BIOTROPIA - The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Biology
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SOIL PROPERTIES AND TREE COMPOSITION IN A 27-YEAR OLD Acacia mangium Willd. PLANTATION ON ABANDONED MINING AREA AT PHANGNGA FORESTRY RESEARCH STATION
Get PDFIn order to validate the important role of Acacia mangium plantation in mining rehabilitation, a study was conducted on the soil properties and tree composition in a 27-year-old A. mangium plantation growing on sandy (S27) and clay (C27) soil types, as well as a mixed plantation (MP) growing on clay soil type. The results were compared with those grown on an abandoned mining area (AB), a secondary forest (SF) and a primary forest (PF), at the Phangnga Forestry Research Station, Thailand. Three 40 x 40 m permanent plots were established and soil samples were randomly collected from depths of 0-10, 10-20, 20-30, and 30-50 cm, in each of the S27, C27, MP, AB, SF, and PF. The bulk density values in the S27, C27, and MP were lower than that in AB and was similar to those in SF and PF, particularly, the top soil. Total nitrogen, available phosphorus, organic matter, exchangeable potassium, and magnesium contents in the S27, C27, and MP were higher than that in AB, but were lower than those in SF and PF, indicating that the soil development in the S27, C27, and MP was slower than in the SF and PF. This lower bulk density values and higher soil nutrient contents were positively contributed by the A. mangium plantation. The Shannon-Wiener index obtained for S27 (1.43), C27 (2.51), and MP (2.77) were lower than that for the SF (3.86). The similarity indices of the tree species found in S27, C27, MP, and PF were low, ranging from 5.83-8.00, indicating that the development of the forest community was slow compared to SF (31.03). Enrichment planting with poorly dispersed shade tolerant trees has increased the diversity and improved the forest structure in the mined out areas and other similarly degraded lands
SITE INDICATOR SPECIES FOR PREDICTING THE PRODUCTIVITY OF TEAK PLANTATIONS IN PHRAE PROVINCE, THAILAND
Get PDFSite quality assessment is critically important in any tree planting activity as it may serve a range of management functions such as optimizing productivity estimates of forest plantations. This study aimed to evaluate the site quality, using plant indicator species, for three teak plantations located in Northern Thailand belonging to the Forest Industry Organization (FIO). Twenty-four sample plots were chosen to cover all the growth classes within the age range of 6–39 years. The site index of teak was established by using the anamorphic technique which is based on dominant height and age at a base age of 30 years, divided into 3 site index classes as 24, 21, and 18, as good, moderate, and poor site quality, respectively. Associated species, the native species that are tree and shrub habitats, were surveyed in the 24 plots and indicator species were classified using the Indicator Species Analysis (ISA) and Two Way Indicator Species Analysis (TWINSPAN). The relationship between indicator species and environmental factors was analyzed by the Generalized Linear Model (GLM). The associated species were classified into 76 species with 21 families. The results of ISA indicated the significant indicator species under the good site class were Streblus ilicifolius, Lagerstroemia floribunda, Dalbergia cana and Lagerstroemia calyculata; while Schleichera oleosa and Dalbergia nigrescens were presented under poor site class, respectively. The results from TWINSPAN supported Streblus ilicifolius, Lagerstroemia floribunda and Schleichera oleosa were obvious indicators. Each indicator species distribution was influenced by various relationships with environmental factors, in which soil pH and N were the main factors to distribute all indicator species to 3 relationships. First, the indicator species positively associated with soil pH and negatively associated with N were Streblus ilicifolius and Dalbergia nigrescens. Second, the indicator species positively associated with soil pH and N were Lagerstroemia floribunda and Schleichera oleosa. Third, the indicator species negatively associated with soil pH and positively associated with N were Dalbergia cana and Lagerstroemia calyculata. The GLM analysis revealed P, Ca and elevation influenced indicator species distribution. As of writing, this is the first study on species indicators for suitable sites of teak in Thailand. Meanwhile, in the absence of confirmatory studies, these indicators can be used as a guide for farmers interested in planting teak. In bare lands, the farmer can apply these indicator species to determine the site quality based on the species\u27 past appearance
