The utilization of new products formulated from water coconut, palm sap sugar, and fungus to increase nutritional feed quality, feed efficiency, growth, and carcass of gurami sago (Osphronemus goramy Lacepède, 1801) juvenile

Background: Giant gourami (Osphronemus goramy Lacepede, 1801) has become popular aquaculture in Indonesia. However, information on the feed used is minimal. This study analyzed the change in feeding nutrition, fish growth, feed efficiency, and body-carcass using product formulated from water coconut, palm sap sugar, and fungus. Methods: A total of 2,000 ml coconut water and 1,000 ml of palm sap sugar solution were formulated. Each product formulated was added with 6 g of Aspergillus niger (called product P1), 6 g of Rhizopus oligosporus (called product P2), and 6 g of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (called product P3). Commercial feeds supplemented with P1, P2, and P3 products are designated P1, P2, and P3 diets. Commercial feed added to freshwater is called the P4 diet (placebo). Their dosage is 300 ml/kg of feed. Gurami sago juveniles (initial weight 50±2.5 g and length 13.2±0.4 cm) were stocked in triplicate nets (2×1×1 m) in a freshwater concrete pond with a stocking density of 30 fish/net, an initial feeding rate of 3% per day until study termination. Results: Our results support our hypothesis that different product formulations have a significant effect (p<0.05) on growth performance and feed efficiency. At the same time, supplementing commercial feed with varying formula products has a significant impact (p<0.05) on the fatty acid composition of the diets and carcass body of gurami sago. Conclusion: Diet P2 contains a higher concentration of fatty acids to increase body weight, feed efficiency, and the best carcass fatty acid composition than other experiments for sago gurami reared in freshwater concrete ponds.

Marketing Channel and Marketing Margin of Coconut Palm Sugar Srikandi in the Srikandi Women’s Cooperative Purworejo, Central Java

Coconut palm sugar Srikandi is different from other sugar. Coconut palm sugar Srikandi is derived from the raw material of nira obtained from coconut trees that grow on organic certification land. This organic certificate was issued by the Dutch Control Union, namely the EU Organic Farming certificate and USDA Organic certificate from America. In addition, there was already a halal label from LPPOM Central Java Province and PIRT Purworejo Regency Health Office. Coconut palm sugar Srikandi could reach the market in accordance with organic certificates that were Europe, America, Australia and Sri Lanka. This study aims to identify the marketing channels, marketing margins, farmer's share and the analysis of profit-to-cost ratios. The type of research used by the survey method. The research location was chosen by probability sampling method, that was in Loano District and Kaligesing District, Purworejo Regency as an object and coconut palm sugar tapper who is a member of Srikandi Women's Cooperative as the subject. The most efficient marketing channel research resulted with a marketing margin value of Rp. 15.000 / kg, farmer's share value of 53.13% and the value of profit and cost ratio of 9.78 are found on the channel III.

Geostatistical modeling of “lethal coconut palm crown atrophy”, a new disease in the State of Pará

’Lethal Coconut Palm Crown Atrophy’ (LCCA) is a rapidly spreading disease in Brazil, capable of quickly killing coconut trees and threatening the commercial exploration of this plant. The objective of this work was to characterize the spatial and temporal distribution pattern of LCCA in green dwarf coconut commercial plantation areas, located the municipality of Santa Izabel, mesoregion of Northeastern Pará, Brazil. Surveys were carried out at monthly intervals between January 2014 and December 2018, checking for plants with LCCA-characteristic symptoms. Geostatistics was applied to perform spatial-temporal disease estimates based on semivariogram modeling and preparation of ordinary kriging maps. These spatial estimates are conducted through interpolations that characterize data variability in the area. The spherical model yielded the best fit to the spatial distribution of the disease, as it presented the best coefficient of determination (R²), with the range varying between 14m and 45m. The Spatial Dependence Index (SDI) was moderate in the evaluations carried out between 2014 and 2017 (in the 0.26-0.64 range), but not in 2018, when it was strong (0.23). The values of the clustering intensity of LCCA-symptomatic plants were estimated in non-sampled points. The spherical fit model of the data indicates an aggregated distribution pattern, shown by aggregation patches in the plantation, graded by values of dissemination intensity. The kriging maps allowed the observation that the disease expands between plants in the same line, suggesting the possibility of the presence of a short-range vector.

