Aflatoxin contamination caused by Aspergillus flavus in nutmeg has become a severe export obstacle. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of coating formula to reduce A. flavus contamination in nutmeg seeds. Cleaned and dried nutmeg seeds were coated with a coating formula containing propylparaben, potassium sorbate, and clove oil, then challenged by spraying with A. flavus conidia suspension. The treated seeds were incubated in humid plastic boxes. The colonization of A. flavus on the seeds was visually assessed after treatment. Aflatoxin contamination, the residue of propylparaben, and potassium sorbate were analyzed using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that total aflatoxin in the shelled nutmeg seeds without coating was 471.69 µg kg-1, which is much higher than that in the coated seeds with formula (4.22 µg kg-1). Also, aflatoxin B1 was 462.10 µg kg-1 in the uncoated shelled seeds compared with that in the coated seeds (3.71 µg kg-1). In the unshelled nutmeg seeds without coating, total aflatoxin and aflatoxin B1 contaminations were higher (376.06 µg kg-1 and 342.84 µg kg-1, respectively) than that in the coated seeds (3.00 µg kg-1 and 2.74 µg kg-1). Propylparaben residue in the coated nutmeg seeds was undetected, while, the potassium sorbate residue was detected as much as 30.86 mg kg-1 in shelled and coated nutmeg seeds. The study showed that the coating formula was effective in reducing aflatoxin contamination in shelled and unshelled nutmeg seeds.
Some improved irrigated lowland rice varieties are quite adaptive to tidal swamp areas where iron stress is the limiting factor of productivity. Information on irrigated rice tolerance to iron toxicity is inadequate and digital image processing for determining the level of tolerance is not available. The study aimed to evaluate tolerance of irrigated rice to iron toxicity. Ten irrigated rice varieties were used, namely Inpari 3, Inpari 19, Inpari 22, Inpari 24, Inpari 32, Inpari 42, Inpari 47, Inpari IR Nutri Zinc, Cakrabuana Agritan and Inpago 13 Fortiz. Mahsuri is tolerant and IR 64 is a sensitive check. The seedlings were planted on Yoshida agar solution using a randomized completely block design with four replications. Leaf bronzing symptoms showed that Inpari 47 was tolerant (score 2), Inpari 3 and Inpari 42 were moderately tolerant (score 4), Inpari 19 and Inpari 22 were also moderately tolerant (score 5). The bronzing symptom based on image processing has a strong correlation with visual observation, leading to propose that image processing is an alternative method to determine the bronzing symptom. Inpari 47 absorbed quite a lot of Fe with few bronzing symptoms. Inpari IR Nutri Zinc absorbed less Fe, but had more symptoms than Inpari 47. Inpari 19 had a longer shoot, while Inpari 42 and Inpari 47 had longer roots. Based on this study, Inpari 47 can be recommended for moderate iron stress-prone areas, meanwhile, Inpari 3, Inpari 42, Inpari IR Nutri Zinc, and Inpari 32 HDB for low iron stress-prone areas.
The use of improved varieties with wider adaptability and stability is necessary to maximize the productivity of durum wheat. However, due to genotype by environment interaction (GEI) effect, superior genotypes in one environment could be inferior in other environments. Hence, a multi-environmental trial (MET) was commenced to determine the magnitude of GEI effect and identify stable durum wheat genotypes across environments. The MET was conducted using nine durum wheat cultivars in randomized completely block design with three replications across four contrasting locations in 2020 crop seasons. The result of combined analysis of variance showed the presence of significant differences among the main effects; environments, genotypes, and GEI effects for grain yield. The additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) combined ANOVA for main effects of environment, genotype, and GEI revealed highly significant differences among cultivars with 66.2%, 26.4%, and 7.3% share of sum square variation, respectively, of the total variation. AMMI and genotype plus genotype by environment (GGE) Bi-plot analysis identified the cultivars Fetan, Denbi, and Mangudo as high yielders and adaptive to the favourable locations. AMMI stability value and yield stability index identified Mangudo as the most stable and adaptive cultivar across locations. The AMMI Bi-plot analysis showed that the first two interaction principal component analysis (IPCAs) captured 90.45% of the total interaction sum of squares (ISS), where IPCA1 took 55.61% and IPCA2 accounted for 34.84% of GEI effects. This study identified Mangudo as the most stable cultivar with acceptable yield while Fetan was the top yielder genotype across locations.
