The use of solid organic fertilizer in closed agricultural production system must be combined with foliar application to improve fertilizing effectiveness. Nutrient contents in tissues of green biomass determine the quality of liquid organic fertilizer. Six potential green biomasses, Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray, Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth ex Walp., Leucaena leucocephala (Lamk.) de Wit, Ageratum conyzoides L., Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, and banana corms were identified its nutrient contents. Samples were dried at 60 o C for 48 hours, grinded, analyzed for N, P, K, Ca-ex, Mg-ex, C, cellulose and lignin contents. Results indicated that T. diversifolia and A. conyzoides had the highest N content compared to other biomasses. A. conyzoides had the highest P content, followed by T. diversifolia. A. conyzoides had the highest K content, followed by G. sepium. The highest Ca-ex content was in L. leucocephala, followed by A. conyzoides. The highest Mg-ex content was found in A. conyzoides, followed by L. leucocephala. The highest C content was found in E.crassipes, followed by G. Sepium. T. diversifolia had the highest cellulose content, followed by E.crassipes. Lignin content of all biomasses was similar. Lastly, E.crassipes had the highest C/N compared to other biomass, and both T. diversifolia and A. conyzoides had the lowest C/N. It is concluded that A. conyzoides is the most promising green biomass for production of liquid organic fertilizer, followed by T. diversifolia and G. sepium.

First report of Begomovirus infection on papaya in Bengkulu, Indonesia. A field survey was conducted during 2019, wefound a severe systemic yellow mosaic, striped green mosaic on leaves petiole, green spots on the fruit of papaya, leafmalformation, and stunting symptoms on three papaya cultivation area in Rejang Lebong, Kepahiang, Bengkulu Tengah, andSeluma, Bengkulu Province, Indonesia. A begomo-like virus was inferred to be the possible cause of the virus-disease-likesymptoms. The study aimed to identify the causal of those typical symptoms on papaya. PCR using universal primer fortranscriptional activator protein (TrAp) and replication-associated protein (Rep) gene of Begomovirus successfully amplifiedthe DNA fragments of 900 bp in all 10 detected samples, except for samples with leaf malformation and stunting symptoms. Itis indicating that those typical symptoms on papaya is associated with Begomovirus infection, while the causal of leafmalformation and stunting is unknown yet. This work is the first report of Begomovirus infected papaya in Indonesia. Severedisease incidence caused by this pathogen was observed on papaya plants in Bengkulu Province that was in the range of 42–100%. This finding is a precious information to be used for identification, and characterization the species of the virus,determining control strategies against the disease.

This activity aims to foster the farmers who are members of Gapoktan

Persilangan merupakan salah satu teknik untuk memperluas keragaman genetik. Tujuanpenelitian adalah untuk mengestimasi keragaman genetik, heritabilitas dan jumlah kelompok genpengendali karakter hasil dan komponen hasil tomat pada populasi F2 persilangan TMU-1 x TMU-2di dataran rendah. Penelitian dilaksanakan di Kelurahan Kandang Limun, Kota Bengkulu denganketinggian 10 m dpl (dataran rendah) dari bulan April sampai Oktober 2016. Estimasi keragamangenetik, heritabilitas dan jumlah kelompok gen pengendali karakter ditentukan berdasarkan nilaitengah dan ragam pada populasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan semua karakter yang diuji memilikijumlah kelompok gen pengendali sebanyak satu gen. Karakter yang dikendalikan oleh satu gendiharapkan fiksasi gen-gen akan cepat tercapai pada beberapa siklus awal seleksi. Delapan karaktermemiliki heritabilitas tinggi. Masing-masing karakter dan heritabilitasnya adalah umur berbunga(52.90%), jumlah buah per tanaman (92.99%), panjang buah (77.10%), diameter buah (71.76%),jumlah rongga buah (85.68%), tebal daging buah (73.05%), padatan total terlarut (89.77%) dan bobotbuah per tanaman (65.19%).Kata kunci: dataran rendah, heritabilitas, jumlah kelompok gen, keragaman, komponen hasil

DETECTION OF TUNGRO VIRUS ON RICE IN BENGKULU]. Several types of viruses have been reported to infect rice plants in Indonesia, including tungro, dwarf grass, and empty dwarfs. The spread of tungro in Indonesia in the beginning was only limited to certain regions in South Sulawesi, South Kalimantan, West Nusa Tenggara and North Sulawesi, but later it expanded to East Java, Central Java and Yogyakarta. In this study a tungro disease survey was conducted in several areas in Bengkulu Province. Virus detection is done by Loop-medated isothermal amplification (LAMP). Observations in the field showed that there were typical symptoms of tungro infection in rice plants, namely orange leaves starting from leaves to 2 and 3, little tillers, stunted plant growth. The results of detection with Lamp-PCR showed rice samples from the district Pondok Kelapa Kab Bengkulu Tengah is positively infected with tungro virus.