This study investigated the combined effects of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AM) and foliar fertilizer (Growmore) application on potato tuber growth and yield to improve nutrient efficiency, crop productivity, and agricultural sustainability, conducted in May-September 2023 in Bantaeng, Indonesia. The two-factor factorial field experiment involved four doses of AM (control, 7.5, 15, and 22.5 g plant^-1) and three concentrations of foliar fertilizer application (2, 4, and 6 g L^-1), repeated three times. The results showed a significant interaction effect on the combination of AM application (15 g plant^-1) and foliar fertilizer (6 g L^-1), increasing stem diameter, number of leaves, tuber weight, and yield. The foliar fertilizer (4 g L^-1) affected the number of leaves, while AM (15 g plant^-1) increased tuber weight and yield. Phosphorus content analysis was highest when adding AM (15 g plant^-1) and foliar fertilizer (6 g L^-1). The highest protein appeared with AM (7.5 g plant^-1) and foliar fertilizer (6 g L^-1), and the maximum vitamin C emerged with AM (15 g plant^-1) and foliar fertilizer (4 g L^-1) applications. An integrated approach using AM (15 g plant^-1) and foliar fertilizer (4-6 g L^-1) proved effective in increasing potato productivity.

Keywords: Potato (S. tuberosum L.), mycorrhiza, mineral fertilizer, growth traits, potato tubers

Key findings: In potato (S. tuberosum L.) production, a significant increase occurred by using mycorrhiza and foliar application of mineral fertilizers.

The reduction of mercury uptake and its content in rice (Oryza sativa L.) grains is this research’s aim, particularly on rice grown in mercury-contaminated fields in the Mandailing Natal Regency, Indonesia. The experiment, laid out in a split-split plot design, had three replications and the period from August to December 2023. The main plots included biochar (from coconut shells) modified with Fe3O4 (M1), FeSO4 (M2), dolomite (M3), and unmodified biochar (M0). The subplots were pyrolysis temperatures at two levels, 350 °C (S1) and 550 °C (S2). The sub-sub plots comprised three rice cultivars: IF-16, Inpari-32, and Ciherang. Additionally, the study included three control treatments (without biochar). The results showed biochar modifications with Fe3O4, FeSO4, and dolomite can reduce the mercury content in rice grains below the standard quality threshold. Among the treatments, the IF-16 cultivar combined with biochar modified with Fe3O4 was the most effective in reducing mercury content while significantly increasing production in mercury-contaminated soils. This combination led to an 80.1% increase in rice production with lower mercury content in the grains.

Keywords: Rice (O. sativa L.), food, gold mine, heavy metals, Hg, tolerance

Key findings: The results showed rice (O. sativa L.) tolerant cultivar IF-16, combined with modified biochar, can significantly reduce the mercury content in rice grains compared with cultivars Ciherang and Inpari-32 grown by the farming community on mercury-contaminated soils.

Phosphorus plays a crucial role in promoting plant growth and development. However, Pakistani soils face phosphorus deficiency due to their mineralogical characteristics and high pH levels, resulting in instant adsorption of applied phosphorus. Key factors affecting phosphorus accessibility in these soils include clay mineral composition, sesquioxide levels, pH, and free CaCO₃ presence. The current study aimed to develop phosphorus adsorption isotherms using Langmuir and Modified Freundlich equations and determine phosphorus application rates for maximum yield. The experiment comprised 11 treatments, i.e., T₁ (Control), with the 10 doses consisting of increasing levels of phosphorus concentration in CaCl₂ solution: T₂ (10 ppm), T₃ (20 ppm), T₄ (30 ppm), T₅ (40 ppm), T₆ (50 ppm), T₇ (60 ppm), T₈ (70 ppm), T₉ (80 ppm), T₁₀ (90 ppm), and T₁₁ (100 ppm). An analysis of collected samples for texture determination used the hydrometer method. After determining the soil textural class of both soils, phosphorus adsorptions evaluation for both textures utilized P concentration in calcium chloride. Phosphorus adsorption curves exposed a higher P fixation happening at less phosphorus contents, whereas high phosphorus quantities resulted in less fixation for clay loam and sandy loam soils.