An attempt to maintain the quality and preservation of honey pineapple (Ananas comosus) is required to avoid fruit loss and its nutritional values. This research aimed to determine the effect of washing with ozonated water and preservation in the cold storage on the quality of honey pineapple. The research was arranged in a completely randomized design with two factors consisting of washing water (ozonated water and non-ozonated water) and storage (ozone cold storage at 2–7 oC and room temperature at 25–28 oC). Honey pineapples were observed for 35 and 20 days in ozone cold storage and at room temperature, respectively. The results showed that ozonation reduced the total bacterial count. Washing with ozonated water did not affect the glucose content of honey pineapple stored at room temperature, but affected those in cold storage. On the other hand, ozonation affected both vitamin C content and weight loss of honey pineapple stored at room temperature and in cold storage. Ozone is able to control bacterial development in honey pineapple resulted in longer shelf life compared to those without ozonation.
The isotope technique can be used to improve and develop land management systems, including the effective and efficient use of nutrients and water to increase crop productivity. The study aimed to obtain information on nutrient uptake by maize and the efficiency of nitrogen fertilizers at some irrigation water levels in sub-optimal land. This study was conducted at the Research Station of Taman Bogo, East Lampung, Indonesia. The study used a split-plot design in a randomized group with three replications. The main plots consisted of water levels 100%, 80%, and 60% based on FAO’s recommendation, whereas the sub-plots were N fertilizer in the form of urea 15N labels with the rates 0, 100, and 135 kg N ha-1. The results showed that the average grain yield of maize (8.0 t ha-1) was the highest for 135 kg N ha-1 and 80% irrigation water. The application of 100 kg N ha-1 with 80% irrigation water was sufficient for increasing N uptake in grain and biomass. The highest efficiency (15.7–16.7%) of N fertilizer on maize was shown by treatments of 135 kg N ha-1with 100% irrigation water and 100 kg N ha-1 with 80% irrigation water. With the isotope method, the N efficiency from fertilizers can be traced
Bitter gourd, Momordica charantia Linn., is one of the most important traditional vegetable in India. Infestations of sucking pests especially jassid, and whitefly occurred thorough out the crop growth period in the region. For ecofriendly management, different pest management modules viz., bio-intensive, chemical, and integrated modules were evaluated against these sucking pests and compared under field conditions during 2019–2021. Among the three tested modules, the integrated pest management (IPM) comprised seed treatment with imidacloprid @ 5–10 g kg-1 of seed, installation of yellow sticky traps @ 25–30 ha-1, border crop with maize, spraying of azadirachtin 1500 ppm @ 10 ml L-1, thiamethoxam @ 1 g 3-1 L, imidacloprid @ 1 g 12-1 L, cyantraniliprole @ 1.8 ml L-1, neem oil (0.5%) + Lecanicillium lecanii @ 2.5 g L-1, and neem oil (0.5%) + Beauveria bassiana @ 2.5 g L-1 from 20 to 70 days after sowing at 10 days intervals each harboured lowest whiteflies population (0.63 per leaf) with maximum per cent reduction over control of 70.14. The number of predatory lady bird beetles and polyphagous spiders were also higher. The highest healthy fruit yields (171, 179, and 153 q ha-1) were recorded from the IPM module for three consecutive years (2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively). In terms of return, maximum net profit of ₹71,211 was obtained from the IPM module with the highest incremental cost-benefit ratio of 1:5.18. Therefore, the IPM module could be a viable ecofriendly option in the management of the sucking pests of bitter gourd, along with the conservation of natural enemies.
