Kelayakan finansial teknologi produksi benih bawang merah asal biji botani (True Seed of Shallot = TSS) (Financial feasibility of True Seed of Shallot seed production technology)

<p>Penelitian dilaksanakan di Kebun Percobaan Margahayu, Balai Penelitian Tanaman Sayuran pada Maret-November 2018. Tujuan penelitian adalah mengestimasi kelayakan finansial teknologi produksi benih bawang merah TSS (True Seed of Shallot). Percobaan lapangan produksi benih dilakukan untuk luasan 1.500 m2. Keragaan usahatani dievaluasi melalui analisis anggaran usaha berdasarkan pencatatan usahatani. Sementara itu, kelayakan finansial dianalisis menggunakan NPV (Net Present Value), IRR (Internal Rate of Return), B/C ratio (Benefit Cost Ratio) dan PBP (Pay Back Period). Hasil analisis anggaran menghasilkan indikator keragaan produksi benih sebagai berikut: (a) biaya produksi Rp. 255.320.280/hektar, (b) rasio penerimaan-biaya 1,49, (c) titik impas produksi 102 kg/hektar, dan (d) titik impas harga Rp. 1.789.628/kg. Analisis finansial berdasarkan parameter: periode proyeksi 3 tahun; aliran kas 12 bulan; suku bunga 18%/tahun; proporsi modal 40% (sendiri) dan 60% (kredit); luas lahan 1 hektar; produktivitas 150 kg/ha; dan harga output Rp. 2.500.000/kg menghasilkan NPV = Rp. -108.564.638 (&lt;0), IRR = sampai tingkat bunga 2% masih menunjukkan besaran NPV yang negatif (&lt;18%), Net B/C Ratio = 0,62 (&lt; 1), dan PBP = 1,5 tahun (&lt; 3 tahun). Berbagai kriteria tersebut mengindikasikan bahwa usahatani produksi benih TSS belum dapat dikategorikan layak secara finansial. Analisis sensitivitas menunjuk-kan bahwa kelayakan finansial baru tercapai jika terjadi pengurangan biaya produksi minimal 22%. Kelayakan finansial juga dapat dicapai jika terjadi minimal 15% peningkatan produktivitas atau 15% peningkatan harga benih. Penelitian ini menyarankan studi lebih lanjut untuk mengidentifikasi agroekosistem produksi paling ideal berpotensi produktivitas optimal, serta memperbaiki teknologi produksi benih TSS berorientasi peningkatan produktivitas dan efisiensi penggunaan input. </p><p><strong>Keywords</strong></p><p>produksi benih; benih biji botani bawang; analisis anggaran; kelayakan finansial</p><p><strong>Abstract</strong></p><p>A trial of 1,500 m2 seed production was conducted in the Indonesian Vegetable Research Institute during March-November 2018. The objective was to assess the financial feasibility of True Seed of Shallot (TSS) seed production technology. Farm performance was assessed by using enterprise budget, NPV (Net Present Value), IRR (Internal Rate of Return), B/C ratio (Benefit Cost Ratio), and PBP (Pay Back Period). Budget analysis results in (a) production costs of IDR 255,320,280/ ha, (b) revenue-cost ratio of 1.49, (c) 102 kg/ha yield break-even-point, and (d) IDR 1,789,628/kg price break-even-point. Meanwhile, financial analysis based on some predetermined parameters has provided NPV = IDR -108,564,638 (&lt;0), IRR = up to 2% interest rate still shows negative NPV value (&lt;18%), Net B/C Ratio = 0.62 (&lt;1), and PBP = 1.5 years (&lt;3 years). Those criteria suggest that TSS seed production business is not yet categorized as financially feasible. Sensitivity analysis shows that financial feasibility may be achieved if there is minimally 22% reduced cost of production, or 15% increased yield, or 15% increased seed price. Further studies on identifying the most ideal agro-ecosystem with optimal yield potential, and improving TSS technology with an orientation to increasing yield and input-use efficiency are recommended.</p>

Seed-Borne Cercospora beticola can Initiate Cercospora Leaf Spot from Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Fruit Tissue

Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) is a globally important disease of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) caused by the fungus Cercospora beticola. Long-distance movement of C. beticola has been indirectly evidenced in recent population genetic studies, suggesting potential dispersal via seed. Commercial sugar beet “seed” consists of the reproductive fruit (true seed surrounded by maternal pericarp tissue) coated in artificial pellet material. In this study, we confirmed the presence of viable C. beticola in sugar beet fruit for 10 of 37 tested seed lots. All isolates harbored the G143A mutation associated with quinone outside inhibitor resistance and 32 of 38 isolates had reduced demethylation inhibitor sensitivity (EC50 > 1 µg/ml). Planting of commercial sugar beet seed demonstrated the ability of seed-borne inoculum to initiate CLS in sugar beet. Cercospora beticola DNA was detected in DNA isolated from xylem sap, suggesting the vascular system is used to systemically colonize the host. We established nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region amplicon sequencing using the MinION platform to detect fungi in sugar beet fruit. Fungi from 19 different genera were identified from 11 different sugar beet seed lots, but Fusarium, Alternaria, and Cercospora were consistently the three most dominant taxa, comprising an average of 93% relative read abundance over 11 seed lots. We also present evidence that C. beticola resides in the pericarp of sugar beet fruit, rather than the true seed. The presence of seed-borne inoculum should be considered when implementing integrated disease management strategies for CLS of sugar beet in the future.

Breeding Late Blight Resistant Potatoes for Organic Farming—a Collaborative Model of Participatory Plant Breeding: the Bioimpuls Project

In organic potato production, the need for varieties with durable late blight resistance developed through classical breeding programmes is urgent. Besides late blight resistance, other variety characteristics needed in organic potato production are early canopy closure for weed suppression and good tuber dormancy to eliminate the need for (chemical) sprouting inhibition during storage, amongst others. This paper is a unique example of collaboration between researchers, farmers and professional breeders of both large, medium and small breeding companies. The aim of the resulting breeding project, Bioimpuls, was to provide a substantial impulse to both the organic and conventional potato breeding sector by enlarging the access to various sources of late blight resistance. The Bioimpuls activities include providing true seed populations for variety selection with five available sources of R-genes against Phytophthora infestans, early and advanced introgression breeding with six new R-genes, and education and communication. The results achieved over the 11-year period (2009–2019) are analysed. Many true seed populations containing multiple resistance genes are produced and selected, and a constant flow of breeding clones is entering the evaluation and positioning trials of companies. However, it will still take a considerable amount of time before varieties with stacked resistance genes will replace the new resistant single gene varieties entering the market in the next few years. Five out of six new sources of R-genes need more years of backcrossing before they are ready for commercial use. Bioimpuls successfully introduced a training course for farmer breeders, and published a manual for potato breeding.

Acceleration in Germination Sensu stricto Plays a Central Role on Seedling Vigor in Post-Germination

An obvious relationship between germination sensu stricto and seedling development during post-germination has been considered, but not explained concerning vigor. Taking this into account, we used measurements of water dynamics in germinating seeds and seedling development to clarify that relationship. The biological model was soybean seeds, since it is the most relevant ‘true seed’ produced around world. Our findings suggest that the way energy is used (acceleration) and not its input (velocity) is the main aspect relating seed germination and seedling development, especially when considering vigor. However, velocity and acceleration can be complementary in analyses of seed physiology. Other measurements proposed here also have potential uses for testing vigor in seed lots, such as seedling vigor index and biological activity in the lot. Therefore, water dynamics in germinating seeds can be an interesting way for testing seed lots, because it is an easier, faster and cheaper method in relation to other non-destructive procedures.

Effect of Drupe size Grading on in Vivo and in Vitro Germination and its Dormancy Mechanism of Teak (Tectona grandis Linn. F)

The effect of drupe size on in vivo and in vitro germination and its dormancy mechanism in teak have been studied in this paper. Teak drupes were size graded to five categories namely very large with more than 15 mm, large with 13 to <15 mm, medium with 11 to <13 mm, small with 9 to <11 mm and very small with less than 9 mm of diameter. Under in vivo pot culture condition very low germination percent of drupes was observed. It was observed that very large size drupe had highest 100 drupe weight, 100 true seed weight and seed filling capacity, but it was negatively correlated with in vivo germination of teak drupes. When true seeds isolated from the drupes were grown under in vitro condition in half strength MS medium the germination percent was significantly increased up to 54.1. True seeds obtained from small size graded drupes recorded highest germination per cent in MS media. This showed that the drupe size did not play major role in the germination and early growth in teak. Very small size graded drupes have low seed filling capacity, and it leads to decrease the germination percent. Poor germination of drupes showed the presence of mechanical and physiological dormancy in drupes. Similarly, the presence of morphological and embryo dormancy in teak may limit the true seed germination potential to 54.1 per cent. In addition, in vitro germination of true seeds will be a promising approach to obtain large number of saplings in teak.