A mesophilic, Gram-stain-positive, spore-forming bacterium that formed branched mycelia was isolated from paddy soil in Gunung Salak (Mount Salak), West Java, Indonesia. This strain, designated S-27T, grew at temperatures between 20 and 37 °C; the optimum growth temperature was 25 to 30 °C, and no growth was observed at 15 or 45 °C. The pH range for growth was pH 3.5 to 8.6; the optimum pH was 6.0, and no growth was observed at pH 3.0 or 9.2. Strain S-27T was able to hydrolyse polysaccharides such as starch, cellulose and xylan. The G+C content of the DNA of strain S-27T was 55.7 mol%. The major fatty acids were iso-C17 : 0 and C16 : 1 2-OH, and the major menaquinone was MK-9 (H2). The cell wall of strain S-27T contained d-glutamic acid, glycine, l-alanine, d-alanine, l-ornithine and β-alanine in a molar ratio of 1.0 : 1.6 : 1.4 : 0.6 : 0.9 : 1.1. The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and two glycolipids. The major cell-wall sugar was arabinose. Detailed phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain S-27T belongs to the order Ktedonobacterales and is most closely related to Ktedonobacter racemifer SOSP1-21T (89.6 % sequence identity). On the basis of its chemotaxonomic and phenotypic features and phylogenetic position, we concluded that strain S-27T represents a novel genus and species, for which we propose the name Dictyobacter aurantiacus gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of Dictyobacter aurantiacus is strain S-27T (=NBRC 109595T=InaCC B312T). Emendation of the description of the genus Thermosporothrix is also provided.

The isolation, identification and population of soil microbes from rizosphere at WBiG had been done in the Soil Laboratories Microbiology,

Compared to other cereal crops, sorghum has a higher drought tolerance trait. However, efforts are needed to increase the productivity of sorghum, particularly in drought marginal land. One strategy to be implemented is the utilization of soil microorganisms formulated with biocarrier. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the fungal strain Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma harzianum formulated with compost and zeolite as biocarrier towards vegetative growth of sorghum. The field experiment was designed as a randomized block designed, factorial pattern with 4 replications. The first factor was selecting biocarrier, namely zeolite, compost, and a mixture of zeolite: compost (1:1). The second factor was the fungal inoculants, A. niger, and T. harzianum. The observed parameter was the growth profile of sorghum during vegetative growth, including stalk diameter and height. The results showed that the type of biocarrier, as well as the fungal strains did influence the growth of sorghum. The highest stalk diameter and height of sorghum were obtained after application of A. niger formulated with a mixture of zeolite: compost (1:1), with 17% and 41.2% higher than control, respectively. This condition shows that a mixture of zeolite and compost is seemingly able to create better micro-ecological conditions for fungal microbes to function effectively. Therefore, our findings suggested the addition of zeolite to compost for the application of biocarrier in the field experiment.

Oil spill accidents occur several times in the Indonesian sea, including Jakarta Bay. Studies on the application of oil spill bio-degradation techniques need to be developed but require baseline data on microbe species diversity and functions. We isolated several bacteria from Pulau Pari that can degrade hydrocarbons (hexadecane, phenantrene, and dibenzothiophene) by using two step enrichment culture technique. The isolated microbes belong to several taxa, including α-subclass Proteobacteria, β-subclass Proteobacteria, γ-subclass Proteobacteria, the gram-positive high GC content (Actinobacteria), and Bacillus group. These marine bacteria degrade not only alkanes but also polyaromatic hydrocarbons (phenanthrene and dibenzothiophene). Alpha and gamma Proteobacteria were predominant alkane and polyaromatic hydrocarbons-degrading bacteria. The ability of those bacteria to degrade both alkanes and polyaromatic hydrocarbon is a key-important trait for enhancing bioremediation of oil spills.

INTISARISumber daya flora lokal untuk pakan memiliki nilai penting, khususnya untuk ketahanan masyarakat petani di dalam menghadapi perubahan iklim global. Ketersediaan hijauan pakan untuk ternak pada ekosistem lahan kering tergantung kepada ketersedian air. Dampak perubahan iklim dirasakan pada bergesernya pola curah hujan, bahkan terhadap mulainya masa musim kering. Hal tersebut harus diantisipasi dengan kesiapan masyarakat lokal di dalam memahami ketersedian pakan dan pengelolaannya pada masing-masing musim. Di kawasan Bali Bagian Timur dan kawasan Nusa Tenggara (Barat dan Timur) iklim kering tahun 2004 menyebabkan krisis pakan. Mengacu kepada permasalahan tersebut di atas, penelitian telah dilakukan dengan tujuan inventarisasi sumberdaya hayati flora potensial di lahan kering. Fokus bahasan dilakukan berdasar kepada hasil survei dan pengumpulan data sekunder. Diperoleh 22 tanaman yang dapat dimanfaatkan untuk hijauan (forage feed) yang materialnya berlimpah pada musim hujan; sedangkan 15 ragam sumber pakan lainnya dapat dijadikan pakan awetan (silage) maupun pakan hijauan pada musim peralihan dan sepanjang musim kering. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa saat ini yang perlu dilakukan adalah introduksi teknologi fermentasi silase untuk pengawetan pakan untuk persediaan musim kemarau. Terkait dengan pengembangan teknologi tersebut maka dilakukan kajian terhadap peran mikrobia penghidrolisis senyawa polimer dan proses fermentasi dengan keberadaan mikrobia GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) yang diawali oleh peran Lactobacillus plantarum. Hasil kajian dapat menjadi acuan dalam mengatasi dampak perubahan iklim di wilayah lahan kering, melalui aplikasi teknologi mikrobia fungsional pada pengelolaan pakan ternak sapi petani lokal yang berskala kecil. (Kata kunci: Sumberdaya flora lokal, Iklim lahan kering, Pakan terfermentasi, Lactobacillus plantarum) ABSTRACT The presence of local floral resources as forage is essential, especially for the farm survival in anticipaty the