Cultivation Of Material Research Articles

Enhancing oyster mushroom cultivation by chickpea and wheat straw substrate for sustainable agriculture

This study aimed to explore the potential utilization of agro-lignocellulosic waste materials for oyster mushroom cultivation, addressing the challenge of managing waste associated with these materials. Various combinations of Chickpea Straw (CS) and Wheat Straw (WS) at different ratios-100% CS, 75% CS + 25% WS, 50% CS + 50% WS, 25% CS + 75% WS, and 100% WS-were investigated as substrates for mushroom cultivation. The experiment followed a ccompletely rrandomised design with four replications, monitoring developmental phases, yield, and biological efficiency (BE). Results indicated that using 100% WS as a substrate resulted in the fastest mycelium growth (spawn run), completing in an average of 14.50 days, 17.20 days from spawning to pinhead formation, and 20.60 days to first harvest, with the highest number of fruiting bodies produced. Chickpea straw contributed to the highest stipe width (1.52 cm), while WS 100% had the highest average yield (997.28 g) and BE (99.73%). A mixture of 75% CS and 25% WS showed promising results in terms of fruiting bodies, yield, and BE after 100% WS. Consequently, the study recommends the use of these substrates to optimize Pleurotus ostreatus cultivation yield.

Adaptation of Teaching Materials for Morality Cultivation in College English Courses

In order to achieve the goal of fostering morality cultivation, college English must be reformed to meet the new requirements of morality education in foreign language courses. This paper takes Unit 4 in Book 2 of New Target College English: An Integrated course as an example to demonstrate the requirements of adapting textbook content to serving morality education. Its basic principles and methods are as follows :1) to refine the morality themes and determine the teaching objectives; 2) use content-based teaching method to achieve theme-based teaching activities and naturally integrate language ability with morality goals; 3) arrange teaching content around morality themes, and connect online and offline learning activities to introduce and consolidate morality cultivation teaching.

Skin microbiome changes in patients with atopic dermatitis and psoriasis

Aims: The main aim of our study was identification of skin microbiome changes in patients with atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. The focus of our research were microorganisms of Staphylococcus spp. genus. Materials and methods: The study included 34 patients with atopic dermatitis and 41 patients with psoriasis. The enrollment period lasted for 3 months. The material for cultivation was taken from 4 skin areas: lesion and normal skin of dry body skin sites (medial surface of forearm for patients with atopic dermatitis and extensor surface of elbow joint for patients with psoriasis) and scalp. Further evaluation was carried out using cultural and molecular biological research methods. The obtained data were statistically processed. Results: The study included 34 patients with atopic dermatitis and 41 patients with psoriasis. Mean SCORAD for atopic dermatitis group was 51,5912,75 and mean PASI for psoriasis group was23,7214,14. Mean SCORAD for atopic dermatitis patients who carries toxigenic S.аureus strains was 57,439,75, in group without toxigenic S.аureus strains mean SCORAD was statistically significant lower - 37,908,63 (р=0,054). Mean SCORAD for atopic dermatitis patients who carries S.epidermidis commensal strain was 51,312,75, difference between this group and toxigenic S.аureus strains group of patients was insignificant (р=0,18). Mean PASI for psoriasis patients who carries toxigenic S.аureus strains was 26,412,76, mean PASI for psoriasis patients who carries S.epidermidis commensal strain was 20,99,07. Difference between S.epidermidis group and toxigenic S.аureus strains group of patients was statistically insignificant (р=0,53) with tendency to more severe disease in group of toxigenic S.аureus strains carriers. Conclusions: This study reveals some aspects of skin colonization by microorganisms belonging to Staphylococcus spp genus in patients with atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. We identify some correlations between severity of inflammatory disease and characteristics of microorganisms strain.

