International Journal of Agriculture and Biosciences

Adlay has the potential to be developed as an alternative and functional food. However, this plant has a low yield and takes a long time to harvest. Mutation breeding is carried out to increase diversity and obtain adlay plants that exhibit early maturing and high-yield traits. The effectiveness and efficiency of mutagens are important factors in determining the success of mutation breeding. This study evaluated the effectiveness and efficiency of mutagens from various doses of gamma rays in inducing variability that can be utilized in the genetic improvement of adlay plants. Adlay seeds of the Watani Wado variety were treated with gamma-ray irradiation at doses of 0 (control), 200, 250, 300, 350, and 400Gy. A total of 100 seeds with three replicates of each treatment dose were grown to become M1 plants. A total of 3960 seeds from M1 plants were grown to become M2 plants. The results showed that gamma-ray irradiation at 250Gy resulted in the highest chlorophyll mutation frequency, mutagenic effectiveness, and efficiency in adlay. Higher doses led to a decline in effectiveness and efficiency, accompanied by increased biological damage, such as reduced seedling height and higher pollen sterility. These findings suggest that lower doses of gamma irradiation are more effective in inducing beneficial mutation while minimizing adverse effects. Understanding the optimal mutagen dose can be used by breeders to identify populations effectively at early generations to reduce costs and increase selection scope.

Keywords: Adlay; Gamma-rays; Mutagenic effectiveness; Mutagenic efficiency; Mutation.

The interactions between plants and microbial communities are vital in shaping the dynamism of a particular ecosystem toward ecological sustainability. In an acid mine drainage (AMD) system characterized by the abundance of heavy metals and physicochemical parameters, the survival of plants could be limited. Hence, plants surviving in such environmental conditions tend to develop a particular microsystem that promotes their growth. Plant-microbes interaction is among the systems that most plants develop to enhance their ability to withstand the toxicity of heavy metals and possibly grow. The common reed (CR), Phragmites australis, an invasive weed, has been found to withstand the toxicity of heavy metals and survive in AMD environments. In addition, the association between CR and the microbial communities at the rhizosphere level plays a crucial role in the growth of CR by reducing the toxicity of the heavy metals. These interactions culminate in the release of diverse metabolites by the plant and microbial communities controlled by specific genes. This review collated information on the different microbial communities associated with CR and the metabolites released to promote the growth of CR and enhance their remediation potential. Although the interactions were under the influence of secreted metabolites, a gap still existed in elucidating the specific metabolites secreted either by the microbes or the CR. Further study is recommended that could cut across interdisciplinary approaches, including molecular docking, to enhance the elucidation of diverse metabolites from the microbes and CR.

Keywords: Common reed; Phragmites australis; Metabolites; Acid mine drainage; Bioremediation

A biofilm is a community of microorganisms that adhere to surfaces and are protected by a polymeric matrix they produce. Several pathogenic bacteria that form biofilms, such as Clostridium perfringens, Staphylococcus aureus, species of Vibrio sp., Bacillus cereus, Salmonella sp., Clostridium botulinum, Shigella sp., Escherichia coli, Campylobacter sp., Yersinia sp., Listeria sp., and Aeromonas sp. can cause foodborne disease outbreaks. The formation of biofilms by these pathogens increases their resistance to extreme environmental conditions and cleaning agents, posing significant challenges in the food industry. Biofilms not only threaten food safety but also increase production and handling costs. Conventional methods for eliminating biofilms are often ineffective, necessitating alternative approaches. The use of bacteriophages, viruses that specifically attack bacteria, shows excellent potential as antibiofilm agents. Bacteriophages can significantly reduce the number of biofilm-forming bacteria through lytic mechanisms on surfaces such as stainless steel, rubber, and fresh vegetables. Therefore, bacteriophages are expected to be implemented as innovative solutions to control biofilms in food and non-food industries, enhancing overall food safety. This review aims to explain in detail the potential of bacteriophages in combating biofilms of foodborne pathogens.

