A b s t r a c t A r t i c l e I n f oTest of crude extracts of several plant species was conducted in a screen house to determine the best plant species and the most effective concentration of extract for increasing growth of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivated in Ultisol. The test was done using Nested Design. First factor was sources of extracts: 1) leaves of cassava, 2) leaves of G. linearis, 3) C. asiatica, 4) stem bark of A. scholaris, and 5) fruit pericarp of mangosteen. Second factor was extract concentrations: 0 (control), 25, 50, and 100 mg/L. Applications of crude extract of mangosteen fruit pericarp at concentration 50 mg/L increased fresh weight of roots with the highest average weight 48.33 g, while the control was 13.33 g. However, plant height given extract of mangosteen (50 mg/L) was lower (74.90 cm) compared to the one in control (87.70 cm). On lower (25 mg/L) and higher (100 mg/L) concentrations of mangosteen pericarp extracts, fresh weight of roots tended to be lower than in control. Application of crude extract of C. asiatica at concentration 100 mg/L showed higher plant height with average 79.30 cm than in control 69.60 cm. Application of crude extract of mangosteen fruit pericarp showed the increasing of plant height from two to three weeks after planting, and crude extract of C. asiatica increased the plant height in third weeks after planting.

A b s t r a c t A r t i c l e I n f oThe observation was conducted to investigate the species diversity and composition structure of indigenous fruit trees on pumonean (growing fields resembling forests) belonging to the local community of Mentawai. Data were collected from the Village Matotonan of District of South Siberut and the Village Bojakan of District of North Siberut using the quadrant method, which were randomly selected and inventory the fruit tree species within are plots. All trees with diameter at breast height (1.2m) of ≥8cm were identified. The contribution of families (relative abundance) and the Importance Value Index of the fruit tree species were calculated using standar formula.The results show that in pumonean were found 14 families, 18 genera and 24 tree species. The high relative abundance of family is found in Euphorbiaceae, Bombacaceae and Meliaceae, which is 12.50%. In general the status of the 15 species of fruit trees are indigenous trees and only three exotic species. Based on Importance Value Index that D. zibethinus (22.43%) and D. carinatus (20.41%) are the dominant species and saved in pumonean. Considering the high species diversity of indigenous fruit trees on pumonean, it is necessary to immediately conserve its programmed effort.

Mentawai people have a unique agricultural tradition. The traditional agricultural system (mone) is adaptive, using the plants that are suitable for the landscape. Land clearing is carefully done without destroying the entire forest. We conducted ethnobotany studies to explore the composition and the structure of the plants used in the traditional plantation (Pumonean) as well as their values for the Mentawai people in the Siberut island. We surveyed the agricultural system employed by Mentawai people and conducted vegetation assessment in the study sites. The data on the plant species and land usages were gathered from interviews with key informants in the areas. We analyzed the data using Local User's Value Index (LUVI). The plants were collected to aid with species identification and were stored at the Andalas University Herbarium (ANDA), Padang. Throughout the study, we recorded 64 species in 27 families. Euphorbiaceae was the family with the highest species diversity. Sagu (Metroxylon sago) was the species with the highest LUVI. We categorized the land usage for the traditional plantation into four categories, consisting of wetland, the edge of wetland, mixed plantations (mone), and forests (leleu). The mixed plantation was the category with the highest LUVI. Beside the traditional agricultural system, the Mentawai people also developed a more modern agricultural system. For the traditional system, Durio zibethinus was the species with the highest importance indices, whereas for the more modern system Theobroma cacao was the species with the highest importance indices.

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Nowadays, forensic and wildlife research, especially the Sumatran tiger needs further research with a molecular approach. Molecular approaches are needed for forensic and wildlife research including for sex identity. This study used the amelogenin gene as a marker for identification based on previous studies of Felidae species. The sample used consisted of 10 blood samples from Sumatran tigers of known sex were collected by the Dharmasraya Sumatran Tiger Rehabilitation Center (PRHSD), one hair sample, and two bone samples whose sex was unknown were collected from Natural Resources Conservation Center West Sumatra (BKSDA). The PCR results of the amelogenin gene of the Sumatran tiger confirmed the sex of 10 samples of known sex’s Sumatran tiger (Four male samples and six female samples), and Three samples of unknown sex were identified as females. Male was characterized by the electrophoresis appearance of two bands, while in female’s only one band, with PCR product sizes of at least 190 bp for AMELY and at least 210 bp for AMELX.