Seaweed Extract Improves Lagenaria siceraria Young Shoot Production, Mineral Profile and Functional Quality

Vegetable landraces represent the main source of biodiversity in Sicily. Lagenaria siceraria is appreciated by Southern Mediterranean consumers for its immature fruits and young shoots. Plant-based biostimulants supply, such as seaweed extract (SwE), is a contemporary and green agricultural practice applied to ameliorate the yield and quality of vegetables. However, there are no studies concerning the effects of SwE on L. siceraria. The current study evaluated the effects of SwE foliar application (0 or 3 mL L−1) on five L. siceraria landraces (G1, G2, G3, G4 and G5) grown in greenhouses. Growth traits, first female flower emission, fruit yield, young shoot yield, fruit firmness, young shoot nitrogen use efficiency (NUEys) and specific young shoot quality parameters, such as soluble solids content (SSC), mineral profile, ascorbic acid, and polyphenols, were appraised. Plant height and number of leaves at 10, 20 and 30 days after transplant (DAT) were significantly higher in plants treated with SwE as compared with untreated plants. Treating plants with SwE increased marketable fruit yield, fruit mean mass, young shoot yield and number of young shoots by 14.4%, 15.0%, 22.2%, 32.4%, and 32.0%, respectively as compared with untreated plants. Relevant increments were also recorded for NUEys, P, K, Ca, Mg, ascorbic acid and polyphenols concentration. SwE application did not significantly affect total yield and SSC. Furthermore, SwE treated plants produced a lower number of marketable fruits than non-treated plants. The present study showed that SwE at 3 mL L−1 can fruitfully enhance crop performance, young shoot yield and quality of L. siceraria.

Grapholita molesta (Oriental fruit moth).

G. molesta is a serious pest of economic importance of commercial stone and pome fruits around the world. G. molesta damages peaches, nectarines, plums, cherries, apricots, apples, pears, quinces and nashi (Asian pears) and can also attack and cause economic damage on other commercial fruits. In severe attacks, young trees can suffer distortion of growing shoots and stems, which makes pruning, training and shaping the tree canopy difficult, particularly for close-planting industrial systems such as Tatura trellis. One larva can damage many shoots by tunnelling deep into young shoot tips. Larvae move to feed on the green fruits usually after shoots mature and harden. One larva can damage many fruits, particularly when fruits are located close to each other.

Agroecology and Uses of Galinsoga parviflora as Indigenous Vegetable in Highland of Kuningan, Banjarnegara and Wonosobo, Indonesia

Gallant soldier (Galinsoga parviflora Cav.) is a cosmopolitan weed and is traditionally used as a vegetable in Java highland. The study aimed to evaluate agroecology and uses of G. parviflora as an indigenous vegetable in Java. Researches were conducted in Kuningan, Banjarnegara, and Wonosobo districts from June 2015 to July 2017. The distribution map was drawn from field tracks, interviews, and literature studies. Results revealed two Galinsoga species based on leaf and stem shape, i.e., G. parviflora and G. quadriradiata. Only G. parviflora was selected as a vegetable in Banjarnegara and Wonosobo, but not in Kuningan district. It ranked seventh among 13 traditional vegetables; young shoot with inflorescences was consumed after cooking or boiling, and sometimes used as a diuretic. Although it contributed low to household diet, however, its position on the social relationship among neighbors was important. The wide distribution range of Galinsoga in Java is potential as a new vegetable. It is important to study the nutrient content of this vegetable to improve utilization. Keywords: Asteraceae, Dieng, gallant soldier, jukut saminggu, weed

