Crop losses due to insect pests pose a significant threat to food security and farming economics. Globally in crop plants, insect pest damage caused up to 38% of yield losses in crops. Excessive reliance on chemical pesticides has led to pest resistance and environmental harm, prompting increased interest in biological control using entomophages (beneficial predatory and parasitic insects). Trichogramma evanescens Westwood (1833), an egg parasitoid wasp, is a widely used insect to biologically control the cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) and other lepidopteran pests in Kazakhstan. However, distributing Trichogramma efficiently at the field scale remains challenging when done manually. The presented study explored the development and evaluation of a novel unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based system for the automated dispersal of Trichogramma in encapsulated form. The developed system integrates a custom-designed capsule delivery device integrated with a commercial drone, enabling precise, controlled release of entomophages over crop fields. The UAV-based system proved eco-friendly, labor-saving, and effective, achieving over 90% emergence rates and high parasitism levels, comparable to manual application.

Keywords: UAV, drone, Trichogramma evanescens, entomophages, biological control, capsule delivery, precision agriculture, cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera)

Key findings: A UAV-based system, successfully developed for precise release of biodegradable capsules with Trichogramma for biological pest control, achieved over 90% emergence and high parasitism rates. It also matches manual effectiveness while offering eco-friendly and labor-saving management.

Refugia is a flowering plant often found in oil palm plantation areas, cultivated and grown wild, with pink and bright yellow flowers. The most common types of refugia plants belonged to the species Antigonon leptosus, Turnera ulmifolia, Cassia tora, Crotalaria pallida, and Crotalaria retusa. However, currently these types of refugia often become planted as edge plants to attract natural enemy insects such as predatory insects. The natural enemies’ attraction to plants is due to the flower shape, color, and the volatile compounds released by the flowers. The following study aimed to determine the flower volatile compounds and their function by interaction between plants and their environment using the glass chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The results revealed the production of various types of secondary metabolite compounds by each refugia, such as octadecanoic acid, 1,3,4,5-tetrahydroxy cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, 9-octadecanoic acid, pentadecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, tetracosamethyl cyclododecasiloxane, and ester with different percentages. The ester content was 17.35% in A. leptosus, 56.91% in T. ulmifolia, 30.54% in C. tora, 36.35% in C. pallida, and 14.39% in C. retusa. This ester compound provides an aroma to the flowers, and it attracts natural enemies to make the refugia their microhabitat.

Keywords: Refugia plants, insect species, volatile compounds, GC-MS analysis, oil palm, microhabitat, flowers

Key findings: Refugia has various colors, shapes, and volatile compounds, such as acids—octadecanoic, 1,3,4,5-tetrahydroxy cyclohexanecarboxylic, 9-octadecenoic, pentadecanoic, and hexadecanoic, tetracosamethyl cyclododecasiloxane, and ester compounds. The ester content was the highest in the species T. ulmifolia (56.91%).

Global tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production faces a major threat of tomato yellow leaf curl disease (TYLCD), transmitted by the whitefly (Bemisia tabaci). However, the resistance to TYLCD can gain enhancement by managing the vector. In tomatoes, the trichomes act as physical barriers against whiteflies. Developing tomato cultivars with specific trichome types in higher density works as a promising alternative to insecticides. The presented study investigated the relationship between trichome types, their density, and resistance to TYLCD by inoculating the cultivated tomatoes with the whitefly transmission method. The trichomes’ analysis also succeeded under a compound light microscope, aiding the selection of cultivars with high trichome density and TYLCD resistance. A negative correlation appeared between the glandular trichome type VI density and TYLC virus (TYLCV) resistance. Highly resistant tomato accessions (KKU-T23157, KKU-T23160, KKU-T23163, and KKU-T23164) and moderately resistant accessions (KKU-T23152, KKU-T23154, and KKU-T23172) displayed all five types of trichomes, with type VI density of 32–55/mm² and 32.67–42/mm², respectively. Susceptible tomato cultivars had only three trichome types, with type VI density of 9–19/mm². The presence of high glandular trichome type VI density, Ty-2, and Ty-3 resistance genes contributed to the TYLCD resistance. These selected tomato cultivars proved valuable for future tomato breeding programs.

Keywords: Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), tomato yellow leaf curl disease (TYLCD), Bemisia tabaci, insect resistance, trichome morphology, Ty-2 and Ty-3 genes

Key findings: Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) genotypes observed with the highest trichome density, particularly of glandular trichomes type VI, demonstrated considerable resistance to TYLCD via a mechanism that encompasses resistance to the viral transmission by Bemisia tabaci. The Ty-2 and Ty-3 genes’ presence enhanced the resistance to TYLCV.

Pitcher plants (Nepenthes sp.) have significant genetic diversity, necessitating their identification in Indonesia. Lampung Province provides suitable habitat for pitcher plants, specifically in the areas of Kebun Raya Liwa, West Lampung Regency, and Balik Bukit District, Indonesia. The specific species of pitcher plants in Kebun Raya Liwa have not reached identification. Therefore, this research aimed to identify the pitcher plants in the regions. Based on the study findings, 13 accessions of pitcher plants exhibited varied morphological characteristics, with the stem length, leaf shape, leaf length, pitcher shape, and pitcher color identified as the most influential traits. The study successfully classified these 13 accessions into three species: N. reinwardtiana, N. mirabilis, and N. gracilis.