Keywords: Phosphorus, isotherm, soil texture, adsorption, and Freundlich model

Key findings: The study concluded the Langmuir model performed efficiently even at lower P concentrations, while the modified Freundlich model was most suitable at medium to high P concentrations. Hence, the modified Freundlich model is the best option for calculating theoretical P doses for field applications.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most essential food commodities, and to increase rice production, weather is a significant factor affecting productivity, especially the sunlight requirement. Appropriate shading techniques and regulating the sunlight can enhance rice production. The presented study aimed to increase rice production under shaded environments. The latest research began in November 2023 until February 2024 at the Malikussaleh University. The study employed a split-plot design with three replications, and the primary factor was shading and no shade at the main plot. The secondary factor was the six rice genotypes, i.e., US-20 (Unsyiah Simeulue), CBD-08 (Cot Bada), CBD-04 (Cot Bada), Sigupai UA12, Cibatu, and Inpago9, used as subplots. The rice genotypes and shade (G × N) interactions demonstrated significant (P < 0.01) differences for the number of tillers, total grains, and filled grains and grain weight per hill. Inpago-9 exhibited the highest grain weight per hill (74.67 g) under the shaded condition. The correlation was significantly positive between grain weight per hill under shaded conditions and the number of productive tillers, total grain number, number of filled grains, and 1000-grain weight. The use of shade represents a potential alternative of increasing rice production; however, the net assimilation rate demonstrated a notable decline.

Keywords: Rice (Oryza sativa L.), shading effect, growth and yield traits, traits correlation, net assimilation rate

Key findings: The promising study examined the impact of shading on several traits of rice (O. sativa L.) production. The results demonstrated 25% shading could positively affect the rice performance and indicated superior promising lines tolerant to 25% of shade. The insights gained will be highly useful for breeders in tailoring treatments to achieve the desired plant outcomes.

Moringa oleifera Linn. is a plant with significant potential as a functional food. For mutation, the gamma rays irradiation has been proven effective in producing prominent characteristics such as tolerance to aluminum (Al) stress. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the genetic variability of M. oleifera plant by exposing to gamma rays irradiation at various doses. Selection of Al tolerant genotypes was carried out in in vitro under Al stress conditions by adding AlCl₃ to the media at the rate of 0, 50, 100, 250, and 500 mg/L. The selection was made for prominent accessions of M. oleifera capable of producing high yields under abiotic stress conditions. In addition to agronomic parameters, the organic acids content were observed to select the tolerant accessions with metabolic profile of Al stress tolerant accessions. Gamma irradiation applied to M. oleifera shoot culture produced new traits, as shown by the molecular dendrogram of ISSR markers, where the 10 and 20 Gy treatments had varied genetic diversity compared to the wild type. Additionally, gamma irradiation at 10 and 20 Gy increased the tolerance of M. oleifera culture to 100 and 250 mg/L of AlCl₃.

Keywords: Moringa oleifera L., gamma radiation, in vitro culture, organic acid, Al tolerance

Key findings: Plant cultures showed AlCl₃ tolerance in the M. oleifera clones based on growth traits and the organic acids produced. This advancement could potentially allow the use of suboptimal land with acidic soil for M. oleifera propagation in the future.

Reutealis trisperma (Blanco) Airy Shaw is one of the vegetable oil producing tree plant species. Its seed kernel contains an average of 50% oil potentially utilized as biofuel. However, least research has been carried out on the morphometric traits of the tree species. Therefore, the present study aimed to characterize and evaluate the performance of eight populations of R. trisperma around Garut Regency, West Java, Indonesia. Tree samples of each population were determined using the purposive non-probability sampling method. Plant variables, including vegetative and generative component traits as well as seed yield, were observed, and all the data were analysed using correlation and multivariate analysis. The results showed no correlation among the populations based on vegetative and yield component traits. The seed kernel weight, which is an important variable also showed no correlation with any other traits. However, two populations of R. trisperma, namely Balong and Cigempol, were distinctively clustered apart from the other six populations. Interestingly, those two populations also showed a higher seed yield for four consecutive years.

Keywords: R. trisperma, in situ selection, morphometric characterization, multivariate analysis, biofuel.

Key findings: R. trisperma two populations namely Balong and Cigempol showed a distinct morphological characteristic as well as greater seed yield potential. These findings would enrich the valuable information for future breeding and conservation of this important vegetable oil-producing tree species.

Spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivation mainly is for food, technical, and fodder crop. Drought is the major limiting factor in gross grain harvest, and the development of drought-resistant cultivars is the primary solution. The presented research aimed to assess the barley genotypes for abiotic stress caused by lack of moisture under laboratory and field conditions. The 100 genotypes of spring barley, belonging to various ecological groups, incurred evaluation under both conditions. In the laboratory setup, the drought resistance assessment of barley seedlings was in an osmotic solution of polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG-6000). Six drought resistance indices related to germination and growth rates received calculations. In the field experiment, probing drought resistance ensued through the obtained grain yield. It is necessary to add indicators for measuring the drought resistance indices of seedlings and correlation (%). The barley genotypes with various parameters showed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) varied response under the influence of moisture stress conditions. The Eastern European barley group with osmotic solution had a significantly higher root length than the control treatment. The correlation analysis proceeded between the drought resistance of barley seedlings in situ and their yield reduction intensity under field conditions. The positive and direct relationship was notable between the drought resistance indices and yield reduction in barley genotypes. The results showed the correspondence between the diagnosis of drought resistance of spring barley cultivars under laboratory and field conditions.