Keywords: Biofilm, Foodborne diseases, Food safety, Bacteriophage

Tropical small farmers face forage shortages during the dry season, impacting livestock productivity. C4 grasses in tropical regions, including Indonesia, offer high biomass production and drought resistance, though they pose nutritional challenges. Kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum), native to Africa, shows potential as a high-protein forage feed despite its high oxalic acid content, which can hinder mineral absorption. This study evaluated the biomass and nutritive value of three indigenous Kikuyu accessions in tropical conditions, aiming to promote its use among smallholder farmers. Three Kikuyu accessions (KBB, KTP, KBT) were planted at 1300 m elevation. The experimental design involved daily irrigation, fertilizer application, and sampling for biomass production and nutrient analysis. Dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and fiber fractions were measured, along with mineral content and energy values. Results showed significant differences in leaf and stem proportions, with KBT having the highest leaf percentage. KTP had the highest dry matter yield. Nutrient analysis revealed higher crude protein and energy values in leaves, while stems had higher fiber content. Digestibility rates varied, with KBT showing the highest digestible energy. The study highlights the potential of Kikuyu grass, especially KBT and KBB accessions, as high-quality forage for equines in tropical regions. Factors such as defoliation schedule, fertilizer treatment, and soil conditions are crucial for optimizing forage quality. Promoting Kikuyu grass can improve livestock productivity for smallholder farmers in the tropics.

Keywords: Indigenous Kikuyu, Forage, Production, Nutrient content, Equine.

In Indonesia, galangal is a common rhizome plant that is grown in yards. Galangal can be used as a spice, a base for traditional Indonesian herbal medicine, or as an ingredient in other pharmaceutical products. In reality, the production of Kencur plants should be focused on the quality of the plant’s rhizomes, which will subsequently serve as raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry, rather than just quantity, as is typically the case. There are a lot of beneficial secondary metabolites in the galangal rhizome. Kencur produces several significant bioactive ingredients, including ethyl P-Methoxycinnamate (EPMC). Issues in the field revealed several barriers to galangal cultivation, such as the long harvesting season, the lengthy growing season for planting material, and low quality. In vitro cultivation is one method that can be used to create Kencur’s secondary metabolites. The key to successful in vitro cultivation is the administration of growth regulators. More research is needed to determine the best growth regulator type, combination, and concentration for high-quality in vitro Kencur production. The primary objective of this review is to explore the potential for producing secondary metabolites from Kencur using in vitro techniques with the application of auxin and cytokinin.

Keywords: Auxin, Ethyl P-Methoxycinnamate (EPMC), Kaempferia galanga L., Cytokinin.

In the context of climate change and increasing aridization in Kazakhstan, the main problem is the preservation of perennial drought and salt resistant forage crops for the development of agriculture. Wheatgrass is a type of plant that combines a high yield of green mass and seeds with longevity, drought resistance, and high forage qualities (Agropyron Gaertn.). This study aims to investigate the collection, preservation, and genetic analysis of wild wheatgrass samples to enhance the collection of gene pools for the development of high-yielding, drought-resistant forage crops suitable for arid and semiarid regions in Kazakhstan. A total of 270 samples from five Agropyron species were collected and analyzed. Genetic analysis revealed significant polymorphisms, with many unique genetic loci identified across different species. The morphological study revealed that several samples, particularly those from Russia and China, presented superior traits, including increased bushiness, plant height, and water retention capacity. The identified high-yield and drought-resistant samples are promising candidates for breeding programs to improve forage crop productivity in arid regions. These findings underscore the importance of ex situ conservation and the need for continuous genetic resource documentation to ensure sustainable agricultural development.

Keywords: Wheatgrass; Species; Collection; Gene pool; Molecular genetic analysis

The environment and selection criteria are critical during the seedling phase of artificially hydroponic drought screening. Notably, the selection environment is intricately linked to the chosen selection criteria. Physiological parameters, which offer precise insights into genotype performance, must be complemented by rigorous statistical analyses. In this study, the stress tolerance index (STI) and principal component analysis (PCA) were instrumental in defining the optimal selection environment for rice under hydroponic drought conditions. This research was conducted at the screen house using a nested and randomized block design, whereby replications were nested in the level of drought stress. Three levels of drought stress were applied across eight rice varieties, each with three replications. Physiological observations especially photosynthetic characteristics were observed. The results demonstrated that STI and PCA are effective tools for screening rice genotypes for drought tolerance under hydroponic conditions. The character of solar radiation, including absorption and transmission, is used as a correction for the chlorophyll character. The STI under 10% PEG stress predicted tolerance under 20% PEG stress with a high determination coefficient (R² = 0.76). Thus, a 10% PEG concentration is recommended as the selection environment for hydroponic drought screening at the seedling stage. These findings have significant implications for developing drought-tolerant rice varieties, which are crucial for ensuring global food security in the face of climate change.

Keywords: Drought stress, Hydroponic screening, Oryza sativa, PCA, STI