The effectiveness of heavy metal-tolerant microorganisms for supporting plant growth needs to be understood before it can be used as a soil bioremediation agent. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of heavy metal tolerant microorganisms on the growth of “Narra” seedling (Pterocarpus indicus Wild). Three heavy metals-resistant (Pb, Cd, and Cu) rhizobacteria from a copper (Cu) mined-out site in Marinduque, Philippines showed plant growth promotion in vitro. A treatment combination of formula inoculant A (CuNFbM 4.1, MGR 333), B (CuNFbM 4.1, MGR 333, PbSM 2.1), and O (Uninoculated); compost (0%, 4%); and lime + inorganic fertilizer {without or with lime and inorganic fertilizer (LF0; LF1)} were applied to Narra seedlings planted on 445 mg/kg Cu-contaminated soil. Lime (2 mg/ha) and the recommended dose of soybean inorganic fertilizer were used as positive controls to evaluate the ability of inoculations and composts to promote the growth and used as positive controls to evaluate the ability of inoculants and composts to promote the growth and copper accumulation of narra in greenhouse experiments. All treatment combinations resulted in significant differences in plant height, leaf number, stem diameter, shoot and root dry weight, as well as, shoot, root Cu content, and plant Cu uptake of 13-week-old “Narra”. Inoculated “Narra” could thrive better in mine-degraded soil containing 445 ppm Cu with 4% compost. Inoculant B demonstrated the best plant performance while Pseudomonas synxantha (PbSM 2.1) probably increases the plant’s growth due to 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase it produces. Accumulation of Cu was higher in the root compared other plant parts. More research is necessary to elucidate the mechanism of plant growth promotion and heavy metal re mediation by P. synxantha.

<p>Isolation and Characterization of Actinomycetes Producing<br />Antibacterial Compound into Enteropatogenik<br />Escherichia coli K1.1, Pseudomonas pseudomallei 02 05<br />and Listeria monocytogenes 5407. Dwi N. Susilowati,<br />Ratih D. Hastuti, and Erny Yuniarti. The resistance of<br />bacterial pathogens to some antibacterial agents and side<br />effects of the antibacterial usage demanded discovery of<br />new effective, safe, and active antibacterial compounds.<br />Some pathogenic bacteria, such as enteropathogen Escherichia<br />coli (EPEC) that cause diarrhoea on children and<br />infants, Pseudomonas pseudomallei that cause melioidosis<br />on human and animal, and Listeria monocytogenes that<br />cause listeriosis on newly born babies mortality and death of<br />pregnant woman. Actinomycetes is the largest bacterial<br />group that produce antibiotics. More than 10,000 antibacterial<br />compounds had been discovered, two-third of<br />them were produced by this bacterial group. A study was<br />done to isolate and characterize Actinomycetes producing<br />antibacterial compounds effective against EPEC K1.1 and P.<br />pseudomallei 02 05. Soil samples were taken from 39<br />locations in Indonesia and 115 actinomycetes isolates were<br />obtained. Two of the isolates, i.e., isolate A3.5 that was<br />effective against P. pseudomallei 02 05 and isolate F6.1 that<br />was effective against EPEC K1.1 evaluated further. The<br />isolate A3.5 had an optimum time 72 hours to produce antibacterial<br />compound, while F6.1 took 96 hours. The antibacterial<br />compounds produced by both isolates were dissolve<br />in the a 70% ethyl acetate solution, but not in a 40oC<br />warm methanol solution because it is very dissolved. The<br />antibacterial compound extracted from the isolate A3.5 had<br />a similar effectiveness to antibiotics bacithracyn 10 unit and<br />neomycin 30 g. On the other hand, the antibacterial<br />compound extracted from isolate F6.1 had a similar effectiveness<br />to antibiotics colistin 10 g and doxyciclin 30 g.<br />Further identification of the isolates suggested that both of<br />them belongs to the genera Streptomyces.</p>

The Indonesian rice production balance has managed to show a slightly consistent surplus recently, in the period of 2010 to 2021, but the country has continued to import rice to secure its rice reserve. The country has also made some efforts to increase its domestic rice production and, at the same time, faced ecological, socio-cultural, economic, institutional, and technological sustainability challenges. Previous studies on rice sustainability have shown varied results on the sustainability statuses and sensitive factors in Indonesia, yet there have been limited studies identifying key factors systematically. To provide more solid empirical evidence on this subject, a study to expand the scope to other sites with an additional analysis of the key factors is perceivably needed. This study aims to verify the sustainability status and identify sensitive factors as well as key factors for increasing rice production. The primary data were collected by interviewing officials from various agencies at the central and regional levels and several discussion groups of 40 participants, including farmers. In addition, secondary data were also collected from various ministries/agencies at the central and regional levels. Data analyses use a set of indicators, i.e., the Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) approach and the Matrix of Cross Impact Multiplications Applied to Classification (MICMAC) approach. The results show that the multidimensional sustainability status of increasing rice production in Bandung district is moderate, whereas sustainability status per dimension shows variations from poor to moderate. Fourteen out of 50 attributes are identified as sensitive factors influencing the sustainability of rice production. Six key factors are found to influence the sustainability of rice production. The study concludes that the sustainability status of increasing rice production in Bandung district is moderate, with variation across dimensions. The sustainability of increasing rice production in the study site is influenced by those 14 sensitive factors and those six key factors. This study recommends a number of major policies/programs to increase the sustainability of rice production, which are as follows: implementation of the Regional Spatial Plan, promotion of the application of best practices of farming management (organic fertilizers and pesticides), promotion of the use of agricultural machinery, and provision of farmer assistance for pre-harvest and postharvest production facilities, as well as farm financing. Future research should expand study sites to some other rice production centers with different attributes to enrich our understanding of the subject of rice sustainability.

Kalimantan acid sulphate land has the potential to be developed into productive land, with good land optimization. Utilization of rhizosphere microorganism diversity, especially mold can potentially provide a solution in optimizing agricultural land, namely the ability to produce extracellular enzymes. This study aims to determine the potential of mold originating from acid sulphate fields in producing extracellular enzymes (pectinase, chitinase, glucanase, cellulase, and phosphatase). The study was conducted in June-July 2019 at the Microbiology Laboratory, Indonesian Center for Agricultural Biotechnology and Genetic Resources Research and Development. Screening  of extracellular enzyme-producing fungi was carried out on selection media. The results obtained by some isolates have the ability to produce extracellular enzymes. Indications of the ability of mold to produce extracellular enzymes are the presence of clear zones in the selection medium. In pectinase, chitinase and glucanase testing all isolates showed negative results. Potential isolates in producing extracellular enzymes include Penicillium sp. Paddy 4.1 (cellulolytic index 2.43),  Clonostachys sp. KRMT 17.9 and Penicillium singorense KLK 13.7 (proteolytic indices 3.97 and 3,00, respectively). The difference in index values ​​indicates the variation in the level of enzyme activity.

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