Bio-fertilizers improve nutrient availability and reduce the need to use chemical fertilizers and hold a great promise to increase crop yields. To study the effects of different nutrition systems, this research evaluated the individual and combined effects of bio-fertilizers and compared their efficiency with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) chemical fertilizers on the yield of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in the 2017–2018 crop year in Hamedan, Iran. The field experiment included a combination of two factorial experiments, consisting of (a) the application of chemical nitrogen (N0=0, N1=45, N2=90 kg ha-1) and phosphorus (P0=0, P1=40, P2=80 kg ha-1) fertilizers, and (b) the application of N-fixing bacteria Azospirillum and Azotobacter (BN0=0, BN1=0.5, BN2=1 L ha-1), and P-solubilizing bacteria Pseudomonas and Bacillus (BP0=0, BP1=0.5, BP2=1 L ha-1) bio-fertilizers. Each experiment used a 3×3 design with nine treatments and arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Results indicated that the chemical N and P fertilizers significantly increased the grain yield, thousand-grain weight, plant dry weight, protein percentage, and harvest index. Furthermore, bio-fertilizers significantly increased the grain yield and harvest index. The application of bio-fertilizers with N-fixing bacteria and P-solubilizing bacteria improved the growth and yield characteristics of sunflower. Sunflower oil yield was similar among all treatments, ranged from 2.22 to 5.7 t ha-1. Grain yield ranged from 5.12 to 5.88 t ha-1. A similar result between treatments with the chemical and bio-fertilizers suggests that bio-fertilizers are potential alternatives to chemical fertilizers.
Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.), a tuber-producing plant, is a functional food that produces carbohydrates while meeting nutritional needs. Propagation of sweet potato through tissue culture is often hampered in the initial culture due to contamination. The study aimed to optimize sterilization of explants and growth of in vitro culture of purple sweet potato. Tubers of purple sweet potato cv. Antin 2 were ex vitro cultured through a semi-immersion system to produce shoots. The shoots as explants were sterilized with alcohol, fungicide, and sodium hypochlorite (P1); alcohol and sodium hypochlorite (P2); sodium hypochlorite (P3), and washed on sterile distilled water as control (C). The explants were then cultured on MS solid medium in tubes and jars. Growth and multiplication of shoots were carried out on MS solid medium added with cytokinins (BA and kinetin) at different concentrations. The results showed that the best sterilization method was obtained in the sodium hypochlorite (P3) and alcohol-sodium hypochlorite (P2) treatments, with sterile shoots reaching 100%. Planting the explants in jars gave higher normal shoot formation (85–100%) than that in tubes (12.5–48%). The use of kinetin at 0.5–1 mg L-1 gave good shoot vigor. The best axillary shoot multiplication was found on media with 0.5 mg L-1 BA. Growing explants on the semi-immersion system and sodium hypochlorite sterilization produced the highest sterile ones, whereas culturing three explants promotes normal growth straight after sterilization.
As a generalist pathogen in cereals, Fusarium spp. become the most threatening fungi which can conduct its saprogenesis by infecting seeds. Determination of fungal identity and the yield loss risk is needed to modify the effective controlling strategies. However, there is no report on implementing methods for controlling Fusarium spp. on foxtail millet (Setaria italica L. Beauv.). This research was undertaken from July to September 2020 and November to December 2021 under ambient laboratory conditions to identify and evaluate the pathogenicity of seed-borne Fusarium species in foxtail millet. One hundred colonies of seed-borne fungi were isolated from foxtail millet genotype ICERI-6 which was dominated by Fusarium spp. Morphological characterization by observing the structure of colonies and microscopical features indicated that the six isolates (Fu1–Fu6) were identical to Fusarium solani, F. chlamydosporum, F. oxysporum, F. equiseti, F. proliferatum, and F. graminearum, respectively. Molecular identification for the 5.8s rDNA target gene with ITS1 and ITS4 primers has confirmed that the Fusarium spp. were determined as mentioned species. Pathogenicity test using potato dextrose agar medium showed that the germination percentage of seed inoculated by Fusarium spp. was only 1.2% on average at 7 days after incubation. These species led to germination failure as the seeds were covered by fungal mycelia. Seeds that could escape from germination failure performed necrotic spots on the seedlings. These abnormalities would contribute to low productivity in the field. The study has implication in controlling seed-borne disease and that resistant variety breeding becomes important issues to be addressed for future research.
