¹*, Irham², Slamet Hartono², Lestari Rahayu Waluyati²

¹Graduate Student of Department of Agricultural Economic, Agricultural Faculty, Gajah Mada University, Jl. Flora Kompleks Bulaksumur, Yogyakarta, DIY 55281, Indonesia.

²Department of Agribusiness, Faculty of Agriculture, Nusa Cendana University, Jl. Adisucipto Penfui, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara Province 85001, Indonesia

Abstract

A traditional agroforestry named mamar has been commonly practiced by small-scale farmers of western part of Timor Island, East Nusa Tenggara Province. Mamar system is considered by many as an environmentally sound agriculture practice. However, as for other agriculture systems, the productivity of mamar system is also prone to risks caused by many internal and external factors. This study was designed to determine factors affecting the production and risk production of mamar. This research was conducted in four mamar-containing regencies of western Timor Island, East Nusa Tenggara Province. Eleven villages which have at least 30% mamar farmer households were selected from the regencies. From each village, 30 farmers were randomly selected and interviewed based on structured questionnaires. Multiple regression models ran with Eviews 6 software were utilized. Results showed that: land area, number of kinds of annual food, perennial cash, forestry, and fodder crops, number of animals reared, organic fertilizer usage, herbicide usage, number of labor days, quality of soil conservation significantly increased the production value, while slash and burn frequency reduced it; and number of annual crops, number of animal raised, amount of organic fertilizer, and number of labor days reduced farm risks. This indicates that mamar system complies with agriculture environmental soundness principles because it incorporates diverse crops; sound soil conservation nature; various number and kinds of animal raised which results in the provision of manure to mamar and other agro ecosystems; and the limitation of slash and burn. However, the use of inorganic herbicides needs to be controlled.

Keywords: Mamar, Agroforestry, Farm production risk, Indonesia, Timor