Andaliman (Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC.) is a spice plant typical of North Sumatra. Biological information on andaliman flowers is still limited. Therefore, the purpose of this observation is to study morphology of andaliman flowers and inflorescence arrangements that can be useful in understanding andaliman flower biology. The research was conducted on plants in one of the centres of andaliman production in Dairi District. Flower of andaliman is axilliary inflorescence, determinate flowers, dichasium, generally glomerate, the number of flowers in one peduncle varies greatly. The time blooming of the flowers in each rachis is quite varied. Flower andaliman small and hermaphrodite with its parts, sepals 5-7 free, pale yellow colour, 5-6 stamens, anther is reddish, pollen sticky, and 3-4 pistils, and sometimes 5 pistils, apocarps. Information obtained from this study can be used in subsequent studies related to pollination, fertilization, fruit set, and seed set. The variation of flower blossom in one peduncle is one of the factors contributing to the maturity of the fruit as a source of seed should be studied.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of the application of microorganisms of phosphate providers and organic matters for the growth of Arabica coffee seedlings in Bener Meriah Regency. Design/methodology/approach The experiments were performed inside the screen house using a random design of factorial group with six repetitions. The experimental treatments consisted of two factors. Factor I is the application of microorganisms of phosphate providers. Factor II is the application of organic matters (T. diversifolia and the coffee bean skins). The parameters observed were as follows: enhancement of plant height was observed every 30 days for 270 days, and a number of primary branch and dry weight of roots were observed 270 days after planting (DAP). The data obtained were analyzed by analyzing the variance at 5 per cent level; if the treatment had an effect, then the treatment was continued to Duncan’s multiple range test at 5 per cent. Findings The application of microorganisms of phosphate provider increases the height improvement, the number of primary branches and the dry weight of roots of Arabica coffee seedlings. The application of Listeria sp. microorganisms of phosphate provider gives the highest yield on the height increase, the number of primary branches and the dry weight of roots of Arabica coffee seedlings. The application of organic matters of coffee beans skin gives higher yield than Tithonia diversifolia in height and dry weight of roots of Arabica coffee seedlings. The interaction between the application of microorganisms of phosphate provider and organic matters increases the dry weight of roots of Arabica coffee seedlings. The interaction of Listeria sp.-skin of coffee beans gives the highest yield on dry weight of roots of Arabica coffee seedlings. Originality/value Several other studies have demonstrated that the application of microorganisms of phosphate providers using phosphate solubilizing bacteria (Fitriatin et al., 2014; Sembiring et al., 2017) and mycorrhizal use (Hart and Trevors, 2005; Rouphael et al., 2015) increased the growth and yield plant. No previous study comprehensively studied the application of microorganisms of phosphate providers and organic matters to improve the growth of Arabica coffee seedlings in Andisol in Bener Meriah Regency.

Abstract. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of nutrient N management on physiological characteristics of three different soybean cultivars under dry land conditions. The study was conducted under dry lands of Desa Sambirejo (Langkat Regency) in the dry season. The study was conducted with a Randomize Block Design with two factors and three replication. The research was used a randomized block design with 2 factors and 3 replications. The first factor was soybean cultivars (Anjasmoro, Wilis, Sinabung). The second factor was N source, with Urea (50 kg/ha), Bradyrhizobium sp., farmyard manure (10 ton/ha), a combination of Bradyrhizobium sp. + farmyard manure (5 ton/ha) and a control with no N. The parameter observed in this study was the content of root N, shoot Nitrogen, shoot Phosphor, shoot Potassium and total of chlorophyll content. The results suggest that Anjasmoro and Sinabung cultivars had higher physiological characteristics (root N, shoot P and shoot K) compared to Wilis. Nitrogen source of Urea gave a higher physiological characteristics (content of root N, shoot Phosphor and shoot Potassium) compared to different treatment of N source in this study. The interaction between Anjasmoro cultivar and Urea gave the highest of content of shoot Phosphor and shoot Potassium, otherwise the interaction between Sinabung cultivar and Bradyrhizobium sp. gave the highest of content of shoot Nitrogen.

Abstract. Mawarni L, Nisa TC, Napitupulu JA, Karyudi. 2019. Determination of leaf status of soybean varieties on shading. Biodiversitas 20: 615-620. The shading tolerant soybean varieties could be identified through the character growth such as leaf status. This study was aimed to obtain the shading tolerant of soybean variety based on their seed size and on the leaf status. Design of experiments was a split-plot design with three replications. The level of shading as the main plot with four levels of treatment was without shading, 30%, 50%, and 70% shading. Soybean varieties as the subplot had 4 genotypes namely Anjasmoro, Pangrango, Tanggamus, and Nanti wherein one variety comes with large seed; two come with medium seeds and the other one comes with small seed. The leaf status for determination was the greenness of leaves, the sum of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll a and b, the forms of chloroplasts and leaf area. The soybean varieties with different seed sizes showed the differences only on the leaf area but not on leaf greenness or on the sum of chlorophyll. Nanti variety, having small seed, turns out to have the largest leaf area but is not shade tolerant. The large leaf area may be due to the forming of tetra foliate leaves on Nanti variety. The form of chloroplast of Anjasmoro variety in 70% shading is better than other varieties. Therefore, determining leaf status can identify shading tolerant of soybeans.

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