Keywords: Spring barley (H. vulgare L.), abiotic stress, drought resistance, polyethylene glycol 6000, drought resistance indices, grain yield

Key findings: The study comprised evaluation of spring barley (H. vulgare L.) genotypes for drought resistance under field and laboratory conditions. A positive correlation emerged between the crop drought tolerance index and root mass drought tolerance index.

The banana cultivar ‘Haji’ (Musa x paradisiaca)’ is indigenous to the Lombok Island, Indonesia. The cultivar ‘Haji’ has superior characteristics like a long shelf life, which has a great potential and contribution in the breeding enhancement. A genome group classification needs conducting to further support its breeding program. The identification of 10 accessions of cultivar ‘Haji’ found in Lombok Island progressed based on morphology and the genome group classification. The banana cultivar ‘Haji’ accessions have four defining morphological characters, i.e., a predominant underlying color of the pseudostem being pink until red, a waxy appearance of the leaf’s lower surface, a yellow-greenpink midrib ventral surface, and a horizontal bunch position. Among all accessions, the cultivar ‘Haji’ showed similarities in nine vegetative and 33 generative attributes, while the variations appeared in 14 vegetative and 15 generative traits. The genome group classification showed the banana cultivar ‘Haji’ had the ABB genome, and all the accessions had the defining characteristics of the ABB genome.

Keywords: Banana, indigenous cultivar, ‘Haji’ (Musa x paradisiaca), genome, cluster analysis, shelf life, morphological characters, leaf shape, bunch position

Key findings: Banana cultivar ‘Haji’ (Musa x paradisiaca) has autapomorphic characteristics that distinguish it from other cultivars in the ABB genome group. These include the predominant underlying color of the pseudostem being pink until red, a waxy appearance of the leaf’s lower surface, a yellowgreen- pink midrib ventral surface, and a horizontal bunch position.

A comparative study based on the genotoxicity of 9-aminoacridine (9-AA) and 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) transpired using a lux biosensor E. coli MG1655 (pColD-lux), having a recombinant plasmid with a lux operon under a gene promoter colD. The colD (cda) gene is part of the E. coli SOS regulon that also ensures DNA repair and cell resistance to DNA damage. The Gen colD (cda) includes SOS-regulon E. coli. The lux operon performs a reporter function characterizing the SOS response to DNA damage. The considered genotoxicity of 9-AA and activated UVA (λ = 365 nm) 8-MOP came from manipulating the luminescence intensity of the biosensor. The 8-MOP induction in bacteria of the SOS response depended on concentrations of UVA and 8-MOP. With higher doses of UVA, a 25-fold decrease emerged in the survival of bacterial cells (from 2х10⁸ to 8х10⁶ КОЕ), while an increase in the intensity of the SOS response by 675 times for 10⁶ cells was evident in viable cells. The DNA-damaging and lethal effect of 8-MOP in bacteria relied on the concentrations of UVA and 8-MOP.

Keywords: 9-aminoacridine, 8-methoxypsoralen, lux-biosensor, E. coli, gene promoter ColD, SOS response, UV irradiation, monoadducts, diadducts

Key findings: A comparative study of the genotoxicity of 9-aminoacridine (9-AA) and UVA-activated 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) using a lux biosensor in E. coli MG1655 (pColD-lux) showed a considerable enhancement in the SOS response. Exposure to the highest concentrations of UVA and 8-MOP resulted in a 25-fold decrease in bacterial survival and a 675-fold increase in SOS response intensity in viable cells, with DNA damaging based on their concentrations.

The Bengkulu Province in Indonesia is a natural habitat for various orchid species; however, its biodiversity currently faces threats from human activities and natural disasters. Precise identification and classification of these orchid species are essential for their future conservation. Hence, the presented study sought to characterize the 35 wild orchid accessions from Bengkulu’s forests and construct a phylogenetic tree based on morphological data. The accessions’ collection ensued through germplasm exploration conducted in Bengkulu Province. Then, growing the collected accessions ex situ pursued evaluating their morphological characteristics. Evidently, the 597 sub-characters observed were polymorphic (99.66%) and monomorphic (0.34%) in nature. Using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) at a 40% similarity coefficient, the existing accessions could result into 11 groups, with the highest similarity coefficient (72%) observed in Flickingeria trilamellata and Flickingeria sp. The relevant findings can serve as the reference for mitigating wild orchids in Bengkulu Province from extinction.

Keywords: Wild orchid, landraces, morphological traits, phylogenetic tree, similarity matrix, cluster analysis

Key findings: The wild orchids need preservation to save them from extinction. Natural orchids are an important genetic source to benefit the development of commercial orchids.