The Progress of Ganoderma Lucidum Cultivation by Utilizing Agricultural and Forestry Wastes

Agricultural and forestry waste is one of the important and abundant biomass resources in China, and it is of great significance to realise the resource utilisation of agricultural and forestry waste through green and low-carbon biological means, which is conducive to achieving the goal of “carbon neutrality” and promoting the sustainable development of the agricultural and forestry industry. Ganoderma lucidum is rich in various active ingredients and has high medicinal value, so the artificial cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum and product research and development have received extensive attention worldwide. With the expansion of Ganoderma lucidum artificial cultivation industry, the use of agricultural and forestry wastes as a substitute material for Ganoderma lucidum cultivation is a hot research topic nowadays. This paper reviews the research results and application cases of various agricultural & forestry waste conversion using in the field of Ganoderma lucidum substitution cultivation and discusses the development potential and advantages of Ganoderma lucidum cultivation and combined cultivation mode of agriculture and forestry. By analyzing the research results on the resource utilization of agroforestry wastes in Ganoderma lucidum cultivation, we focused on the effects of culture media R&D protocols with different culture substrates, and its effect on the growth efficiency, yield and nutrient composition of Ganoderma lucidum. This provides reference for the high-value utilisation of agricultural and forestry wastes and the development of artificial Ganoderma lucidum cultivation industry, as well as the enhancement of carbon sinks in agricultural and forestry ecosystems.

Kajian Pertumbuhan dan Produksi Kentang (Solanum tuberosum L.) dengan Variasi Umbi Benih

The effect of seed tuber weight on the growth and production of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) is intended to determine the efficiency of using tubers as seed material in potato cultivation. The single factor experiment was carried out using a randomized block design (RAK) consisting of 8 treatments, namely treatment A (Granolla variety with tuber weight 28 – 30 g), B (Granolla variety with tuber weight 31 – 45 g), C (Granolla variety with tuber weight 46 – 60 g), D HPS variety with tuber weight 31 – 45 g (Granolla variety with tuber weight 61 – 80 g), E (HPS variety with tuber weight 28 – 30 g), F (HPS variety with tuber weight 31 – 45 g), G (HPS variety with tuber weight 46 – 60 g), and H treatment (HPS variety with tuber weight 61 – 80 g). Each treatment was repeated four times. The results showed that the results were better for tubers weighing 46 - 60 g than tubers weighing 28 - 45 g, and the results were the same compared to tubers weighing 61 - 80 g, both for the HPS variety and the granolla variety. In developing potato cultivation, it is necessary to pay attention to the availability of quality seeds, the weight of the seed tubers and varieties that are suitable for the land environment. By increasing the production of quality tuber seeds, it is hoped that it can contribute to increasing productivity and potato production

Classification and Identification of Pinecone Mulching in Blueberry Cultivation Based on Crop Leaf Characteristics and Hyperspectral Data

While crushed pinecone mulch holds promise as a beneficial material for blueberry cultivation, research on its effectiveness remains limited. Crop leaf characteristics can serve as parameters for assessing mulching effects, although there are several limitations, including the need to analyze various distinct characteristics separately. The combination of hyperspectral data and machine learning techniques is expected to enable the selection of only the most important features among these characteristics. In this study, we investigated the impact of various mulching treatments utilizing pine tree byproducts, including crushed pinecones. Mulching variations included non-mulching (NM), crushed pinecones (PCs), a mixture of crushed pinecones and sulfur (PCS), pine needles (PNs), and sulfur treatment (S). Conventional methods were employed to measure leaf growth (length and width) and physiological characteristics (chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence, and stomatal conductance). Hyperspectral reflectance was also measured, and classification models using Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) were developed for crop characteristics, vegetation indices (VIs), visible and near-infrared (VNIR), and short-wave infrared (SWIR). The results showed that using crushed pinecones as the sole mulching material for blueberries, without sulfur treatment, had a positive impact on blueberry growth. The PC treatment exhibited a dual effect on plant growth by lowering the soil pH to 5.89 and maintaining soil moisture within the range of 26.33–35.20%. We observed distinct differences in soil inorganic nutrient content, with higher concentrations of organic matter, total nitrogen, and available P2O5 and K+, which positively influenced blueberry growth. Mulching treatments demonstrated superior physiological characteristics, with two classification models identifying stomatal conductance (gs) as a key parameter influencing treatment classification (VIP scores > 1 rank: 3, variable score rank: 1). The photochemical reflectance index (PRI) emerged as a major parameter among VIs, showing potential for measuring water stress (VIP scores > 1 rank: 2, variable score rank: 1). In the SWIR PLS-DA model, wavelength peaks were mainly observed in the O-H overtone (1410 nm, 1450 nm, 1930 nm, 1940 nm, and 2100 nm). Overall, crushed pinecones were found to positively impact the initial growth of blueberries by enhancing water status (plant respiration).

