An evaluation of formulated Bio-PF with the active ingredient of Pseudomonas fluorescens to reduce synthetic fungicide usage in controlling soil borne disease in leather leaf fern under different shelters was studied. The research was conducted at the experimental field of the Indonesian Ornamental Crops Research Institute (IOCRI) from January to December 2015. Different concentrations of Bio-PF were singly and/nor alternately applied with two different synthetic fungicides were applied on leather leaf plants under UV plastic + 70% black-net and 70% black-net shelters. The results showed that the average disease intensity was higher in 70% black-net shelter. Weekly alternate-application of Bio-PF 5 + Carbendazim & Mancozeb and single Carbendazim & Mancozeb gave lower disease intensity than other treatments with the highest percentage of suppression. These two treatments also improved yield in terms of number and proportion of the preferred grade of harvested leaves. Combined Bio-PF 5 + Carbendazim & Mancozeb gave longer vase life and the application reduced synthetic fungicide usage in controlling the respected disease. In term of synthetic fungicides, Carbendazim & Mancozeb gave more consistent effects on disease suppression, plant growth and foliage production than Asilbensolar & Mancozeb.

To facilitate international discussion and research on the REDD+ framework and associated programs, I present an overview of the historical background, major rules, and challenges of implementing REDD+. The framework of REDD+ is illustrated using examples from scientific literature and the agreements adopted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The institutional challenges related to REDD+ are discussed in the context of how to promote and implement REDD+ activities. Key issues for advancing REDD+ in the future include the establishment of a financial framework, the transferability of results, the risk of double counting, the timing of payments, and the domestic distribution of funds. Because agreements related to REDD+ do not mention transfers or trade of results from REDD+ activities, the transfer of results might give disincentives to developing countries; thus, allowing transfers or trade may actually limit REDD+ activities. Therefore, it seems preferable that the results of reduced emissions and increased removals through REDD+ activities, through publicly financed programs under the UNFCCC and Green Climate Fund (GCF), should be non-transferable. The transferability of results through REDD+ activities is important to consider, especially for different schemes such as the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) and the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM), because double counting can occur between countries and between schemes. Although I support advance performance-based payments for the planning and implementation of REDD+ activities, which is a similar concept to that discussed by the GCF, appropriate indicators and transparent methods for monitoring and evaluating performance will be required.

The research aimed to develop a rice cell culture system with high proliferation and screening resistant cell lines of rice to bacterial blight disease caused by Xanthomonas oryza pv. oryzae (Xoo). The culture cells obtained from the callus, cultured on CS-1 medium containing 3 % sucrose and 2 mg L-1 2,4-D for 4 weeks. The results showed that proliferation cell was signifcantly increased 1-fold in 3 weeks of primary culture in CS-1 conditioned medium (fresh/spent medium ratio 1:1) containing 3 % sucrose, 0.5 % glucose, 0.05 % fructose and 2 mg L-1 2,4-D. This medium was used to screen the cell lines through applying culture filtrate of Xoo. The method was to find a novel cell line which could produce high amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Screening results showed 33 % cell lines were strong ROS-producing, two cell lines were selected and cultured for second round screening. The ratio of strong ROS-producing cell lines was increased up to 67 % in the third round screening. The strong ROS-producing cell lines in third round screening can be further cultured for plant regeneration. The rice cell lines with high ROS production may have potential of resistant cell lines against Xoo.

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni originally from Paraguay belongs in Asteraceae family. It is an alternative source of non-caloric sweetener due to the sweet steviol glycosides contained in the leaves. As an introduced species in Malaysia, it is important to elucidate the genetic variabilities and relatedness among stevia accessions in order to broaden the genetic basis for future stevia breeding. This study described morphological and chemical variations and investigates genetic relationships among stevia accessions derived from across Malaysia and Paraguay using inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers. HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) analysis also revealed high variability with stevioside content between 4.54 % (Taman Pertanian) to 20.36 % (Bangi) and rebaudioside A content varied between 0.3 % (Nilai) to 2.04 % (MNQ). From 32 ISSR markers, a total of 332 bands were scored, of which 264 (78 %) were polymorphic. The dendrogram from UPGMA (Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean) cluster analysis separated 17 stevia accessions into 3 main groups. Rawang and Nilai were found to be closely related. The wide genetic variabilities among stevia accessions are a promising indicator towards the development of new stevia varieties. This valuable information will be able to assist parental selection in future stevia breeding programmes.

