The Influence of Leaf Fertilizer Media on Multiplication of Barangan Banana (Musa acuminate L.) in vitro

Barangan banana (Musa acuminata L.) is a plant that has the biggest contribution to national fruit production. The increasing demand for the banana requires the availability of seedlings, while conventional cultivation is unable to produce healthy, disease-free seedlings in a short time and large amount. In vitro culture is considered to be able to handle the constraints of the conventional seed supply. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of foliar fertilizers on in vitro multiplication of barangan bananas. The method used was a single factor of Completely Randomized Design (CRD), the addition of leaf fertilizer consisting of five levels of media treatment, media MS (control), and 0.50 ml L-1 (p1); 0.75 ml L-1 (p2); 1.00 ml L-1 (p3); 1.25 ml L-1 (p4); 1.50 ml L-1 (p5) of leaf fertilizer media repeated five times. The data were analyzed with Analysis Variance then followed by Duncan Multiple Ranged Test of 5%. The results showed MS media still gave the best results compared to other leaf fertilizer media. Meanwhile, the leaf fertilizer media used in this study still gave good results on the initial time of buds appearance (p3 treatment), the number of shoots and the number of leaves in the p5 treatment, as well as the height of the plant in the p4 and p5 treatments. Therefore, the leaf fertilizer can be used to substitute MS media

DESIGN AND EXPERIMENT OF A NEW ROTARY COATING MACHINE BASED ON LabVIEW

In view of the problems of long coating time, complicated manual operation, high multi-seed rate of coated seeds, low qualified rate, and low degree of automation of control equipment in traditional rotary coating machine, a new type of rotary coating machine was designed while using LabVIEW with a complete electric control system, which can effectively improve the speed and quality of coating. The system uses single-chip microcomputer as the lower computer, LabVIEW as the upper computer, and uses programming electronic control technology to set seed coating parameters in advance, precisely control each part and achieve precise supply. Batch supply of powder and liquid greatly improves the automation and intelligence of the operating system, improves the coating efficiency, reduces the multi-seed rate and the seedless rate, and increases the coating pass rate. In order to improve the coating quality and the supply accuracy of the coating machine, the error analysis and calibration test of the seed supply system, powder supply system and liquid supply system were carried out. After the test verification, the supply error was controlled within 2% to meet the demand for precise supply. The test results show that the pass rate of the seeds coated by the new rotary coating machine is increased by 15% to 20% compared with the seeds coated by the traditional manual coating.

Fruit and Vegetable Seed Production and Marketing: Existing Practice and Perception of Vegetbale Seed Farmers and Sellers in Bangladesh

Bangladesh has the largest river delta in the world and is known as the basin of South Asia. Accordingly, Bangladesh is naturally fertile, which is the main factor that provides the country with a huge opportunity to produce fruit and vegetable seeds. However, the lack of quality seed production, insufficient seed supply, and lack of seed preservation systems make the seed sector unstable. This research attempts to determine the cause of these problems and identify ways to mitigate them and make a sustainable marketing system. A descriptive research method was applied, based on a survey conducted in Bangladesh in three major seed producing divisions, namely: Dhaka, Chittagong, and Mymensingh. The data were gathered from 40 farmers and 40 retailers & wholesalers who were chosen at random, and the data was analysed in Microsoft Excel. The objective of the study is to analyze marketing practices of vegetable and fruit seeds, the problems of vegetable and fruit seed distribution, and to propose a method for the sustainable distribution of vegetable and fruit seeds. The results showed a lack of genuine and timely market information, poor institutions and arrangements, and poor marketing infrastructure. These findings are indicative of poor marketing efficiency and thereby suboptimal operation of the seed marketing system. Hence, the results found in this study should help to institute appropriate measures for production, market infrastructure, arrangements, and institutions to improve the inefficient functioning of the seed marketing system.

Traceability and certification of seed potato by blockchain technology

The use of blockchain technology for the seed supply chain will bring a real change to seed management. It provides the ability to track the purity of the seed. The unique digital identity created for every batch of seeds provides a complete history of the seed supply chain providing transparency and visibility to the buyer. Potato is designated as “ Future Food” for food and nutritional security to the developing world by FAO in 2008 In Indian Agri-scenario potato’s is the fourth most important food crop after Rice, wheat, and maize. Potato, a vegetatively propagated crop, and its yield is affected by several factors. Among them, quality seed is one of the most important factors. Input cost for seed purchase goes upto 40 to 50 percent of the total input cost of the crop. The average yield increase from 30 to 50 percent by the use of good quality seed as compared to farmers’ seeds was reported by FAO in a document on potato in the Asia Pacific (https://www.fao.org/3/i0200e/I0200E05.htm). Punjab has earned the status of “Seed Bowl of Potato” which meets 90% of the total disease-free potato requirement of the country (Status report Department of Horticulture, Punjab). It stands 6th in total potato production of 2.87 million tonnes, recording productivity (28.70 t/ha) from an area of 1.06 lakh ha in 2019-20 (Horticulture Statistics Division, Department of Agri. & Cooperation). The government of Punjab (Department of Agri &farmers welfare) in the Year 2019 initiated the certification and traceability of seed potato to ensure optimum transparency. This task was entrusted to Punjab Agri Export Corporation (PAGREXCO) along with a Bangalore based company- Cropin Technology Solutions as the technology partner. Blockchain technology will be used to undertake certification and traceability of seed potato right from nucleus to seed level (harvest). In the crop season, 2019-20 a group of 23 farmers/seed producing agencies come under the umbrella with 1809.80 acres of seed potato of different varieties registered for certification. In the years 2020-21, the area under different stages of certification stands at 1499.63 acres.