Keywords: Pitcher plant (Nepenthes sp.), genetic resources, diversity, characterization, morphological traits, Lampung

Key findings: The 13 pitcher plant (Nepenthes sp.) accessions expressed considerable genetic variations based on morphological traits. In the identification of all the pitcher plant accessions, three types of species emerged, namely, N. reinwardtiana, N. mirabilis, and N. gracilis.

The following research aimed to determine the tolerance of four local Gorontalo rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes to drought through the PEG-6000 induction method, conducted in 2024 at the Laboratory of Seed Science and Technology, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia. This research continued in a completely randomized design with two factors. The first factor comprised the six rice genotypes, including two national genotypes (Ciherang and Situ Bagendit), in comparison with four local Gorontalo genotypes (Ponda, Pulo Kuku, Pulo Merah, and Temo). The second factor was PEG concentrations in three levels, i.e., 0 g L^-1 (control), 12.5 g L^-1, and 25 g L^-1. The PEG-6000 utilization as a selection agent for drought-tolerant rice proved to have a significant effect on the germination process and seedling growth. Four local Gorontalo rice genotypes notably showed no resistance to drought stress, whereas the drought-tolerant indices of the four rice genotypes (Ponda, Pulo Kuku, Pulo Merah, and Temo) scored more than 1.00, being classified as sensitive genotypes. Therefore, the planting of these four local rice genotypes must include abundant water management to optimize their growth and production.

Keywords: Gorontalo rice (O. sativa L.), local rice, germination, PEG-6000, drought tolerance indices

Key findings: Four local Gorontalo rice (O. sativa L.) genotypes were distinct in having no resistance to drought stress, and the drought tolerance indices were more than 1.00 for the genotypes Ponda, Pulo Kuku, Pulo Merah, and Temo, classified as sensitive genotypes.

Indonesia and the Southeast Asian region have become the center of diversity for cultivated bananas and their wild relatives. Bananas with the highest diversity, both wild and cultivated, serve as a gene pool for banana breeding. The following study examined a sterile wild banana (Musa acuminata var. microcarpa Becc.) Nasution, accession LIPI-464, originating from Kalimantan, Indonesia. The said accession produces female flowers with no seeds. Observing the chromosome during metaphase I of meiosis of the pollen mother cells revealed abnormal chromosome configurations, such as univalent and trivalent, which suggested chromosomal translocation. The chromosomal translocation also reduces fertility. Despite showing high pollen viability using a staining test, pollination experiments showed seedless fruits, which confirmed the sterility of the accession. In this study, pollens with incomplete dissolved callose walls were evident, along with genetic abnormality in the degradation of callose walls during pollen development. This wild banana accession serves as a valuable resource for understanding the mechanism of sterility in bananas and the impact of chromosomal translocation on seed production, requiring considerations in future breeding programs on bananas.

Keywords: Musa acuminata var. microcarpa Becc., wild Musa diversity, sterility, meiosis, chromosome segregation, chromosomal abnormalities, seedless fruits

Key findings: This study is a new report on the wild sterile banana (Musa acuminata) with all its characteristics and will shed light on the evolution of the banana from fertile to sterile seedless banana.

Indonesia is the leading global producer of Uncaria gambir (W. Hunter) Roxb., with West Sumatra having the largest plantation. The assessment of haplotype diversity is crucial for the production and quality of gambir in West Sumatra, Indonesia. The following study utilized ITS markers to ascertain the haplotype diversity in 28 accessions of U. gambir and one wild gambir species (U. homomalla) from four populations in main plantation areas located in West Sumatra, Indonesia. The research isolated, amplified, and sequenced the DNA. The assessment of genetic differentiation utilized various bioinformatics tools, including BioEdit for sequence alignment, DnaSP for detecting polymorphisms and analyzing haplotype diversity, and MEGA 11. The analysis of 28 accessions of U. gambir and one wild gambir species (U. homomalla) among four examined populations, identified seven distinct haplotypes (H1–H7). Haplotype diversity emerged to be moderate among all the groups (Hd = 0.633). The population of Taratak Tempatih demonstrated the greatest haplotype variety (Hd = 0.90), while the population of Simpang Kapuak exhibited the lowest diversity (Hd = 0), while all populations possessed the identical haplotype (H1). The genetic identity of Udang, Riau Besar, Riau Kecil, and Cubadak accessions will support seedling selection and breeding programs.

Keywords: Uncaria gambir (W. Hunter) Roxb., landraces, genetic uniformity, haplotype diversity, ITS, phylogenetic relationship

Key findings: The presented study identified seven distinct haplotypes in U. gambir (W. Hunter) Roxb., demonstrating the highest genetic diversity, using ITS markers. The highest haplotype diversity indicates low genetic uniformity, affecting gambir production and quality. This genetic diversity is crucial for the conservation of gambir landraces in West Sumatra, Indonesia.

Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae Kleb.) is a fungal disease that causes significant losses both in fiber yield and its quality traits in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Therefore, the following study aimed to determine the effect of verticillium wilt’s (VW) impact on lint production and fiber quality of nine upland cotton genotypes grown with Verticillium dahliae-infested and non-infested plants under greenhouse conditions. Based on disease ranking results, the lint yield and fiber quality parameters were significantly (P < 0.05) higher for the cultivars Bayraktar and Livzara than the genotype Alekberi under fungal pathogen (V. dahliae) infestation. Fiber quality traits bore considerable effects from VW infected plants as compared to healthy (H) plants. Fiber length decreased from 29.10 (H) to 26.0 (VW) in the cultivar Alekberi and 29.05 (H) to 26.4 (VW) with cultivar Ganja-110, however, was unchanged in the cultivars Livzara and Barakat. For micronaire, a slight increase emerged in some VW infected cultivars versus their healthy counterparts. For disease severity ranking based on intensity of vascular stem discoloration, the cultivars Livzara, Barakat, Ganja-114, and Bayraktar proved resistant to VW. The selection of cotton cultivars tolerant to V. dahliae infection with economically important traits needs further exploration.

Keywords: Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), cultivars, verticillium wilt, lint production, fiber quality traits, disease ranking, fiber yield and quality losses

Key findings: Verticillium wilt disease considerably affects the fiber quality traits in upland cotton. A slight decrease in fiber uniformity, increase in micronaire, and nonsignificant differences for fiber elongation were notable in the diseased plants compared to healthy ones.

Traditional plant breeding practices have predominantly relied on phenotypic observations, limiting molecular data availability. Furthermore, previous research on salak species has mainly focused on Salak Pondoh and Salak Gading, leaving Salak Sidimpuan understudied at the molecular level. The presented study sought to examine the genetic diversity of Salak Sidimpuan (Salacca sumatrana Becc.) using phenotypic and molecular approaches in South Tapanuli Regency, Indonesia. Nine samples collected from three major salak-producing districts in Padangsidimpuan—East Angkola, West Angkola, and South Angkola with different altitudes—entailed analysis. The RAPD analysis revealed a polymorphism percentage ranging from 60% to 91%, averaging 81.4%. The primer OPA-13 exhibited the highest polymorphism (91%) with 11 DNA bands, whereas the primer OPA-9 showed the lowest polymorphism (60%) with five DNA bands. The identified genetic characters totaled 38, comprising 32 polymorphic and two monomorphic characteristics. The following findings provide valuable insights into the genetic diversity of Salak Sidimpuan, offering a molecular basis for breeding strategies and conservation for the future.

Keywords: Salak Sidimpuan (S. sumatrana Becc.), molecular markers, polymorphism, genetic diversity, phenotypic analysis

Key findings: This study provides information on phenotype and genetic diversity in Salak Sidimpuan (S. sumatrana) plants based on DNA banding patterns using the RAPD method. The genetic diversity indicators based on DNA bands support the diversity at the morphological level of the Salak Sidimpuan.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most widely grown cereal crops worldwide, with around 20% of its grains used for food purposes, 15%–20% for technical purposes, and 60% for feed. In the Akmola Region of Kazakhstan, maize used for silage is preferable in the milky-wax ripeness phase of the grain. The following study aimed to evaluate early-maturing and high-yielding maize hybrids’ average over 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 for cultivation in the hill-plain zone of Akmola Region, Kazakhstan. Three early-ripening maize hybrids, Budan-237-MV, KizURAKS-150-SV, and Tselinny-160-SV, obtained evaluation, with the Sary-Arka-150-ASV (St.) serving as the standard, grown with the recommended agricultural technology. For the vegetation period, maize hybrids KizURAKS-150-SV and Sary-Arka-150-ASV (standard) grains reached wax ripeness in 113 days. The highest grains per cob resulted in the hybrids KizURAKS-150-SV (237 grains cob^-1) and Sary-Arka-150-ASV (240 grains cob^-1). The heaviest grain weight per cob was evident in hybrids Tselinny-160-SV (131 g) and Sary-Arka-150-ASV (128 g). The grain yield, as managed by the genotype by environment interactions, had the hybrid Tselinny-160-SV with the highest grain yield (4.4 t/ha). Therefore, the early-maturing maize hybrids KizURAKS-150-SV, Sary-Arka-150-ASV, Tselinny-160-SV, and Budan-237-MV emerged as the most suitable for cultivation in Northern Kazakhstan for forage purposes.

Keywords: Maize (Z. mays L.), early-maturing hybrids, environmental factors, growth and development, cob traits, yield-related traits, grain yield

Key findings: In the comparative assessment of maize (Z. mays L.) hybrids for early maturity and grain yield in the hill-plain zone of the Akmola Region, the hybrid KizURAKS-150-SV occurred with 113 days and 3.3 t/ha, and the most productive hybrid with an extended vegetation period was the Tselinny-160-SV (4.4 t/ha^-1 and 121 days).