Design of dual peptide-conjugated hydrogels for proliferation and differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells

Completely synthetic cell cultivation materials for human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are important for the future clinical use of hPSC-derived cells. Currently, cell culture materials conjugated with extracellular matrix (ECM)-derived peptides are being prepared using only one specific integrin-targeting peptide. We designed dual peptide-conjugated hydrogels, for which each peptide was selected from different ECM sites: the laminin β4 chain and fibronectin or vitronectin, which can target α6β1 and α2β1 or αVβ5. hPSCs cultured on dual peptide-conjugated hydrogels, especially on hydrogels conjugated with peptides obtained from the laminin β4 chain and vitronectin with a low peptide concentration of 200 μg/mL, showed high proliferation ability over the long term and differentiated into cells originating from 3 germ layers in vivo as well as a specific lineage of cardiac cells. The design of grafting peptides was also important, for which a joint segment and positive amino acids were added into the designed peptide. Because of the designed peptides on the hydrogels, only 200 μg/mL peptide solution was sufficient for grafting on the hydrogels, and the hydrogels supported hPSC cultures long-term; in contrast, in previous studies, greater than 1000 μg/mL peptide solution was needed for the grafting of peptides on cell culture materials.

STUDY OF THE EFFICIENCY AND COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE APPLICATION OF TECHNIQUES FOR EVALUATING THE QUALITY OF PHYTOPHAGES AND ENTOMOPHAGES AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF ONTOGENESIS

The concept of quality control of insect crops is proposed, which is based on a targeted approach based on the goal and objectives of the implementation of a certain breeding program and is divided into two main directions: control of phytophage production, control of entomophage production. Quality control methods are based on the general biological rule of dependence between the intensity of insect taxis and the overall viability of biomaterial. The effectiveness of methods for assessing the quality of phytophages (on the example of the mother cultures of the grain moth Sitotroga cerealella, the wax moth Galleria mellonella) and entomophages (laboratory and natural populations of P. bioculatus.) of the Center for Mother Cultures of Insects Engineering and Technological Institute “Biotekhnica” of the National Academy of Sciences (ETI “Biotekhnica”) at different stages of ontogenesis was investigated using the indicator the intensity of taxis. As a result of research conducted on the culture of phytophagous, grain moth, a significant difference with the control was established in the indicators of viability of eggs, larvae, pupae and adults: 25; 6; 33 and 11%, respectively. Studies conducted with another phytophagous representative – the wax firefly – also showed positive results (16; 17; 16; 11%, respectively). The obtained (as a result of preliminary quality control) and selection culture had significantly higher viability indicators at all stages of ontogenesis. It was established that the intensity of chemotaxis of larvae of the 1st age of entomophages directly correlates with the indicator of viability of the insect culture. When selecting the starting material for successful culture, it is possible to select by chemotaxis of the larvae after rebirth from the egg. Thus, viability when selecting for Colorado beetle eggs significantly (p<0.01) exceeds this indicator in other selection options – Colorado beetle larvae and wax firefly larvae: 82; 59; 73% respectively. When working with an artificial population of P. bioculatus, on wax moth larvae, the highest intensity of taxis was noted in the variant with wax moth larvae compared to Colorado beetle eggs and Colorado beetle larvae – 37; 34; 29% respectively. This indicates a shift in the number of the population in the direction of individuals that successfully feed on unnatural food. Their viability was significantly higher than the viability in other variants of the study with an artificial population – 78; 71; 68% respectively. The proposed method of selection of starting material for cultivation of P. bioculatus allows differentiation of individuals for further effective reproduction, and the use of such biomaterial in programs of biological protection of plants from pests. A comparative analysis of methods for assessing the quality of phytophagous and entomophagous cultures at different stages of ontogenesis was carried out using the indicator of the overall viability of insect populations. It is an integrated indicator that takes into account the viability of the population at all stages of its development. All tested objects of the study showed that control and improvement of culture quality by the proposed method lead to an increase in the viability of biomaterial by 18.71; 18.56 and 8.86%, respectively (egg, larva, pupa).