GENETIC VARIATION OF TEAK MISTLETOE (Dendrophthoe pentandra (L.) Miq.) BASED ON RANDOM AMPLIFIED POLYMORPHIC DNA (RAPD) MARKERS
Get PDFMistletoes are hemiparasitic macroparasite plants that interfere with trees and other wild plants in nutrient acquisition. As the plant has low leaf water potential, it draws water from teak wood tissues during the deciduous stage of the teak host, thereby killing the twigs and eventually the teak tree. Mistletoes are also key players in plant diversity. Therefore, the mistletoe population needs to be regulated not only as a parasite but also as a keystone species affecting biodiversity. Knowledge scarcity on the status of mistletoes includes their genetic variation. Hence, the purpose of this study is to analyze the level of genetic variation of teak mistletoe (Dendrophthoe pentandra) using RAPD markers. At the Padangan teak Clonal Seed Orchard (CSO), leaf samples were randomly collected from three layers of the mistletoe crown (upper, middle, and below) taken from five host teak trees randomly selected from each of the sub-observation measure plots (OMP). Four OMP units inside the observation sample plots (OSP) (n = 3, 50 × 50 m) at different levels of infestation (light, moderate, and heavy) were established. Analysis of genetic variation and genetic distance of mistletoes across different crown layers was conducted using RAPD markers. The leaf samples from crown layers UU (upper crown, subsection upper), UM (upper crown, subsection middle), and UB (upper crown, subsection below), including U (upper crown), had significantly greater genetic variation (He = 0.181–0.255) than those from the M layer (middle crown, He = 0.227) and the B layer (below crown, He = 0.114). Furthermore, the greatest genetic distance occurred between mistletoes in the UB and B crown layers (0.310), whereas the shortest genetic distance occurred between mistletoes of the UU and UM layers in the upper crown (0.038). Practical implications of the low genetic variation include the control of D. pentandra infestation by restricting its population so that the Perhutani State-Owned Forestry Enterprise can maintain damage levels below the economic threshold
MONITORING OF Cacatua sulphurea abbotti POPULATION IN MASAKAMBING ISLAND, INDONESIA
Get PDFThe Critically Endangered Cacatua sulphurea abbotti is a unique subspecies of cockatoo, endemic to a single tiny Masakambing Island in Indonesia. Data procurement on the status and distribution of their wild population is urgently needed to determine the best conservation strategy for this species. Data were collected annually from 2008–2018 using a direct roost count method in a roosting tree. Only 10 cockatoos were recorded in 2008, but the number increased to 22 birds in 2018 (a 42.86% increase in a decade). The population was distributed across about 71% of the total area of the island, concentrated in the north-western part with a density of 1.56 (~2 birds/km²) in 2008, which increased to 3.44 (~3 birds/km²) in 2018. The zero-trapping policy enforced by the local government was likely effective in preventing population decline, although the population remains vulnerable due to nesting failure, presumably low genetic quality, and habitat destruction
FUNGAL INFECTION OF STORED ARABICA COFFEE (Coffea arabica) BEANS IN SOUTH SULAWESI PROVINCE, INDONESIA
No full textIndonesia is the world\u27s fourth-largest coffee producer after Brazil, Vietnam, and Colombia, in which one of its well-known coffee originates from the Toraja region, South Sulawesi. As such, Indonesia has to compete with these countries in producing good quality coffee beans. Consequently, this research aimed (a) to obtain information on the postharvest handling methods of Arabica coffee (C. arabica) beans in Tana Toraja Regency, North Toraja Regency, and Makassar Municipality, Indonesia, and (b) to investigate the occurrence of fungi (including ochratoxin A producing fungi) in stored Arabica coffee beans collected from various stages of the delivery chain. The data collection process included surveys, interviews, and sample collections conducted in May and July 2016 at each level of the delivery chain. The moisture content (MC) and the physical quality of the beans were also measured to determine its quality. Sixty-four (64) coffee bean samples were collected, consisting of 27 samples from the farmers, 15 samples from the collectors, 13 samples from the traders, and 9 samples from the exporters. The results showed that the moisture contents of coffee beans collected from the farmers and bean collectors (42.5%) were