The objective of this research was to determine the diversity and relationship of sapodilla accession derived from districts in DIY based on DNA profiles. From the screening of 20 total primers, five primers (OPA 20, OPB 5, OPB 6, OPB 8, and OPC 19) producing polymorphic bands in RAPD analysis were selected. Different-shaped samples of sapodilla randomly collected from Bantul, Gunungkidul, Kulonprogo, Sleman and Yogyakarta city were used in this research. The analysis of molecular data was performed by using NTSys pc-2.02 and GenAlex 6.1 program. The clustering indicated that the accessions tend to group by their locations. However, there was no corelation between DNA marker and the fruit shape. The first group comprised samples from Yogyakarta city (Keraton Yogyakarta), Bantul and Kulonprogo while the second group consisted of samples from Sleman and Gunungkidul with genetic similarity of 53% and 37% respectively. The genetic diversity was high (PLP = 98.85% of 87 loci and H=0.280±0.14) comprising the genetic diversity within population (53%) which was greater than genetic diversity between populations (47%). Having the highest genetic diversity, Gunungkidul should be potential for conservation and selection of sapodilla in DIY.

This research aimed to study effects of IBA, NAA and their combination on rooting and shoot sprouting in Malay apple cuttings. Cuttings from superior genotype were collected and treated with (in ppm w/w): 0, 2000 IBA, 4000 IBA, 2000 NAA, 4000 NAA, 1000 IBA+1000 NAA, 2000 IBA+2000 NAA. To record the timing and percentage of rooting, cuttings were treated with (in ppm w/w) 1000 IBA+1000 NAA or without auxin as control. The results revealed that application of auxin was significantly enhanced root formation as shown by the significant increases in rooting percentage and number of roots. NAA at 2000 or 4000 ppm was the most effective auxin to promote root formation (100 %, 17.8–25.5 roots per cuttings), followed by NAA+IBA (100 %, 16.8– 9.8 roots per cuttings) and the least effective was IBA alone (79-100 %, 3.2–7.1 roots per cutting). The best treatment for rooting and shoot sprouting were (in ppm) 1000 IBA+1000 NAA, since it produced higher root length, better root morphology and higher shoot sprouting. It was also found that a combination of IBA+NAA each at 1000 ppm not only enhanced root percentage, but also shortened the time for root formation.

This study explores ways to effectively and efficiently finance Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) activities to enhance climate change adaptation and biodiversity conservation by drawing on lessons from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The study analyzed trends in the focal areas of GEF forest-related projects, the executing and implementing agencies involved in GEF forest-related multi-focal area projects, and the cofundraisers’ trends in GEF forest-related multi-focal area projects. The analysis of GEF forest-related projects identified ways to finance REDD+ mobilization and distribution to enhance its multiple benefits. The key agencies that support REDD+ activities and enhance these co-benefits are the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the World Bank, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), and the national governments of developing countries. GEF and the co-fundraisers—multilateral aid agencies, such as UNDP, the World Bank, FAO, the Asian Development Bank, and UNEP, bilateral aid agencies, such as Germany, the United States and the European Union, the private sector and nongovernmental organizations—all work to enhance REDD+ co-benefits. Because private contributions to the GEF are limited, it is important to design a scheme to mobilize more private financing for REDD+.

To evaluate genotypic variability in carbon isotope discrimination or CID and water use efficiency or WUE, recombinant inbred lines (RILs) population of sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.) was used. Seventy eight sunflower RILs were grown in greenhouse and 100 sunflower RILs were grown under field condition, and measured some morphological and physiological traits including leaf area at flowering (LAf), net CO2 assimilation rate ( A ) and transpiration per day at flowering (Ef). WUE, called “potential” WUE (WUEp), was calculated as the ratio of assimilation potential (Ap) to transpiration per day at flowering (Ef) where Ap was derived from the multiplication of A with LAf. The CID was significantly varied among RILs and there was significant negative genetic correlation between CID and WUEp. Heritability of the CID was higher rather than the WUEp which reflected wide genetic variability of CID. The genetic correlation between CID and WUEp and the wide genotypic variability of CID indicated that CID can be proposed as an indicator to determine WUE in sunflower and open a way in understanding the genetic diversity of the RILs which could be used as a basic consideration before applying selection program in sunflower breeding.

Selekop (Lepisanthes amoena (Hassk.) Leenh.) plant leaves are used by the Dayak tribe of East Kalimantan as traditional cosmetics. Selekop fruit is also edible, but not well known. This study was conducted to obtain the phytochemical content and antioxidant assay in flesh, seed and pericarp extracts from the fruit of Selekop. Phytochemical analysis was conducted on ethanol extract for identification of flavonoid, alkaloid, tannin, saponin, triterpenoid and steroid. The antioxidant activity was done by DPPH assay with ascorbic acid as positive control. The flesh contained flavonoid, saponin, and tannin; the seed contained flavonoid, alkaloid, saponin, triterpenoid, and tannin; and the pericarp contained flavonoid, alkaloid, saponin, triterpenoid, and tannin. Analysis of antioxidant activity revealed the following Inhibitory Concentration (IC50 values): 122.51 ppm of flesh, 63.30 ppm of seed, 53.21 ppm of pericarp and 3.06 ppm of ascorbic acid. Based on these results, the ethanol extract of the seed and the flesh had a phytochemical content and antioxidant activity which was better than the flesh extract from Selekop fuit.