PKM for Improving Food Security at PKK Bongan Village Tabanan District, Tabanan District-Bali Province

The problems faced are that chili cultivation techniques are not yet understood, chili processing has not been carried out, equipment and materials for cultivation and chili processing are not yet complete, and the importance of strengthening organizational management. The solution is that the partner group needs to be facilitated from the technological aspects of chili cultivation, chili processing, post-harvest and processing processes, and business management of the partner group. The aim of the activity is: to increase the knowledge and skills of partners in an effort to increase food security by cultivating in the yard and utilizing chili products to be processed into processed products with high economic value which can increase people's income.

Valorization of liquid waste generated from biogas production as supplemental material in shiitake mushroom cultivation

The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of supplementation of growing media with different levels of biogas liquid waste (BLW) on the production of two commercial strains of shiitake (LE-Agroma and LE-Homegreen). The strains were cultivated on oak sawdust (OS) soaked with water containing 0, 2.5, 5, and 10% percentages of BLW and the effect of different treatments was evaluated for cultivation cycle, yield, biological efficiency, nutritional content, macro- micro element contents and accumulation of heavy metals in the fruiting body. The shortest cultivation cycle for shiitake mushrooms, i.e., 82.3 and 75.6 days, was obtained with 10% BLW treatment in LE-Agroma and LE-Homegreen, respectively. The strains displayed the highest yield and BE (297.82 g kg−1–87.6% and 225.89 g kg−1–75.8%, respectively) in the same treatments. The use of BLW positively affected the fat, carbohydrate, macro and micro element contents of shiitake strains, whereas its increased supplementation inversely affected the protein content of the fruiting body. Accordingly, the left-over BLW after biogas production can be successfully used as an additive to cultivate shiitake mushrooms, with no risk to human health.

Application Effect of Rendering Livestock Carcass-Based Carbonized Material in Chinese Cabbage Cultivation

Application Effect of Rendering Livestock Carcass-Based Carbonized Material in Chinese Cabbage Cultivation

In-vitro Regeneration of Bamboo (Bambus balcooa): A Review

Bamboos are adaptable, fragrant, perennial, and non-wood forest plants that are extremely significant from an ecological, sociological, and economic standpoint. Bamboo may be propagated using a variety of methods, including rhizome and culm cuttings, clump division, and seed propagation, however these traditional methods have significant limitations when it comes to large- or mass-scale multiplication. These are typically inadequate and ineffective for mass scale dissemination, leaving micropropagation as the sole practical approach. The requirement for bamboo material for cultivation is so high that large-scale multiplying will inevitably necessitate micropropagation. High hopes have been placed in the ability of micropropagation for the mass propagation of bamboo, and a great deal of study has gone into the creation of procedures for large-scale, quick propagation. These include clonal fidelity, somatic embryogenesis, In vitro blooming, macro-proliferation, field efficiency as well as the optimisation and development of in vitro culture procedures. For large-scale micropropagation, which is urgently needed, this paper rapidly presents the most current knowledge on tissue culture mediated biotechnological interventions done in bamboo.

