Peningkatan Kualitas dan Kuantitas Biji Kakao Melalui Intensifikasi Perawatan Kakao, Introduksi Alat Budidaya, dan Pengering Sistem Hybrid

Putat village, Patuk district, Gunung Kidul regency is one of cocoa production center in Yogjakarta. Cocoa bean products in this region have been marketed not only in Yogjakarta but also several areas in Indonesia. In order to support production continuity of cocoa bean productions, to date the farmers face obtacles in cacao plantation maintenance and cocoa beans drying. Thus, this activity aimed to increase quality and quantity of cocoa beans through maintenance intensifications of cacao and introduction of cacao cultivation equipments and cocoa beans drying hybrid system. Partner in this activities were Kelompok Tani Kakao Sido Dadi and cocoa dan chocolate production industry “Joglo Coklat” located in Patuk, Gunung Kidul, Yogjakarta. The activities were conducted in several stages including 1) basic data collection, 2) socialization of cacao plantation maintenance, 3) socialization of cocoa beans drying, 4) introduction of cultivation equipments, 5) contruction of drying chamber, 6) handover of equipment, and 7) evaluation of parnter response. The results of the activity indicated that the provision of information and the introduction of equipment for cacao plant maintenance activities had a positive impact on partners. From the questionnaires, the partners stated the benefits of this activity and the desire for sustainable activities. The introduction of maintenance equipment and cocoa beans drying made it easier for farmers to carry out cultivation, harvest and post-harvest activities of cocoa beans so would be able to improve the quality and quantity of cocoa beans.

Cadmium in soil and cacao beans of Peruvian and South American origin

Cadmium tends to bioaccumulate in different parts of cacao plant and its consumption can lead to serious health complications; due to this, the European Union (EU) established limits for tolerable concentrations of cadmium in cacao products as a preventive measure, which took effect as of January 2019. In South America and Peru, a sustained growth in cacao production has been recorded over the last 10 years, but scientific studies reveal that in some areas the cadmium levels of the soil and cacao beans exceed those established by the EU, thus, jeopardizing marketing and export possibilities to the EU. With this in mind, the purpose of this review was to compile information on the cadmium that is available in the soil, its accumulation in cacao beans, and the advances in treatment technologies; as well as to analyze the potential effects this has on cacao exports of South American origin, using Peru as a case analysis.

Isolation, Screening and Identification of Plant Growth-Promoting Endophytic Bacteria from Theobroma cacao

Cacao (Theobrama cacao) is one of the main plantation commodities in Indonesia which has an important role for the national economy. The low productivity of cacao plants in Indonesia is due to the condition of old plants, pests and diseases attacks which affect the quality of the fruit and decrease the plant’s productivity. The objective of this study was to isolate and identify of endophytic bacteria from stem, flower, leaf and fruit of T. cacao by using 16S rRNA gene as genetic marker. Twenty seven endophytic bacterial isolates were collected from local plantation in Yogyakarta area. From this study, 8 endophytic bacterial strains exhibited the higher PGP traits. The isolates produced Indole Acetic Acid level by 0.3 to 5.21 ppm/hour. All of isolates had nitrogen fixation activity but have not phosphate solubilization activity. Among them, isolates CSDT 4 and CGKBH 4 showed promising potential as PGP bacteria. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences, those bacterial strains were identified as Brevibacillus brevis (CSDT 4) and Pantoea sp. (CGKBH 4). We propose that the B. brevis and Pantoea sp. which is reported for the first time for their PGP potential in cacao, exerts its beneficial effects on cacao crop through combined of activities. The potential PGP bacteria from the Cacao plant was used to make a specific bio-fertilizer formula for the Cacao plant, because of the different needs and condition that every plant requires.

PENGGUNAAN METODE SAMBUNG SAMPING PADA BEBERAPA KLON KAKAO (Theobroma cacao L.) SEBAGAI SUMBER BAHAN TANAM

Side grafting technology, side grafting is a cocoa plant improvement technique that is done by inserting the stem of superior clones. This study aims to determine the effect of Janis entries on the side grafting growth of cocoa plants and the types of good entries in the growth of side grafting cacao plant.The plan used in this study was a randomized block design (RBD) with treatments used were local clone actress (E1), superior clone actress ICCRI 03 (E2), superior clone actress ICCRI 04 (E3), Sulawesi superior clone 01 (E4) ), Superior actress of Sulawesi Clone 02 (E5). The observational variables in this study were the percentage of survival, total plant leaves, plant area. The results of the study aimed that the treatment of superior clone entries had an effect on the observed variables of survival rates, total number of leaves of plants, leaf area. The type of entris that gives the best effect on the side grafting growth of cacao plant seeds is the superior Sulawesi clone actress 02.