Determining Seed Viability During Fruit Maturation to Improve Seed Production and Availability of New Citrus Rootstocks

In recent years, the pressure for replanting and resetting huanglongbing (HLB or citrus greening) affected citrus groves has led to an inadequate seed supply for the most popular rootstock cultivars in the State of Florida, United States. Early fruit harvesting of citrus rootstock source trees might reduce fruit losses and enhance seed availability, especially in HLB-endemic and hurricane susceptible areas, if the physiological quality of the seeds is adequate. The effects of fruit maturity on seed quality and seedling performance of US-802, US-897, and US-942 citrus rootstocks were investigated for two consecutive growing seasons. The study included the evaluation of seed germination and nursery performance of the citrus rootstock seedlings. The germination test was performed in vitro, where seeds were hand-peeled, surface-sterilized and placed in culture tubes containing basal Murashige and Skoog medium. For the emergence test, seeds were sown in seedling trays containing sterilized growing substrate in a greenhouse with controlled-environment conditions. Rootstock fruits from all three varieties harvested in August and September had seeds with higher germination potential, as more than 90% of the seeds generated seedlings. US-942 had more % of emergence than US-802 and US-897, resulting in faster seed germination; in contrast, US-802 had the faster shoot growth rate. Assays on fruit abscission response showed that by August, fruit from all three varieties were responsive to ethylene and abscised, although response varied and was higher in US-942, suggesting the seeds were mature enough. Taken together, our findings indicate that fruits these three rootstocks can be harvested as early as August in contrast to the current procedures without losing germination potential. This will result in an increase in available seeds for nurseries in Florida.

Utilization of suboptimal land for the sustainability of upland rice farming in Minahasa District

Increasing rice production is not only relied on from irrigated and rainfed rice fields, but also on dry land (upland rice). Development of upland rice on sub-optimal lands is one of the efforts to overcome the problem of vulnerability to rice availability, but until now its management is still not optimal. Minahasa District is one of the upland rice producing districts in North Sulawesi. This paper aims to identify matters related to sub-optimal land use for the sustainability of upland rice farming by farmers that can be developed in support of efforts to increase upland rice production in North Sulawesi, in addition to improving the existing technology used by farmers. This study was conducted in the Tombariri Subdistrict, Minahasa District, using a survey method. Data collection was carried out through field observations, surveys, documentation, in-depth interviews with key informants, and literature studies. The data obtained were then analyzed descriptively. Based on field identification and the results of the study, it was found that the existing local farmers’ technology was still very simple, especially in the aspects of seed supply, planting and maintenance. Farmers are increasingly pursuing development towards organic farming. There are still many sub-optimal land uses that can be optimized for upland rice cultivation accompanied by improvements to the existing limiting factors on each land.

Regulatory challenges for tree seed source and certification in Indonesia: documentation versus productivity perspectives

Permen LHK:P.3/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/1/2020 and Perdirjen RLPS:P.05/V-SET/2010 are two major regulations for forest tree seed implementation in Indonesia. Referring some Articles in the Regulations, it seems to need further investigation and analysis because primary task of seed source has been confusing with tasks of genetic resources, breeding, and plantation. Varies in reproductive system and advanced technology are also neglected. In addition, documentative (referred as by-process) seems to be main priority rather than ensuring actual seed productivity (referred as by-product). Such condition causes some irrelevant standards in the regulations and posed a contra-productive for the seed sources and further certification. As a result, it tends to eliminate many potential stands as seed source, and poses a causality negative impact diminishing tree grower’s interest for supplying seed and maintaining genetic resources. These problems and along with the increasing difficulty in seed supply have become challenges for the importance of ongoing monitoring and assessment of the existing regulations. This paper proposes some ideas addressing such challenges through regulatory improvements in optimizing the task of seed source, such as re-defining some standards, and focusing on real seed productivity. The improved regulation is also expected to stimulate involvement of community in seed source activities and maintaining potential genetic resources.

Assessing the national seed production system of potato, shallot, and garlic

A good seed production system results in quality seed. Subsequently, quality seed produces high yield, good quality, and uniform crop performance. This paper aims to assess the national vegetable seed system, especially those seeds produced using vegetative propagation, i.e. potato, shallot, and garlic. The study was conducted in 2019 in West Sumatera, West Java, Central Java, and Northern Sulawesi Provinces. Using primary data from the respondents and secondary data from related institutions, both data were analyzed descriptively. Indonesian Vegetable Research Institute (IVEGRI), universities, and seed companies produce various vegetable seeds. Community in groups or personals as well as regional governments may register their varieties to the Center for Crop Variety Protection and Agriculture Permit (PVTPP). Potato seed producers deal with higher production cost and the farmers have to pay more expensive seed since the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) implemented the policy on shifting extension potato seed from G4 (fourth generation) to G2 (second generation). The farmers cope with quality and volume of garlic seed supply. Shallot seed adopted by the farmers are generally not certified. Farmers usually adopt certified shallot seed if they receive the government seed assistance. TSS (true shallot seed) has been introduced but farmers’ adoption is limited. Garlic seed certification through post-harvest observation in the seed warehouse without field supervision was valid until the end of 2019 leading to low garlic yield. MoA should facilitate farmers with quality seed of improved vegetable varieties to enhance vegetable production as well as to improve farmers’ profit.