Ginger is one of the spices and medicinal commodities which is cultivated in Indonesia. One of the obstacles encountered in the cultivation of ginger is the rhizome rot disease which is mainly caused by Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht f.sp. zingiberi Trujillo. This study is aimed to know the growth ability and virulence level of the isolates on ginger rhizome and plants. The research was conducted in the laboratory and in the screen house by using Complete Random Design consisted of 10 treatments and 4 replications. The parameters observed were growth ability of F. oxysporum f.sp. zingiberi, rhizome rot disease symptoms, incubation period, extensive decay and weight difference of the rhizomes. The results showed that F. oxysporum f.sp. zingiberi which was stored for 4 years in sterile soil medium was still capable to cause damage to the rhizome and plants. Incubation periods of rhizome decay and plant symptoms were from 3 to 11.5 and 55.5 to 68.5 days, respectively. The most virulent isolate was MSO1 with extensive decay of rhizome and the wilting intensity were 108.95 mm2 dan 33.88%, respectively. IntisariJahe merupakan salah satu komoditas rempah dan obat yang banyak dibudidayakan di Indonesia. Salah satu kendala yang dihadapi dalam budidaya jahe adalah adanya gangguan penyakit busuk rimpang yang disebabkan (terutama) oleh Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht f.sp. zingiberi Trujillo. Penelitian bertujuan untuk menguji daya tumbuh dan virulensi isolat F. oxysporum f.sp. zingiberi pada rimpang dan tanaman jahe gajah. Penelitian dilakukan di laboratorium dan di rumah kasa menggunakan Rancangan Acak Kelompok Lengkap (RAKL) yang masing-masing terdiri dari 10 perlakuan dan 4 ulangan. Parameter yang diamati meliputi daya tumbuh F. oxysporum f.sp. zingiberi, gejala penyakit busuk rimpang, masa inkubasi, luas pembusukan dan selisih bobot basah rimpang. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa F. oxysporum f.sp. zingiberi yang telah di simpan 4 tahun dalam medium tanah steril mampu menyebabkan kerusakan pada rimpang dan tanaman jahe. Masa inkubasi gejala busuk pada rimpang serta gejala pada tanaman masing- masing berkisar antara 3–11,5 serta 55,5–68,5 hari. Isolat yang paling virulen adalah MSO1 dengan nilai luas pembusukan pada rimpang dan intensitas penyakit masing-masing sebesar 108,95 mm2 dan 33,88%.

Dryland has the potential to increase agricultural production, by increasing the cropping index. The main problem of dryland is the availability of water which depends on rainfall. Groundwater can be an alternative option to meet the availability of water in the dryland. This study aimed to determine the cropping pattern and increase of cropping index supported by groundwater irrigation in the dryland. The research was conducted in the dryland of Playen, Gunungkidul, Special Region of Yogyakarta, supported by groundwater irrigation. This research used a combination of survey, interview and plot demonstration methods. Surveys and interviews were conducted to determine the condition of cultivation and profit in the first and third growing seasons. The plot demonstration, to increase the rice cropping index from 1 to 2, was applied in the second growing season. The results showed that rice productivity in the first growing season was 5.215 ton ha^-1, with a profit of 12,288,000 IDR ha^-1 and B/C of 1.28. In the second growing season, Sidenuk productivity was 8.025 ton ha^-1, with the dry straw of 8.049 ton ha^-1, grain carbon of 3.471 ton ha^-1 and straw carbon of 3.723 ton ha^-1, higher than those of Situbagendit, but comparable those of Inpari-42, with a profit of 20,700,000 IDR ha^-1 and B/C of 1.54. Rice contributed to higher biomass, carbon and profit than groundnut. In the third growing season, groundnut productivity was 2.026 ton ha^-1, with a profit of 15,572,000 IDR ha^-1 and B/C of 1.78. Groundwater irrigation can support the increase in the cropping index on dryland and intensify agricultural production as well.

Indonesia dominates about 76% of nutmeg production and export in the world, where around 28.26% is produced in North Moluccas and 24.25% of its from North Halmahera. The objectives of this study were to reduce the biotic stress, increase the yield and improve the quality of the nutmeg produced by Tarakani Farmer Group in Galela District. (1) the Morphology of dry fruit rot disease in each stratum and (2) nutmeg cultivation system collected through interviews; and (3) climatic data, including temperature, and rainfall obtained from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency of Galela District. This study was conducted at west Galela District and Tarakani Farmer Group. The farmers implemented the sanitation techniques of the crops; i.e.: pruning, collection and pile up/bury of the dropped fruits and fumigation by burning some leaves of local trees and biotic stress be controlled. During one year a grade A of nutmeg increased from 5.7 tons to 37.6 tons or increased from 17.6% to 38.2%. Nutmeg grade C reduced from 40% to 25%%. This effort will still be forwarded by utilizing biological agents to reduce biotic stress, such as Trichoderma spp. to control fungal pathogens and Bacillus thurigiensis to pest control.

EFFECT OF PLANTING MEDIA COMPOSITION AND ATONIC GCS ON THE GROWTH OF COCOA SEEDS (Theobroma cacao L.)]. Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) is one of the essential crop commodities which has an excellent opportunity improving community welfare. This study aimed to determine the effect of combination planting media with the atonic growth control substances (GCS) on the growth of cocoa seedlings. The research was conducted in Tanjung Sari area, Medan, North Sumatera from March to June 2019. The research was carried out using randomized block design (RBD) with two factors of planting media and atonic GCS. The first factor was the composition of the growing media in the form of manure, ultisol soil, and sand which consists of 4 combinations, namely control, ratio of 1:1:1, ratio of 1:2:1, and ratio of 1: 3:1. The second factor was 4 levels of atonic GCS, namely without atonic GCS application at a control, 1 cc/L, 2 cc/L water, and 3 cc/L water. The results showed that the combination of planting media consisting of manure, ultisol, and sand with a ratio of 1: 3: 1 showed a significant effect to increased plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, and leaf area of cocoa seedlings. The atonic GCS of 3 cc/L water significantly increased plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, and leaf area of cocoa seeds. The interaction between the growing media composition and the concentration of GCS atonic significantly affected the number of leaves. However, it was not significant for plant height, stem diameter, and leaf area of cocoa seeds. The conclusions are that the composition of the planting medium and atonic growth control substances significantly affected the growth of cocoa seedlings.

The distinctive characteristics of local clove plants could be evaluated through morphological observations. The research was assessed during June - October 2019 in Talaga Jaya, South Wasile, East Halmahera. The study was conducted by survey method with the age of observed plants were more than 10 years old and which species consist of 10 productive trees, selected randomly. The research using local clove with comparative superior varieties of Afo. Leaf, flower, fruit, seed, and the symptom of blister blight disease were observed at 1 m2 area on each tree. Form of the trees, stems, branches, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds were observed. The results showed that the characteristics morphology of local clove varieties was similar to Afo. The disease severity of blister blight in this study was mild with a 4,28% disease intensity. Morphological characteristics similar to Afo cloves and mild disease intensity of blister blight indicate that local clove varieties have the potential to be developed into new varieties.