AGRITROPICA : Journal of Agricultural Sciences

Detection and Sequence Analysis of Pepper Yellow Leaf Curl Virus Isolates That Infected Chili (Capsicum annuum L.) in Bengkulu, Indonesia

2025-10-03T07:23:06+00:00

Pepper yellow leaf curl Aceh virus (PepYLCAV) and pepper yellow leaf curl Indonesia virus (PepYLCIV) are begomoviruses that dominate chili cultivation in Indonesia. Characterization of these two begomoviruses is essential as basic information for the development of virus control technologies. The symptoms on chili plants indicate that PepYLCIV is more severe than PepYLCAV, with severe mosaic, curling, and yellowing, whereas PepYLCAV causes only mild mosaic and yellowing. Sequencing results also show that the nucleotides and amino acids between PepYLCAV and PepYLCIV are significantly different. This suggests that the pathogenicity of the two viruses on chili plants differs. Protein structure predictions using AlphaFold3 also show significant differences. Based on available data, control of PepYLCAV and PepYLCIV can be achieved using different approaches, as these viruses have distinct sequences that may affect their pathogenicity.

Assessing the Awareness of Using Veterinary Medical Drugs Among Village Animal Health Workers in Battambang Province

2025-10-01T02:32:23+00:00

AMR is a serious health issue in the 21^st century as infections caused by resistant organisms become harder to treat, leading to longer illnesses, more hospital visits, and a higher risk of death. In parallel, it is also affecting Cambodia's health and economy. This study aims to understand rural veterinarians' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding antimicrobial resistance in a northern province of Cambodia. The target districts were purposefully chosen and include Battambang City, Sangkae District, Moung Russei District, and Bavel District. Village Animal Health Workers (VAHWs) were randomly selected and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. All respondents, all of whom were veterinarians, were male. Among them, 33% had completed primary education, while only 4% had completed higher education. The services provided by VAHWs and in treatment are not significantly different (P>0.05), with the majority of services being for cattle (100%), swine (71%), and buffaloes (7%). However, all veterinarians (100%) were aware of antimicrobial resistance, with 44% learning about it through training courses. Among these, 84% expressed concern, citing increased difficulty in treatment and diagnosis. Furthermore, 61% believed antibiotics could be used for prevention, while 26% used them to promote growth. It is concluded that antimicrobial resistance in Battambang is a serious concern. Therefore, VAHWs should be empowered through capacity-building, and relevant institutions should strengthen regulations governing the use of veterinary medicines to promote better practices. Additionally, the phrase 'use antibiotics with caution' should be included on packaging in Khmer script.

The Effect of Potassium Fertilizer and Paclobutrazol Application Time on the Growth and Yield of Sweet Corn in Peat Soil

2025-11-24T09:33:00+00:00

For optimal effects on sweet corn growth and yield, it is critical to determine when to apply Paclobutrazol and how much potassium fertilizer to apply. The goal of the study is to determine the optimal K fertilizer dosage and Paclobutrazol application timing for sweet corn plant growth and yield in peat soil in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. A split-plot design with two factors was used for the study. The time of application of Paclobutrazol 1500 ppm (W) as the main plot and dosage of potassium fertilizer (K) as the subplot. Paclobutrazol's application period only suppressed plant height and leaf number, whereas potassium application markedly enhanced sweet corn yield. Paclobutrazol's application period only reduced plant height by 13.06-28.42 cm. The 5-week (WAP) Paclobutrazol spraying period had the most significant impact on reducing sweet corn plant height. Potassium fertilization significantly improved sweet corn yield components. Doses of 200–300 kg·ha⁻¹ increased cob weight, husk-free cob weight, and cob length relative to lower doses, while cob diameter responded effectively from 100 kg·ha⁻¹ onward. The highest overall performance was achieved at 300 kg·ha⁻¹, indicating that this dose was the most effective for maximizing sweet corn yield under the study conditions.

