A research was conducted to evaluate the quality of white refined sugar produced from palm tree (Arenga pinnata) using direct and indirect cooking processes. Visual methods were applied to determine color, shape and texture of produced sugar. The sucrose, ash, and other sugar contents as well as dry weight of produced refined sugar were also analyzed. Results showed that the production process using direct cooking resulted in small granulated, dry, compacted and milky white refined sugar, while that using indirect cooking (four hours storage) produced clay granulated, less compacted, dust shape and browning refined sugar. The sucrose, ash, and other sugar contents found in direct cooking process were 10.27%, 0.016%. and 2.68%, respectively, while those found in indirect cooking process were 11.11%, 0.018%, and 2.78%, respectively. Keywords: Palm tree, Arenga pinnata, nira, white refined sugar

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Wood deterioration were generally occured by the activities of biological agents. Fungal can attack wood and lignoselulosic substances and cause staining and decaying. Its damage levels were vary depending on the attacking fungal species. Eventhough it poses some disadvantages, actually fungy have potential benefits for human life such as nutrient, energy resources, medicine, etc. Fungy from Tabo-tabo educational forest were collected, isolated,and identified in this study. Identification was conducted throughout their macroscopic and microscopic characteristics. The result showed that the amount of fungal species were nineteen species, i.e: Aspergillus sp.,Poria subacida, Fomes sp., Lenzites sp., Hericium sp., Dacrymyces deliquescens, Ganoderma lucidum, Clitocybe sp., Trametes confragasa, Shizophyllum commune, Periconia sp., dan Helicosporium sp.,Clitocybe sp., Schizophyllum commune, dan Hygrophorus hypotejus,Ganoderma lucidum dan Coprinus atramentarius, Amanitopsis fulva dan Dacrymyces deliquescens, Collybia sp., Amanitopsis fulva, Hygrophorus hypotejus,Coprinus atramentarius, Monilia sitophilia, Gilmaniella sp. dan Conoplea sp. Key words: Wood fungy, deterioration, Tabo-tabo Educational Forest References

The fiber of sugar-palm tree Arenga pinnata Merr., locally known as ijuk, is traditionally used as covering to protect ground-contact wood construction materials although effectiveness of the material in protecting wood construction from biodeterioration has not been determined. In the current study, potential of the sugar-palm tree fiber as a physical barrier against termite attacks was analyzed in terms of their structure and physical characteristics. Samples of sugar-palm tree fibers from natural and marketed formations were prepared and determined for their fiber distribution, shapes, sizes, moisture content, density, and sheet grammage since these aspects were considered to be important factors influencing the penetration ability of termites. Results showed that each of the sugar-palm tree fibers has different shapes (half-round, round, rectangle) and different sizes (ranging from 0.05 to 1.00 mm in thickness). It was also found to have 3-5 ramifications with the angle of 10o – 30o. The process of branching out was supposed to initiate a natural insertion of each formed fiber to others. It is believed that fibers with particular arrangements are able to prevent the penetration or tunneling of termites. Keywords: Sugar- palm tree fiber, physical barrier, subterranean termites