Simulating a reference medium for determining bacterial growth in hospital wastewater for Raman spectroscopic investigation

Wastewater is a very complex and diverse medium, which despite low nutrient density still harbors bacteria. Especially the wastewater from hospitals contains a high germ load. However, wastewater is also very variable and differs not only from day to day, but also from house to house. Since wastewater is always changing and medium has an impact on Raman spectra of bacteria, it is necessary to find a surrogate material in which bacteria can be cultured to mimic a real hospital wastewater sample. In this study, we investigate two different artificial wastewaters for their abilities as a good alternative to real wastewater from the Jena University Hospital and to serve as a reference material for bacterial cultivation with subsequent Raman measurement. Each of the artificial wastewater on its own was not suitable to be used as a reference medium. Only the combination of the two simulated wastewaters achieved satisfactory results in the Raman spectroscopic identification of bacteria from real wastewater. These results could be used later in new experiments as a reference dataset to identify bacteria from real hospital wastewater samples.

Pemanfaatan Jamur Janggel sebagai Produk Olahan Nugget di Desa Sukosari Kidul Kecamatan Sumberwringin Kabupaten Bondowoso dalam KKN UNEJ 2023 Melalui Eksperimen dan Pelatihan

This article raises the topic of the use of janggel mushroom in Sukosari Kidul Village. The greatest potential in Sukosari Kidul Village is in the agricultural sector, which includes corn commodities. The abundance of corn, which increases continuously, is certainly accompanied by the waste generated due to its utilization, one of which is corn cobs. Corn cobs, as the residue from the corn harvest, have been used as a basic material for janggel mushroom cultivation. This article aims to describe the results in the form of new innovations regarding the processing of janggel mushrooms into nuggets. The method of processing janggel mushrooms into nuggets begins with direct observation of the community's condition and raw materials. The next step is to experiment with transforming the janggel mushrooms into a ready-to-eat derivative product in the form of nuggets. The production of this nugget-derived product is then used as training material for PKK members in Sukosari Kidul Village. That training was enthusiastically attended by 15 participants from PKK. Therefore, the researchers hope that this innovation can be utilized as a new idea for processed janggel mushrooms or as seeds of entrepreneurship in Sukosari Kidul.

Commercial paper as a promising carrier for biofilm cultivation of Chlorella sp. for the treatment of anaerobic digestate food effluent (ADFE): Effect on the photosynthetic efficiency

Microalgal technology is still economically unattractive due to the high cost associated with microalgal cultivation and biomass recovery from conventional suspension cultures. Biofilm-based cultivation is a promising alternative for higher biomass yield and cheap/easy biomass harvesting opportunities. Additionally, using anaerobic digestate food effluent (ADFE) as a nutrient source reduces the cultivation cost and achieves ADFE treatment as an added value. However, the search for locally available, inexpensive, and efficient support materials is still open to research. This study evaluates the potential of commercially available, low-cost papers as support material for biofilm cultivation of Chlorella sp. and treatment of ADFE. Among the four papers screened for microalgal attachment, quill board paper performed better in higher biomass yield and stability throughout the study period. The attached growth study was done in a modular food container vessel, using anaerobic digestate food effluent (ADFE) as a nutrient source and a basal medium as a control. The microalgae grew well on the support material with higher biomass yield and productivity of 108.64 g(DW) m−2 and 9.96 g (DW) m−2 d−1, respectively, in the ADFE medium compared with 85.87 g (DW) m−2 and 4.99 g (DW) m−2 d−1, respectively in the basal medium. Chlorophyll, a fluorescence (ChlF) probe, showed that cell density in the biofilm significantly changes the photosynthetic apparatus of the algae, with evidence of stress observed as the culture progressed. Also, efficient nutrient removal from the ADFE medium was achieved in the 100 %, 85 %, and 40.2 % ratios for ammoniacal nitrogen, phosphate, and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Therefore, using quill board paper as carrier material for microalgal cultivation offers promising advantages, including high biomass production, easy biomass harvesting (by scrapping or rolling the biomass with the paper), and efficient effluent treatment.