First Report of Meloidogyne incognita Infecting Cocopeat-Grown Melon (Cucumis melo L.) in Bengkulu, Indonesia

2025-10-03T08:58:15+00:00

Cocopeat, a growing medium derived from coconut husk fibers, is valued for its high porosity, strong water retention, and support for healthy root development. However, its physical properties may also provide favorable conditions for plant-parasitic nematodes. This study reports, for the first time, the occurrence of Meloidogyne incognita in melon (Cucumis melo L.) cultivated in cocopeat in Bengkulu, Indonesia, and examines the susceptibility of this medium to infestation. Root samples were purposively collected from six infected plants showing stunted growth, wilting, and root galling. Adult female nematodes were extracted and identified morphologically through perineal pattern analysis. The diagnostic features, such as a tall, narrow dorsal arch, fine striae, and the absence of lateral lines, consistently matched those of M. incognita. Galls of varying sizes were observed in all samples, indicating different infection intensities. This finding suggests that the physical structure of cocopeat may facilitate nematode mobility and persistence across growth stages. The study highlights that cocopeat is not inherently nematode-free despite its agronomic advantages and should be managed through preventive strategies, including substrate sterilization, sanitation, and regular nematode monitoring.

Household Food Security of Rice Farmers Based on Food Expenditure and Energy Consumption in Singaran Pati Sub-District, Bengkulu City

2025-09-28T04:11:12+00:00

This study was conducted in the Singaran Pati Sub-district of Bengkulu City to analyze food expenditure shares, energy consumption, and household food security levels among rice-farming households. A descriptive-analytical method was employed, with research sites selected purposively and samples determined proportionally, resulting in 63 respondents from Dusun Besar and 34 from Panorama. Both primary and secondary data were utilized. Food expenditure share was calculated based on the ratio of food to total household expenditure, while energy consumption was assessed using a one-sample t-test. Food security status was measured by cross-classifying food expenditure share and energy consumption. The results show that the food expenditure share reached 80.98%, indicating a high category, while energy consumption was 97.38%, categorized as sufficient. Overall, most rice-farming households were classified as food-insecure.

Analysis of Leading Agricultural Commodities and Development Strategies in the Musi Rawas Regency, South Sumatra Province

2025-12-05T13:49:03+00:00

The Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of Musi Rawas Regency continues to increase significantly. One of the sectors contributing the second-largest share is agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. This sector accounts for 29.42% of Musi Rawas Regency's total GRDP. It includes food crop agriculture, horticulture, plantation crops, livestock, and agricultural and animal hunting services for commercial purposes. In 2021, the area of oil palm plantations in Musi Rawas Regency was 38,542.10 hectares, with a production of 106,339.69 quintals of palm oil. The purpose of this research is to analyze the leading commodities, identify internal and external factors influencing their development, and develop strategies to advance their development in the Musi Rawas Regency. The research respondents include academics and practitioners, and the study uses both primary and secondary data. The data analysis methods employed are the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and SWOT analysis. The results of the Analytic Hierarchy Process analysis indicate that the leading plantation commodity in Musi Rawas Regency is oil palm cultivation (0.377), followed by rubber plantations (0.213), coconut (0.136), coffee (0.134), cocoa (0.098), and sugarcane (0.042). The priority strategy for developing the Leading commodity of oil palm plantations in Musi Rawas Regency is to improve supporting facilities and infrastructure.

Farmers' Understanding of Rice Farming Commercialization in South Bengkulu Regency

2025-11-04T02:15:06+00:00

This study analyzes farmers’ understanding of farm commercialization and identifies the factors influencing it in South Bengkulu Regency, a leading rice-producing area in Bengkulu Province, Indonesia. A total of 88 rice farmers were surveyed using structured questionnaires, and data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression. The findings reveal that farmers’ understanding of commercialization falls within the understanding category (average score: 3.51). Among the indicators, price understanding achieved the highest score (3.93), followed by market orientation (3.70). Risk (3.31) and institutional aspects (3.08) remained relatively low. Regression analysis indicates that formal education, farming experience, access to extension services, rice field type (irrigated vs. rainfed), and land size significantly influence farmers’ understanding (R² = 0.624). These results indicate that both internal factors (education and experience) and external factors (extension, irrigation systems, and farm size) jointly determine farmers’ capacity to understand and apply commercialization concepts. Strengthening non-formal education, enhancing extension services, and supporting farmer institutions are essential to improve farmers’ market orientation. Strengthened understanding of commercialization is expected to increase household welfare and contribute to sustainable agricultural development in the region.