Sweet-potato cultivation is limited globally by many storage rots caused mainly by fungi. The study aimed to test the effectiveness of several types of pesticides against Lasioderma theobromae in vitro. Three trials were set up using a completely randomized design with three replications. The first experiment used four isolates of Trichoderma harzianum (AIM16, NSBM, BGMZ4, and AIM3). The second trial was evaluating types of synthetic fungicides, i.e., mancozeb (50%, 100%), mancozeb+carbendazim (50%, 100%), and mancozeb+metalaxyl+Cu (50%, 100%). The third experiment testing botanical pesticides, namely leaf extracts of Ixora, Guieria, and Bauhinia, as well as Eucalyptus resin and Ricinus soap. The four isolates of T. harzianum inhibited the mycelia growth of L. theobromae by 8.0–100%, significantly different from the control, but there was no significant difference between the isolates. Solutions of mancozeb (100%) and mancozeb+carbendazim (50%, 100%) were more effective in suppressing the development of pathogenic mycelia compared to mancozeb+metalaxyl+Cu. Mancozeb treatment inhibited 8.0–100% of pathogen growth and was significantly different compared to other treatments. Plant extracts inhibited the growth of pathogens by 8.0–100%. Ricinus soap (50%, 100%), Eucalyptus (100%), and Guieria (100%) consistently inhibited the growth of pathogenic mycelia by 70%. Plant extracts and mancozeb were effective in suppressing the growth of pathogenic mycelia. The study indicates that T. harziaum, plant extracts, and mancozeb could be developed as a fungicide to control the soft rot fungus L. theobromae of sweet potato tubers
Stagnant flooding (SF) stress has contributed decreasing rice production in Indonesia. The study aimed to explore critical variables of rice growth that contribute to the decreasing grain yield under SF conditions and a common irrigation system (control). The experiment was arranged in a complete randomized block design with four replications to test 10 rice genotypes (Inpari 30 Ciherang Sub-1, Inpara 3, Inpara 4, Inpara 8, IRRI119, IRRI154, IR42, IR14D121, IR14D157, and Tapus). The water depth was managed according to the farmer’s practices for control, while for SF plots the standing water depth was gradually increased from 35 days after transplanting and was maintained at 50 cm until harvest. Results showed that plant height, tillering ability, leaf greenness, panicle number per hill and grain filling percentage were critical growth variables that affect grain yield at optimal conditions. The yield of the 10 genotypes decreased by 25–50% under SF conditions. Inpara 3 had the stable yield in those two watering conditions. Therefore, it could be used as a check variety for SF condition. Inpara 9 and IRRI119 experienced decreased yield of more than 50% under SF conditions. The key factors determining the decreased yield were tillering ability and green leaf level. Optimization of the two variables at SF conditions will largely determine rice yield associated with panicle number per hill and grain number per panicle. Results of the study are useful as preliminary recommendations for designing new variety and cultivation techniques to reduce the impact of SF stress on rice yield.