Pembuatan Tepung dari Biji Kakao (Theobroma cacao L) dan Uji Kualitasnya

Cacao plant is one of the plantation crops which contribute to improving economic for the Province of Central Sulawesi. This study aimed to prepare and test the flour quality of cocoa beans flour after soaking in salt water, NaCl, and lime water, Ca(OH)2, at various concentrations. Samples were cocoa beans taken from Rantekala Sigi Province of Central Sulawesi, furthermore, the cocoa beans were made into flour. Results showed that the moisture, ash, fat, and carbohydrate of cocoa beans flour were almost met the ISO standard, with the exception of the protein level, i.e 5.0% for max. moisture level, 1.6% for max. ash level, 10.0% for min. fat level, and 70% of min. carbohydrates level. But, the best quality was from soaking with lime water at a concentration of 20% with a value of 2.8% moisture level, at a concentration of 15% with a value of 24.6% level, and at a concentration of 10% with a value of 78.26% carbohydrate level. However, for the ash level, the best quality was by soaking in salt water at a concentration of 5% with a value of 4.1%. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the cocoa beans flour is better soaked in lime water than salt water.

Tingkat Resistensi Helopeltis antonii (Hemiptera: Miridae) pada Tanaman Kakao terhadap Tiga Golongan Insektisida Sintetis

<em>In Indonesia, </em>Helopeltis antonii<em> Signoret is one damaging pest in cacao plant which may </em><em>cause 60% production loss. Farmers have been using synthetic insecticides to control it. However, insecticides use with inappropriate dose can lead to resistance. The research aimed to determine the resistance level of </em>H. antonii<em> </em><em>against three types of insecticides. The research was conducted at Green House of Indonesian Spice and Medicinal Crops Research Institute, Bogor. Collection of field population and interview of insecticides use was conducted at cacao plantation in Bogor, Ciamis, and Sukabumi, West Java from August 2016 to June 2017. The insect used was 3rd instar which divided into two groups, laboratory and field populations. Insecticides used contained active ingredients of chlorpyrifos (organophosphate), lambda-cyhalothrin (pyrethroid), and thiamethoxam (neonicotinoid). Cucumber was used as feed substitute for the multiplication of </em>H. antonii<em> test. The e</em><em>xperiment was performed using five insecticide concentrations determined by preliminary test result. The relationships between insecticide concentration and insect mortality was analyzed by probit program. The interviews indicated that the insecticides widely used by farmers are pyrethroid type. The result demonstrated that field population of </em>H. antonii<em> </em><em>from Bogor and Ciamis were resistant to lambda-cyhalothrin with resistance ratio (RR) of 4.2 and 10.8, respectively, whereas population from Sukabumi had RR value of 1.2. All field population of </em>H. antonii<em> showed resistance indication against thiamethoxam with RR ranged </em><em>from 1.8 to 3.1. Resistance indication to chlorpyrifos was only shown by population from Bogor (RR 1.5).</em>

Cacao as a Globalised Functional Food: Review on Cardiovascular Effects of Chocolate Consumption

Polyphenols have increasingly been studied for their influence on cardiometabolic health. Since cacao and chocolate can be a rich source of polyphenols, they too have been investigated for their supposed health benefits. In the first part of this paper the history of the food and medicinal uses of the cacao plant was briefly examined. A particular emphasis has been placed on the analysis of the process of transformation of the cacao seed into chocolate, since many of the processing steps involved have important consequences on the final product’s content in polyphenols and flavanols, and hence on the purported beneficial activity of chocolate. This evaluation is also of great importance in interpreting the results of the epidemiological and clinical studies. The relevant literature was surveyed in the second part of the paper, and the results for the consumption of polyphenol-rich chocolate are that it is well correlated to a reduction of the overall cardiovascular risk, and of arterial blood pressure in hypertensive subjects. Less corroborated are the positive effects on vascular endothelial health, on blood lipids and on lipid peroxidation. There are also preliminary but promising results for a positive action on insulin sensitivity, platelet function and inflammation. It remains to be seen whether and how these results can be translated into pragmatic guidelines on the health benefits of the consumption of commercial chocolate bars or products.

A new Species of Helopeltis (Hemiptera—Heteroptera, Miridae) found in Ceylon

The earliest reference to the occurrence of Helopeltis in Ceylon was made by the French entomologist, Signoret (1858), when he described Helopeltis antonii, the so-called “Mosquito Blight”. Helopeltis attacking cacao in Ceylon was first recorded in the year 1880 or 1881 in the Matale district (Green, 1901), the damage to the young leaves and stems having attracted the attention of cacao planters. Populations of Helopeltis occurring on cacao today, however, favour the pods, damage to young leaves and stems being relatively rare and generally associated with poor shade over the cacao plant. This apparent change of feeding habits prompted a careful and critical examination of the existing species of Helopeltis in Ceylon. Extensive collections of Helopeltis from the major cacao-growing areas in the island, including the Matale district, have not provided any specimens referable to Helopeltis antonii. The new species described below was the only species of Helopeltis found on cacao at Teldeniya, Kundasale and in the Matale district, which may be regarded as representative of the major cacao-growing areas of Ceylon.