Budidaya Tanaman Cabe Rawit Untuk Membantu Ekonomi Penyandang Disabilitas Di Yayasan Insan Berguna Nusantara

Cayenne pepper, or chilli, is a fruit and plant belonging to the Capsicum genus. Apart from Indonesia, it also grows and is famous as a cooking spice in other Southeast Asian countries. In Malaysia and Singapore, it is called chilli padi; in the Philippines, silinglabuyo; and in Thailand, phrikkhi nu. In Kerala, India, there is a traditional dish that uses cayenne pepper and is called kantharimulagu. It is known as Thai pepper or bird's eye chilli pepper in English. Cayenne pepper pods change colour from green to red when ripe. Despite being smaller than other chilli varieties, it is moderately hot, with a spiciness of 50,000 – 100,000 on the Scoville scale. Insan Berguna Nusantara (IBNU) is one of the foundations whose members are a group of people with disabilities; they don't have regular jobs as usual like ordinary people. Therefore, they do business according to their abilities. One of them is by cultivating chilli plants to support their economy. However, the quality of their chillies has decreased and made them restless. So we from the Faculty of Agriculture provide a solution so that the rate of their chilli production increases and they can produce the chilli they want by doing direct practice on cayenne pepper cultivation. Apart from training, we also provide counselling on proper cultivation and maintenance so that chillies grow well according to their needs. Besides that, we also offer assistance in the form of materials for chilli cultivation, such as polybags, chilli seeds, chilli seeds, NPK fertilizer, manure, black soil and pesticides. After the training was carried out, there was an increase in knowledge of 100%

The Addition of a Small Dose of Cinnamomum camphora Biomass Unexpectedly Enhanced Lignocellulose Degradation during the Compost of Stropharia rugosoannulata Cultivation Materials

This research explored the effects of the addition of low doses of aromatic plant biomasses (APBs) on the microbial community and carbon source decomposition in compost. APBs were reported to be capable of altering the composition and function of microbial communities in many environments. However, the effects of APB addition on the compost carbon source metabolism, a process highly linked to the microbial community of compost, were still unclarified, especially when added in small doses. In this study, Cinnamomum camphora biomass was added to the initial compost of Stropharia rugosoannulata cultivation materials, in a mass ratio of 0%, 1%, 2%, and 3%, respectively. The variation in the carbon source contents, the microbial community composition, and the related enzyme activities of the end compost products were measured. The results showed that Cinnamomum camphora biomass addition significantly altered the content of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and protein of compost products, but did not affect the starch and soluble sugar content. Meanwhile, the addition significantly reduced lignin peroxidase and cellulase activities, but increased xylanase and laccase activities, and had no effect on magnesium peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase. Both the bacterial and fungal community compositions were significantly altered by the addition, though the alpha diversity indexes were not significantly changed. The relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Sordariomycetes was significantly increased by the addition, while Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi and Eurotiomycetes significantly decreased. Structural equation modeling found that the variation in the bacterial community composition (0.464 standard total effect) provided a higher contribution to lignocellulose degradation, rather than the fungal community (0.365 standard total effect). A co-occurrence network analysis further revealed that the trade-off between lignin peroxidase and laccase activity, which was induced by the relative abundance variation in Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, and Firmicute members, was the main driver in the lignocellulose decomposition variation. This research provides a new insight into the recycling of APB waste, and offers an improvement to mushroom cultivation material compost.

Comparative analysis of 17 complete chloroplast genomes reveals intraspecific variation and relationships among Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Miq.) Pax populations.

Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Miq.) Pax is a well-known medicinal and ecologically important plant. Effectively distinguishing its different genetic resources is essential for its breeding. Plant chloroplast genomes can provide much more information than traditional molecular markers and provide higher-resolution genetic analyses to distinguish closely related planting materials. Here, seventeen P. heterophylla samples from Anhui, Fujian, Guizhou, Hebei, Hunan, Jiangsu, and Shandong provinces were collected, and a genome skimming strategy was employed to obtain their chloroplast genomes. The P. heterophylla chloroplast genomes ranged from 149,356 bp to 149,592 bp in length, and a total of 111 unique genes were annotated, including 77 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. Codon usage analysis showed that leucine had the highest frequency, while UUU (encoding phenylalanine) and UGC (encoding cysteine) were identified as the most and least frequently used codons, respectively. A total of 75-84 SSRs, 16-21 short tandem repeats, and 27-32 long repeat structures were identified in these chloroplast genomes. Then, four primer pairs were revealed for identifying SSR polymorphisms. Palindromes are the dominant type, accounting for an average of 47.86% of all long repeat sequences. Gene orders were highly collinear, and IR regions were highly conserved. Genome alignment indicated that there were four intergenic regions (psaI-ycf4, ycf3-trnS, ndhC-trnV, and ndhI-ndhG) and three coding genes (ndhJ, ycf1, and rpl20) that were highly variable among different P. heterophylla samples. Moreover, 10 SNP/MNP sites with high polymorphism were selected for further study. Phylogenetic analysis showed that populations of Chinese were clustered into a monophyletic group, in which the non-flowering variety formed a separate subclade with high statistical support. In this study, the comparative analysis of complete chloroplast genomes revealed intraspecific variations in P. heterophylla and further supported the idea that chloroplast genomes could elucidate relatedness among closely related cultivation materials.

Development of Rice Straw, Maize, and Giant Mimosa for Growing Mushrooms Instead of Sawdust

The research aimed to investigate mushroom cultivation materials made from rice straw, maize, and giant mimosa to replace sawdust. It was discovered that the capacity of fibers to grow has been more valuable. The method that combines a 1:1:1 ratio of the sawdust, rice straw, and giant mimosa will produce the highest mycelium. The 100% maize seed material will have relatively low fiber mycelium. However, there was a statistically significant in mushroom growth at the 95% reliability level. It was found that the process consisting of 100% rice straw cultivation material had the highest number of blossoms on average 13.66 blossoms, while the method with the lowest average number of blossoms per bag was the sawdust combined with giant mimosa which had 7.33 blossoms on average. The blooms ranged in width from 6.83 - 7.53 cm, while the mushroom's peduncle length ranged from 5.83 - 6.84 cm. When the biological efficiency (B.E.) was calculated, it was found that the sawdust: rice straw: maize: giant mimosa ratio of 1:2:1:1 yielded the highest value of 68.48 %, followed by the Para rubber sawdust: rice straw: maize: giant mimosa. The ratio of 2:1:1:1 was 68.22%, and the seed material was 100% sawdust. The biological efficiency of the ecosystem was 66.39%.

Recent development on optimization of bio-cementation for soil stabilization and wind erosion control

This paper reviews and analyzes recent research development on bio-cementation for soil stabilization and wind erosion control. Bio-cement is a type of cementitious materials by adopting natural biological processes for geotechnical and construction applications. Bio-cementation is usually achieved through microbially- or enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP or EICP). The use of soybean urease can be a cost-effective solution for carbonate precipitation and bio-cementation, which is named SICP. The produced calcium carbonate can cement soil particles and bring considerable strength improvement to soils. In this paper, the mechanisms and recent development on the technology optimization are reviewed first. The optimization of bio-cementation involves 1) altering the treatment materials and procedures such as using lysed cells, low pH, the salting-out technique; and 2) using cheap and waste materials for bio-cement treatment and bacterial cultivation. The objectives are to improve treatment uniformity and efficiency, use bio-cement in more scenarios such as fine-grain soils, and reduce costs and environmental impacts, etc. Studies on the mechanical behaviour and wind erosion performances of bio-cemented soil show that the wind erosion resistance can be improved significantly through the bio-cement treatment. In addition, the use of optimized method and additives such as xanthan gum and fibers can further enhance the strength, treatment uniformity or ductility of the bio-cemented soils. Attention should be paid to wind forces with saltating particles which have much stronger destructive effect than pure wind, which should be considered in laboratory tests. Field studies indicate that bio-cement can improve soil surface strength and wind erosion resistances effectively. Besides, local plants can germinate and grow on bio-cemented soil ground with low-concentration treatments.