Increasing productivity of soybean has often been constrained by pod sucking bugs (Riptortus spp.) which caused a serious damage and yield losses up to 80%. Breeding for obtaining soybean variety resistant to pod suckers needs the availability of soybean germplasm resistant to the pest. The study aimed to obtain a candidate for soybean variety resistant to Riptortus spp. through the selection of 100 accessions of soybean. The study included the preparation of test plants and test insects, pest infestations, observations, and looking for a practical screening method for pod sucking pests. The experiment used a completely randomized design for two treatments (infested and non-infested Riptortus spp.). Cikuray variety and PI-092734 accession were used as a control. Results showed that there was a very low correlation among variables observed. Twelve soybean accessions showed a resistance to Riptortus spp., i.e. C7301-113AC-POP, Lokal Madiun-3549, Lokal Klungkung, ML.2974, Singgalang, Lokal Jepara, Lokal Jatim, Lokal Trenggalek, Lokal Tulungagung, Lokal Tabanan, Lokal Blitar, and Lokal Kuningan 10. These accessions were more resistant than the popular released variety such as Wilis, Grobogan, Detam 2, and Gepak Ijo. Small seed size was not a major determinant of soybean resistance to pod suckers. The addition of observational components, i.e. probing preference and oviposition, indicated that crop damage was indirectly influenced by the high frequency of probing and oviposition, although its relation to plant tolerant mechanisms still needs further investigation. Indeterminate plant types require further validation as to whether they contribute significantly to plant resistance against pod sucking insects.
Asiatic pennyworth is a medicinal plant that contains triterpenoids, saponin, flavonoids, and tannins which possess antioxidants. Endophytic fungi from the plant could produce a similar compound; therefore, antioxidants could be made in the laboratory if the fungi are isolated. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of endophytic fungi isolated from Asiatic pennyworth to produce antioxidants. The study used 34 endophytic fungal isolates from Asiatic pennyworth accessions of Malaysia (17 isolates) and Bengkulu, Indonesia (17 isolates) collected by the Indonesian Center for Agricultural Biotechnology and Genetic Resources Research and Development. The fungi were propagated in a potato dextrose broth medium, then mycelia mats and filtrates were separated and then freeze-dried. The antioxidant activities were first tested with 1,1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) using thin layer chromatography (TLC), then UV-Vis spectrophotometry λ517 nm with five variations of concentration. Results showed all 34 fungal isolates have antioxidant activities based on a yellowish-white color change after applying 0.002% DPPH solution of the TLC method and IC50 value of the UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The highest antioxidant activity was shown by Aspergillus austroafricanus MB 1 (IC50 = 12.08 ppm) from Bengkulu accession and A. oryzae MM 13 (IC50 = 10.29 ppm) from Malaysia accession. A. austroafricanus MB 1 produced more antioxidant compounds (seven) than A. oryzae MM 13 (six). The antioxidant compounds produced by both endophytic fungi included in the group of flavonoids, fatty acids, and carboxylic acids. The research implies that A. austroafricanus MB 1 and A. oryzae MM 13 could be further developed as sources of antioxidants.
The present cultivated enset (Ensete ventricosum) clonal landraces in Ethiopia originated from few wild progenitors. However, enset has a mixed mode of reproduction in which, the wild enset reproduces sexually through seeds, while cultivated enset is generally propagated vegetatively. The objectives of this study were to determine the genetic structure of enset cultivars through genetic analysis of qualitative morphological traits and estimate their genetic variability by evaluating the quantitative agronomic traits data generated from progenies of cultivated and wild enset genotypes. Hence, seeds collected from six cultivated and four wild enset genotypes were used for this study. Data on four qualitative and six quantitative morphological traits were recorded from the progenies of the 10 enset genotypes. Progenies of seven enset genotypes segregated in a 3:1 segregation ratio while progenies of the remaining genotypes segregated differently for the qualitative traits considered. With regard to the quantitative traits, the progenies of the 10 enset genotypes differed significantly for five of the six traits except pseudostem length. The cultivated clones, in general performed better than that of the wild types. Moderate heritability (h2b) estimates and high genetic advances were obtained for leaf length (0.38, 62.0%), pseudostem circumference (0.35, 78.5%), and plant height (0.30, 19.1%) indicating selection for these traits indirectly improves economic yield of enset clones. This study demonstrated the possibility of creating genetic variation through selfing the existing enset genotypes for traits of interest and making improvements either through selection or crossing the elite types to develop novel enset cultivars.