significantly higher than the maximum tolerable limit determined by the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) (13%), while the MC of the beans from the traders and exporters (9.7–10.9%) was significantly lower. Based on the total defective values, coffee beans from the farmers had more diverse grades (1–6) than those at other levels. Penicillium citrinum was the dominant fungus found in those beans collected from the farmers, collectors, and traders, while Aspergillus niger was the dominant fungus found in those beans from the exporters. At trader level, 46% of the samples were infected by Aspergillus ochraceus and A. niger, which are known as ochratoxin A (OTA) producing fungi. At exporter level, 44% of the samples were infected by A. ochraceus, while 78% of the samples were infected by A. niger. Thus, the postharvest handling methods conducted especially by farmers and collectors of Arabica coffee beans should be improved to reduce the moisture content and to increase the grade quality of the coffee beans
POPULATION STRUCTURE, DISPERSION PATTERN AND SEEDLING GROWTH OF GEWANG PALM (Corypha utan Lam.) IN TIMOR ISLAND, INDONESIA
No full textFood insecurity has been reported to be the top most concern in East Nusa Tenggara (Timor Island) compared to that in other provinces in Indonesia. The use of local species as food sources is one possible arm in the fight against food insecurity. Gewang (Corypha utan Lam.) is a palm species which produces starch similar to the true sago palm (Metroxylon sagu). Although it is important to promote the species as a starch crop, information on its current population and seedling growth performance is still lacking. Hence, a one-hectare plot was surveyed and an experimental plot was established for population and regeneration analyses. In the 1 ha plot there were 31 productive trees, 2 post productive trees, 63 immature trees and 2,211 seedlings. The dispersion of the species followed the clumped pattern for immature trees and seedlings, but shifted to random pattern at maturity or productive stage. The seedling survival was stable when weeded, but dropped to 50% when un-weeded. However, in spite of its stem extraction for starch consumption, the population of C. utan in East Nusa Tenggara was stable. This indicated that C. utan in East Nusa Tenggara is a potential alternative food source to help build food security in Indonesia especially in dry lands like Timor Island and its adjacent regions
USE OF LANDSAT IMAGERY TO MAP SPREAD OF THE INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES Acacia nilotica IN BALURAN NATIONAL PARK, INDONESIA
Get PDFIn the late 1960s, Acacia nilotica was introduced to Baluran National Park to establish fire breaks which would prevent the spread of fire from Baluran Savanna to the adjacent teak forest. However, A. nilotica has spread rapidly and has threatened the existence of Baluran Savanna as it has caused an ecosystem transition from an open savanna to a closed canopy of A. nilotica in some areas. This study is one of the few that examines A. nilotica invasion in Baluran National Park through remote sensing. Land cover dynamics were quantified using a supervised classification approach on Landsat 7 and 8 multi-spectral images. Results showed that savanna and A. nilotica can be recognized using a composite of bands 6, 5 and 3 of the Landsat 8 image. Across a 14-year period (2000-14), A. nilotica has spread far north and south from its originally introduced location, invading not only savannas but also dry forests in the Baluran National Park. The savanna size has decreased by 1,361 ha, meanwhile the A. nilotica stand has increased by 1,886 ha over this period. Spatial distribution of A. nilotica in Baluran National Park showed a clumped pattern. Acacia nilotica which develops into a homogeneous stand in the north-west and eastern parts of the national park occupied an area of 3,628 ha or about 14.5% of the total area. This study has demonstrated that remote sensing technology can be effectively used to estimate the patterns of distribution and amount of A. nilotica cover change over the whole Baluran National Park. This is one advantage of remote sensing and GIS, as it is difficult and expensive to make such direct assessments using the conventional approach of field survey and vegetation analysis
PRODUCTION OF MALTOOLIGOSACCHARIDES FROM HUTAN JATI VARIETY CULTIVAR TACCA (Tacca leontopetaloides) STARCH
