Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae) is native to tropical America and has been introduced into many other countries as an ornamental and hedge plant. The species has been spreading quickly and has naturalized in more than 60 countries as an invasive noxious weed. It is considered to be one of the world’s 100 worst alien species. L. camara often forms dense monospecies stands through the interruption of the regeneration process of indigenous plant species. Allelopathy of L. camara has been reported to play a crucial role in its invasiveness. The extracts, essential oil, leachates, residues, and rhizosphere soil of L. camara suppressed the germination and growth of other plant species. Several allelochemicals, such as phenolic compounds, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, and a flavonoid, were identified in the extracts, essential oil, residues, and rhizosphere soil of L. camara. The evidence also suggests that some of those allelochemicals in L. camara are probably released into the rhizosphere soil under the canopy and neighboring environments during the decomposition process of the residues and as leachates and volatile compounds from living plant parts of L. camara. The released allelochemicals may suppress the regeneration process of indigenous plant species by decreasing their germination and seedling growth and increasing their mortality. Therefore, the allelopathic property of L. camara may support its invasive potential and formation of dense monospecies stands.

Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit is native to southern Mexico and Central America and is now naturalized in more than 130 countries. The spread of L. leucocephala is probably due to its multipurpose use such as fodder, timber, paper pulp, shade trees, and soil amendment. However, the species is listed in the world’s 100 worst invasive alien species, and an aggressive colonizer. It forms dense monospecific stands and threatens native plant communities, especially in oceanic islands. Phytotoxic chemical interactions such as allelopathy have been reported to play an important role in the invasion of several invasive plant species. Possible evidence for allelopathy of L. leucocephala has also been accumulated in the literature over 30 years. The extracts, leachates, root exudates, litter, decomposing residues, and rhizosphere soil of L. leucocephala increased the mortality and suppressed the germination and growth of several plant species, including weeds and woody plants. Those observations suggest that L. leucocephala is allelopathic and contains certain allelochemicals. Those allelochemicals may release into the rhizosphere soil during decomposition process of the plant residues and root exudation. Several putative allelochemicals such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, and mimosine were identified in L. leucocephala. The species produces a large amount of mimosine and accumulates it in almost all parts of the plants, including leaves, stems, seeds, flowers, roots, and root nodules. The concentrations of mimosine in these parts were 0.11 to 6.4% of their dry weight. Mimosine showed growth inhibitory activity against several plant species, including some woody plants and invasive plants. Mimosine blocked cell division of protoplasts from Petunia hybrida hort. ex E. Vilm. between G1 and S phases, and disturbed the enzyme activity such as peroxidase, catalase, and IAA oxidase. Some of those identified compounds in L. leucocephala may be involved in its allelopathy. Therefore, the allelopathic property of L. leucocephala may support its invasive potential and formation of dense monospecific stands. However, the concentrations of mimosine, phenolic acids, and flavonoids in the vicinity of L. leucocephala, including its rhizosphere soil, have not yet been reported.

Problem statement: A constructed wetland to treat wastewater from farm house has been built in Padjadjaran University farming research station in Jatinangor, Indonesia, in July 2009. Approach: Water samples from both influent and effluent were taken every two weeks and analysed for COD, BOD₅, NO₃-N, NO₂-N, NH₄-N, total-N, PO₄-P, total coliform bacteria, pH, O₂ and settleable solids. Results: The objective of this study was to install one constructed wetland with a vertical flow system to treat sewage from farm house by using an aquatic macrophyte (Phragmites karka). The average treatment efficiencies during the period from August 2009 to January 2010 for BOD₅, COD, NH₄-N, total- N, PO₄-P and total coliform bacteria were 76,03, 78,89, 88,18, 71,70, 91,06 and 99,45% respectively. The average concentration in effluent from period of August to January for BOD₅ was 21.87 mg L^-1, COD (57.66 mg L^-1), NH₄-N (0.82 mg L^-1), NO3-N (1,36 mg L^-1), total-N (2.68 mg L^-1), PO₄-P (0.07 mg L^-1) and total coliform bacteria (4880 MPN/100 ml). Conclusion/Recommendations: The overall results show that all effluent concentration from constructed wetlands except BOD₅ were still low and fall considerably short of Indonesian effluent standards for irrigation water. These results were very promising to be used in treating wastewater from agricultural industry and produce clean water which then can still be used for other purposes such as irrigation water, fisheries and other necessities

Abstract. Mutaqin AZ, Kurniadie D, Iskandar J, Nurzaman M, Partasasmita R. 2020. Ethnobotany of suweg, Amorphophallus paeoniifolius: Utilization and cultivation in West Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 1635-1644. Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson, locally known as suweg, is a bulbous plant that has many benefits, but has not been cultivated as intensively as other species from the Araceae family. Suweg grows scattered in various rural areas in Indonesia, including West Java. Some suweg plants are cultivated by villagers, while the others grow wildly in forested areas. Suweg is commonly cultivated in several types of agroecosystems, such as home gardens (pekarangan) and gardens (kebun), using traditional ecological knowledge inherited from generation to generation. This study aims to investigate the utilization and cultivation of suweg by a community in Cisoka Village, Cikijing Sub-district, Majalengka District, West Java. This study used a qualitative method using ethnobotany approach, i.e. an emic analysis of the perception and local knowledge of community on suweg, and then validated using scientific or ethical knowledge. Field data collection was done by observation and semi-structured interviews with key informants chosen purposively considered having expertise and knowledge about suweg. The results showed that suweg has long been cultivated or growing naturally in Cisoka Village. The species has been culturally utilized by the rural community as additional food sources of carbohydrates, fish feed, and traditional ceremonies. However, the use of traditional ceremonies has been lost its importance. Suweg is generally used by the elderly, with certain groups, such as rural fish farmers and some younger age groups or children who like suweg. The rural people of Cisoka Village also mentioned that suweg was not cultivated as intensively as other. This is partly because it is considered not to have a high economic value as other agricultural commodities.

Pengaruh campuran herbisida berbahan aktif atrazin 500 g/L dan mesotrion 50 g/L terhadap gulma dominan pada tanaman jagung (Zea mays L.)The effect of herbicide mixture of atrazin 500 g/L and mesutrion 50 g/L to dominant weeds in corn (Zea mays L.) Abstract. Weed control by using a single herbicide continuously will cause weeds resistant, so it is necessary to mix herbicides. Mixture of herbicide with two or more types of active ingredient can be synergistic, additive, or antagonistic. The objective of this research is to know the effect of herbicide mixture of Atrazin 500 g/L and Mesotrion 50 g/L to several types of dominant weeds. The research was conducted from The treatment was consisted of three types of herbicide with six level of doses. There were herbicide Atrazine 500 g/L (1200, 600, 300, 150, 75,0 g /ha), Mesotrion 50 g/L (120, 60, 30, 15, 7.5, 0 g/ha) and herbicide mixtures Atrazine 500 g/L and Mesotrion 50 g/L (1056, 528, 264, 132, 66, 0 g/ha) with four replications. The target weeds were A. conyzoides, S. nodiflora, C. rotundus and E. indica. Data was analyzed by linear regression and MSM method to determine the value of LD50 treatment and LD50 expectation. The results showed that herbicides mixture of Atrazine 500 g/L and Mesotrion 50 g/L had a value of LD50 treatment 85.11 g/ha which is smaller than the value of LD50 expectation (86.9 g/ha), this indicating that the herbicide mixtures was synergistic.