Germination is a portentous yield determining factor that is a challenge in the low water potential environment due to disrupted imbibition. Hormonal seed priming can markedly increase the germination on maize even in such a stressful environment. Therefore, research was aimed to analyze the application of gibberellic acid (GA3) priming to maize seeds to minimize the deleterious effects of reduced water potential. GA3 priming was done at 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 ppm for 12 hours and subjected to drought levels of 0, 0.15, 0.50, 1.05, and 1.75 MPa by using NaCl solution. Different germination parameters, i.e., germination percentage, mean germination time, germination index, relative water content, seedling vigor index, root length, and shoot length, were determined on the final day of the experiment. The results showed that all germination parameters were adversely influenced by low water potential. Every level of GA3 priming has hastened all parameters. GA3 priming at 100 ppm decreased the mean germination time by 35 hours under 1.75 MPa compared to non-primed seeds. GA3 priming increased the shoot length of maize seedlings with a shoot length of 2.9 cm in non-primed seedlings compared to 6.4 cm in 200 ppm GA3 priming under 1.05 MPa. GA3 priming is the best method for the early establishment of maize seedlings in low water potential conditions. As a result, it may be utilized as a low-cost and straightforward approach for establishing maize crops under saline and drought conditions.
Rice is an essential staple food in Nepal but researches and varietal improvement programs are rarely carried out due to inadequate variability study. The field study was carried to diagnose the influence of genetic and environmental factors on yield traits to aid future rice breeding programs. Twelve genotypes were arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications from July to November 2019 at the research field of the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Tribhuvan University, in the hilly area of Nepal. Analysis of variance showed significant difference for days to 50% booting, days to 50% flowering, plant height, panicle length, flag leaf area, filled grains per panicle, unfilled grains per panicle, fertility percentage, effective tillers m-2, straw yield, grain yield, 1000-grain weight, and harvesting index indicating the presence of variation in genotypes. LPN BR-1615 was the most promising genotype in grain yield. The values of Phenotypic Coefficient of Variation (PCV) were higher than Genotypic Coefficient of Variation (GCV) for each trait and low difference between them was found for days to 50% booting, days to 50% flowering, plant height, panicle length, grain yield, thousand-grain weight, fertility percentage, and harvesting index. Plant height, effective tillers m-2, and grain yield showed high heritability (i.e. 93.2%, 60.5% and 92.6%, respectively) and higher genetic advance as percentage of mean (i.e. 46.5, 34.6 and 50.1, respectively) . Thus, the experiment revealed that selections favoring plant height, effective tillers m-2, and grain yield would help in effective breeding programs of rice in future.
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the most important and strategic food crop in Indonesia, but low productivity in tidal paddy fields is a serious problem that must be overcome. The application of ameliorant would be worthy to increase the growth and yield of rice in tidal paddy fields. The study aimed to investigate the effect of ameliorant application on growth and yield of rice varieties in tidal paddy fields. The study was arranged in a split plot design with five replications. Rice varieties tested were Inpari 34, Dendang, Inpara 9, Inpari 35, and Ciherang as the main plot, and ameliorant types studied were humic acid, gypsum, zeolite, and organic fertilizer as the subplot. The results showed that the use of different rice varieties and amelioran types significantly increased the growth and yield of rice. Inpara 9 produced 7.6 t.ha-1 dry milled grain (DMG) or increased by 33.3% compared to Ciherang variety. Humic acid application at 25 kg ha-1 increased grain yield by 21.3% higher than that without ameliorant treatment. The best treatment to increase the growth and yield of rice in tidal paddy field was a combination of humic acid 25 kg.ha-1 and Inpari 34 which produced the DMG of 8.6 t ha-1 or 41% higher compared to Ciherang without ameliorant.
