Garut (Maranta arundinacea L.) is a tuber containing flour with a low Glycemic Index (IG) suitable for diabetics and other degenerative diseases. It needs to be developed to reduce the dependence on imports or to substitute wheat flour. The objective of the study was to obtain superior arrowroot seedlings and observe the effect of gamma-ray irradiation on the density and position of stomata on arrowroot leaves. In this research, the irradiation of five arrowroot accessions of second-generation (MV1) with gamma rays (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 Gray) was carried out to obtain mutants with superior character so that they could be used as parent plants for arrowroot flour production. The treatments administered were arrowroot accessions (V), gamma-ray radiation dose (R), and their interaction. The qualitative and quantitative characters on plant characteristics, tuber production, and arrowroot leaves' stomata were observed. The research results showed that increased production is primarily for 25-Pandeglang accession (808.33 grams) and 10 Gray (800.00 grams) of gamma ray radiation treatment. It is expected that this accession can be released as a new variety candidate after subsequent selection and evaluation in a further generation. Moreover, the dose of gamma-ray radiation is inversely proportional to the number of stomata, which will increase the photosynthesis, thus increasing the number of tubers produced.

SSR marker is one of the genetic markers widely applied in plant breeding programs. The application of molecular markers in plant breeding is meant to accelerate the selection of cross-progeny. The research aimed to identify the SSR primers polymorphism between the parent and control that linked to Al tolerance and verify the cross-progeny of five crosses. The result gained from 37 SSR primers used in this study showed that only nine primers are polymorphic. These nine polymorphic primers are RM257, RM214, RM247, RM205, RM490, RM262, RM569, RM271, and RM19. The application of polymorphic markers on five cross-progeny which have shown the same band pattern as the parents and tolerant control on the use of 9 SSR primers recorded as follows: RM257 2 lines, RM214 5 lines, RM247 5 lines, RM205 lines, RM490 13 lines, RM262 5 lines, RM569 7 lines, RM271 4 lines, and RM19 6 lines. The selected SSR primers linked to Al tolerance in this research can be used as a reference for molecular breeding strategies to develop new Al tolerance rice varieties in dryland conditions.

Pepper yellow leaf curl Indonesia virus (PepYLCIV) is an important pathogen on chili cultivation and is transmitted through the seed. Serological tests are sensitive, accurate, efficient and it has been widely used for the detection of seed-transmitted plant viruses. This study aimed to produce PepYLCIV recombinant protein as a material to produce recombinant antibodies PepYLCIV. DNA was extracted from infected chili leaves collected from Congkrang, Muntilan, Central Java verified using primer PepYLCIV-BamHI and PepYLCIV-EcoRI and produced an amplicon at 840 bp. The amplified fragments were cloned into the pET32a then transformed to Escherichia coli BL21. The percentage of nucleotide sequence identity and sequence of amino acid, PepYLCIV CK-6 isolates had the highest similarity of nucleotide and amino acid sequences to of chili isolates from Bandung. The expressed recombinant protein was obtained with IPTG concentration 0,5 mM and harvested at 6 hours after IPTG induction. SDS PAGE analysis of the recombinant plasmid Begomovirus CK-6 showed that the coat protein size was about 29 kDa. Immunization was carried out on rabbits by injecting 150 µg of recombinant protein 4 times with an interval of 1 week to produce crude antiserum and pure antiserum capable of detecting PepYLCIV in chili and Ageratum conyzoides using I-ELISA and DIBA tests.

Diversity of fruit flies (Diptera: tephritidae) attracted by me lure in CSG-BG germplasm carambolae plantation. Germplasm Garden (KPN) Cibinong Science Center-Botanical Garden (CSC-BG) is one of the gardens that conserve and utilizes Indonesian local germplasm, one of which is carambolae. The current problem in KPN is the attack of fruit flies (Bactrocera spp.). This study was conducted to determine the diversity of fruit flies in the KPN carambola plantation area. A total of eight traps were placed randomly in the plantation area. Each trap contained 1 mL of methyl eugenol pheromone solution. Identification of fruit flies was carried out based on three morphological differences, they were wings, abdomen, and hind legs. There were 317 fruit flies collected and separated into three species, namely Bactrocera carambolae, B. papayae, dan B. umbrosa, of which B. carambolae had a dominance index of 0.74 and abundance index of 85%. Data on the types of fruit flies can be used as primary data to determine the preparation of pest prevention efforts.

Response of six chili varieties to anthracnose disease caused by Colletotrichum acutatum and C. gloeosporiodes. Chili is one of the horticultural commodities with high economic value. Chili production is constrained by anthracnose diseases. Losses due to anthracnose can reduce the fruits quality and yields lose. This study aims to determine the resistance of several chili varieties to anthracnose. Genetic material was used six varieties of chili. Ripe chilies were inoculated with two types of Colletotrichum isolates, i.e. C. acutatum and C. gleosporides. The experiment was arranged in a factorial randomized block design with three replications. The first factor were chili varieties: Laris, SSP, Habanero, Cibinong, Ekasari, and Kopay. The second factor was two types of fungal isolates. Observations were made on the incidence and severity of disease due to anthracnose. The results showed that both fungal isolates were effective in causing anthracnose disease in chilies. Habanero was very susceptible to anthracnose. Laris and Ekasari were moderately resistant to anthracnose diseases. These findings are important to develop new Capsicum cultivars that are more adaptive to anthracnose disease.