Genes Involved in Lipid Metabolism in Coconut

Coconut palm (Cocos nucifera L) is an economically important monocot plant grown in tropical and subtropical regions. Coconut oil is stored in a solid endosperm and has 47.48–50.5% fatty acid component as lauric acid (C12:0). Present research showed that acyl-acyl carrier protein thioesterases (FatA/B) and lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LAAPT) are key enzymes determining medium-chain fatty acid accumulation in coconut oil. Among five CnFatB genes, CnFatB3 expressed specifically in endosperm and in vitro experiment showed that this gene made mainly lauric acid (C12:0) and tetradecenoic acid (C14:1). Overexpression of CnFatB3 in Arabidopsis increased the amounts of C12:0 and C14:0 in transgenic plant. CnLPAAT gene that is expressed specifically in coconut endosperm showed a preference for using acyl-CoAs containing C10:0, C12:0, and C14:0 acyl groups as acyl-donor substrates. Coconut and oil palm are closely related species with approximately 50% lauric acid (C12:0) in their endosperm. The two species have a close evolutionary relationship between predominant gene isoforms and high conservation of gene expression bias in the lipid metabolism pathways. Moreover, since no stable transformation system has been constructed in coconut palm, gene function validations have been done in vitro, or genes transformed into a heterologous system.

Performance of Coconut Hybrids Dwarf X Bido Tall

The desirable future coconut variety characteristics should include (1) short trunk and low height increment, (2) early bearing, (3) high nut yield, and (4) high neera (coconut sugar sap). High yoelding but short coconut palm statures make it easy to harvest the nuts and tap the neera. The Dwarf coconut varieties are generally early bearing with a low height increment and plenty nuts per fruit bunch. The Bido tall coconut bears fruits as early as three years after planting and with high nut yield, a low height increment and a very short trunk. This study aims to evaluate early vegetative growth (2 – 3 years after planting) of eight coconut hybrids derived from combinations of Dwarfs x Bido tall hybridizations. The arrays of hybrid coconuts consisted of hybridization between three Dwarf coconut varieties by Bido tall generated in 2016, and those between five Dwarf coconut varieties by Bido tall generated in 2017. The KHINA-1 hybrid was used as the standard hybrid control. Results of the evaluation showed the evaluated Waingapu Red Dwarf x Bido tall hybrids have the largest stem girth and the highest plant heightOn the other hand, Aromatic Green Dwarf x Bido tall hybrids showed the highest leaf numbers. However, all hybrid combinations showed the same stem girth diameter at two years after planting. At two and three years after planting, the Raja Brown Dwarf x Bido tall hybrids were the tallest, while the Nias Yellow Dwarf x Bido tall coconut hybrids have the highest leaf number. All of the Dwarf x Bido tall coconut hybrids showed good vegetative performance at two and three years after planting. The differences in early vegetative performances among the evaluated Dwarf x Bido tall might indicate the differences in early bearing, high nut yield and high neera characters of the hybrids.

First report of Encyrtid parasitiod, Copidosomyia ambiguous (Subba rao) Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Encyrtidae) on Mallada desjardinsi (Navas) an indigenous predator of Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin in India

Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), commonly known as the rugose spiraling whitefly (RSW), is an invasive pest on coconut palm (Cocos nucifera L) in southern parts of India. To minimize crop losses, we currently employ a biological control agent, i.e., Mallada desjardinsi (Navas), which is an entomophagous predator for RSW. This voracious feeding predator belongs to the Chrysopidae family. However, under natural conditions, Mallada desjardinsi faces severe parasitoid attacks that hinder its multiplication and predating on RSW. In this study, we report the first incidence of Encyrtid parasitoid, Copidosomyia ambiguous (Subba Rao) (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Encyrtidae) on Mallada desjardinsi, in India.

A new species of planthopper in the genus Haplaxius (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Fulgoroidea: Cixiidae) from coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) in Costa Rica

Haplaxius is a large genus of cixiid planthoppers that is widespread in the New World and economically important due to the role of H. crudus in transmitting palm lethal decline phytoplasmas. A new species of Haplaxius, here described as Haplaxius pocococo sp. n., was discovered during survey work on palms in north-central Costa Rica. Placement in Haplaxius is supported by sequence analysis of the COI and 18S genes relative to congeners and by morphological characters.

A new species of planthopper in the genus Patara (Hemiptera: Derbidae) on coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) from the island of Barbuda

The island of Barbuda was recently surveyed for the presence of Haplaxius crudus to establish the risk of Lethal Yellowing to palms on the island. After extensive collecting, H. crudus was not found on the island. A new species of Patara Westwood was found on coconut palms on the southwest portion of Barbuda. Herein, we describe the new species as Patara cooki sp. n. and provide DNA sequence data for cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 18S genes for it and Patara guttata Westwood. Patara cooki differed from Patara guttata sp. n. by 1.8% for 18S and 7.8% for COI, similar to intrageneric differences reported for other taxa. A phylogenetic analysis of available Otiocerinae near Patara using found Patara cooki sp. n. nested among other Patara species. We also offer commentary regarding the interpretation of forewing venation in Patara.