No full textThis research aimed to extract and characterize the physicochemical properties of starch from Tacca tuber, to determine the optimum conditions for enzymatic hydrolysis to produce maltooligosaccharides, and to analyze the character of these maltooligosaccharides. The analysis was conducted by calculating the amount of reducing sugar, total sugar, and the degree of polymerization, and by using the TLC (Thin Layer Chromatography) and HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography) analyses. The Hutan Jati variety cultivar of Tacca was selected from three Tacca variety cultivars (Hutan Jati, Pulau Katang, and Gunung Batur) to produce maltooligosaccharides by enzymatic hydrolysis of crude Bacillus sp. α-amylase. The optimum conditions for the enzymatic hydrolysis of Hutan Jati variety cultivar Tacca starch for the production of maltooligosaccharides were obtained at a substrate concentration of 3% (w/v) and a ratio of enzyme and substrate at 6 hours incubation time. From 250 mL of fresh hydrolysate, 34.49 grams of powdered maltooligosaccharide were produced. The TLC and HPLC results showed a similar yield of both the liquid and powdered maltooligosaccharides with maltose, maltotriose, and maltotetraose as the main products. Considering its physicochemical characteristics and the product of its maltooligosaccharides, the starch from the tuber of Hutan Jati variety cultivar Tacca possessed strong potential for the future production of maltooligosaccharides, particularly maltotriose and maltotetraose, in food industries
EFFECTS OF GLYPHOSATE POTASSIUM 660 G L⁻¹ ON TRANSGENIC AND CONVENTIONAL CORN VARIETIES
No full textThe transgenic corn variety, NK 603, which contains a gene called CP4 EPSPS (5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3-phosphate synthase) which makes the corn plants tolerant to the glyphosate herbicide, on the other hand conventional corn varieties are sensitive to glyphosate. It was required to test the chlorosis and burn-down effect both in transgenic and conventional corn varieties due to glyphosate. The experiment was conducted to quantify the burn-down effects and chlorosis due to the application of herbicide glyphosate potassium 660 g L⁻¹ on two varieties of corn at the Agriculture Faculty Research Station of Padjadjaran University, West Java, Indonesia, from December 2015 to April 2016. The experiment was arranged in randomized block design with 20 treatments and each treatment replicated twice. At 15 days and 20 days after planting, five transgenic corn varieties (C 7 RR, 979 RR, 77 RR, 85 RR and 95 RR) and five conventional corn varieties (C 7, 979, 77, 85 and 95) were applied with herbicide glyphosate potassium 660 g L⁻¹ at a dose of 2 L ha⁻¹. The results showed that the herbicide was effective to control the weed in both transgenic and conventional corn varieties. The transgenic corn variety exhibited smaller percentages of chlorosis (0–20%) and no burn-down effect was observed following applications of glyphosate potassium 660 g L⁻¹. On the other hand, chlorosis and burn-down effects were found on all conventional corn varieties. The yield of transgenic corn varieties was higher than those of the conventional corn varieties
HETEROGENEITY OF PROTEINS IN BIRDS’ EGG-WHITES
Get PDFLittle is known about the comparative heterogeneity of protein compounds among a wide variety of birds’ egg whites, particularly regarding detailed, parallel protein composition analysis. Therefore, this research was conducted mainly to evaluate the extent of variability among 42 types of birds’ egg whites. To improve the understanding of these biological fluids, the main phenotypic variations of egg whites were evaluated using discontinuous denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), gradient SDS-PAGE, native PAGE, cellulose acetate electrophoresis, and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The results showed that native PAGE and SDS-PAGE produced better screening outcomes than the other methods in identifying proteins. Although native PAGE and SDS-PAGE did not show remarkable variability in terms of hydrophobicity, several electrophoretic differences in egg white proteins were observed. Several unknown proteins in the egg white samples of different bird species were also identified through electrophoretic experiments. Hence, it may be possible, as demonstrated in the case of egg white samples, to provide a characterization-based assessment among bird species using only available gel electrophoresis techniques. This study also provided a rapid snapshot for the initial identification of several unknown components of egg white proteins. Accordingly, this research represents the first large-scale comparative proteomics investigation conducted among a diverse range of egg whites obtained from commercial stores and bird keepers in the Middle Euphrates region of Iraq