Higher temperature and light intensity at the medium upland elevation decrease the number of blooming flowers, flower diameter, and red color flower intensity of Chrysanthemum morifoliumcompared to that at the high upland elevation. The environmental modification was needed during the flower development phase to improve the quality of chrysantheum at a medium upland elevation. The study aimed to find the suitable screen house environmental modification for increasing the chrysanthemum quality at the medium upland elevation. The study consisted of two factors. First, environmental modification of a screen house, such as (1) control, (2) the addition of shading net on the rooftop of the screen house, (3) the addition of a misting system in the screen house, and (4) the addition of a combination of shading net on the rooftop and misting system in the screen house. Second, the chrysanthemum varieties, including (1) Yastayuki (white flower), (2) Arosuka Pelangi (yellow flower), and (3) Socakawani (red flower). Experiments were arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications. Data were analyzed by combined ANOVA. The results showed that either the addition of a shading net or misting system reduced the number of flower buds growing. The competition among flower buds was found to be reduced by decreasing the number of flower buds. Consequently, the number and diameter of the blooming flower increased. The addition of a shading net on top of the screen house was the most suitable environmental modification to increase the chrysanthemum quality at the medium upland elevation.
Resistance screening of promising rice lines in Indonesia requires the use of brown planthopper (BPH) biotypes 1, 2, and 3. Three BPH populations have been raised as biotypes 1, 2, and 3 on differential rice host of improved varieties Pelita I-1 (no Bph gene), IR26 (Bph1), and IR42 (bph2), respectively. Three alternative populations have also been developed on the respective traditional varieties TN1 (no Bph gene), Mudgo (Bph1), and ASD7 (bph2). Although these populations displayed two virulent patterns other than biotype 1 to 3 phenotypes, they were expected to be discriminated into two virulence groups by SSR analysis. The study aimed to investigate the level of genetic variation among the six BPH populations using SSR markers and to relate it with the observed virulence patterns. Genotyping of 30 females with 29 polymorphic SSR markers revealed higher genetic parameter values in populations reared on improved varieties than those on traditional varieties. This difference was marked as two population clusters in PCoA plots corresponding to the host variety type, in contrast to the previous assumption that clustering would be based on virulence patterns. The presence of individuals with unwanted virulence allele, either resulting from contamination during the long period of rearing or lack of host adaptation period, is suspected. The result of this study indicates that the six populations are not suitable for resistance screening. Virulence selection must be performed until they attain biotype 1 to 3 phenotypes which can be genetically separated by DNA markers.
The main constraints to increase mungbean production in Indonesia are pests and diseases. The application of integrated biological agents can improve the efficacy of controlling the mungbean pests and diseases. The study aimed to determine the efficacy of integrated biological agents to suppress mungbean pests and diseases. This field research was conducted from May to July 2018 using a randomized block design with seven treatments and four replicates. The treatments were: T1 = Trichol + NSP, T2 = Trichol + SlNPV, T3 = Trichol + NSP + SlNPV, T4 = Trichol + NSP + SlNPV + BeBas, T5 = Trichol + NSP + SlNPV + BeBas + GE, T6 = chemical pesticides, and T7 = control. The results showed that the highest efficacy occurred in T4 and T5 treatments which saved the yield loss from major pests and diseases attack, and did not differ significantly with chemical pesticides (T6). Treatments T4 was able to reduce the development of soil borne diseases by 3% and suppress Spodoptera litura attack by 9.8% as compared to chemical treatment. T4 was also more efficient than T5 because it uses less biological agents. The advantage of biological agents is compatible if they were used together with predators such as Oxyopes sp., Paederus sp. and Coccinella sp; and also Telenomus sp. and Trichogramma sp. parasitoids. On the other hand, the chemical pesticides (T6) killed all existing natural enemies. Therefore, T4 could be recommended for controlling mungbean pests and diseases.