Two new species of Kaempferia L. (Zingiberaceae) from Cambodia and Lao PDR

Two new species of Kaempferia L. (Zingiberaceae), Kaempferia nemoralis Insis. sp. nov. and Kaempferia pascuorum Insis. sp. nov., from Cambodia and Lao PDR are described and illustrated. Morphological similarities to their closely related taxa are discussed. Kaempferia nemoralis Insis. sp. nov. is compared with Kaempferia larsenii Sirirugsa in its vegetative parts, but distinguished by the following characters: whole plant taller, leaf sheath and young shoot apex green, petiole absent. It differs from Kaempferia rotunda L. in its floral parts by the following characters: presence of peduncle, floral tube longer, labellum purple with white line at centre, anther crest obovate, bifid, apex irregularly rounded and ovary glabrous. Kaempferia pascuorum Insis. sp. nov. is compared with Kaempferia larsenii Sirirugsa. Proposed IUCN conservation assessments are also given: Kaempferia nemoralis Insis. sp. nov. occurs in disturbed, open forest and is assessed as CR, whereas Kaempferia pascuorum Insis. sp. nov. occurs in short grassland and is assessed as EN.

Production of Fruits and Leafy Vegetables Solanum nigrum Linn under Different Shade Levels

Fruits and young shoot of Solanum nigrum Linn are harvested and consumed as indigenous vegetables by different Indonesian ethnics. Preharvest factors and harvesting methods to maximize the quality of S. nigrum produce is still unknown. In this study S. nigrum was grown in full irradiance and under shading and assessed for their growth, and fruit and shoot yields. The experiment was conducted at the Leuwikopo Experimental Farm in Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia from April-July 2017. The results demonstrated that plants produced more fruits and shoots in full irradiance, i.e., 687.9 g and 211.1 g per plant, whereas only 331.1 g and 116.9 g per plant were produced in 50% shading. Although fruit and shoot production were superior under full irradiance, shoot-harvested plants had healthier leaves and life span of about 2 months longer thus facilitating longer availability. Canopy of shoot-harvested plants formed a columnar shape with 23 to 45 cm in height, in contrast to spherical shape with 48 to 203 cm in height of the fruit-harvested plants. It is likely that shading level might contribute to farmers’ decision to harvest the shoots or fruits of S. nigrum. Further studies are needed to determine the effects of shading levels on nutritional quality of the shoots and fruits of S. nigrum. Keywords: African nightshade, canopy architecture, harvesting method, indigenous vegetable, intercropping

Kelembagaan Masyarakat dan Struktur Agraria serta Keberlanjutan Sumberdaya Alam di Kawasan Capa

Aim of the research as follows: (1) inquisitive about variation of laws in regulating agrarian resources use, (2) function of traditional law in regulation at used of natural resources and related with existence on natural preservation-in formal law, and (3) inquiring influence outsider intervention to local institutions with the agrarian structure and relationship between expectation agrarian conflict. The unity of the study is Arfak community-as much as local community- was that administrative limited seatle in certain locations around natural preservation area of the Arfak Mountain. The trategy of the research is case study, while analysis of the data with qualitative manner. Result of the research is in the locations study beside property right of local community and movement of Arfak community from high land include at the resettlement programme. Not a problem related with economic subsistence with economic un-security because group property right community give free to the movement community for use to agriculture developing. For developing concept of forest sustainable as nit side to one side, income several NGO as well as role as institution relationship (young-shoot autonomy) for accommodation importance various party supra-village in relationship with existence natural preservation area of the Arfak Mountain and the party of local community in related of security in economic subsistence.

Optimization of Culture Media Formulations for Micropropagation of Lepisanthes fruticosa

Tissue culture provides an avenue for the production of high quality clonal plants in large numbers within a short time. Here, we describe the development of protocols for reproducible in vitro micropropagation of Lepisanthes fruticosa via direct organogenesis. Shoots were initiated from two types of explants, nodes and young shoots, to establish in vitro cultures on Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium or Woody Plant Medium (WPM) supplemented with different concentrations of benzylaminopurine (BAP). Semi-solid WPM media containing 1 mg/L BAP was most effective in shoot initiation in both node and young shoot explants, giving 40% and 20% shoot induction, respectively. The highest rate of shoot proliferation from young shoot explants was obtained using BAP at 3.0 mg/L in combination with NAA at 1.0 mg/L in WPM culture medium. This combination of growth regulators in the medium was also suited to root initiation.