Actinomycetes are Gram positive bacteria that have been detected in diverse ecological niches. Their member species are known to be a main source of various bioactive compounds. The discovery of Actinomycetes from diverse and unexplored resources has also been linked to increased opportunities to obtain novel bioactive compounds. Insect nest material is being investigated as a new source of novel antimicrobial producing Actinomycetes, which could be harnessed for therapeutic potential. A total of 10 Actinomycetes isolates were collected from the nest of Nasutitermes sp. in Pananjung Pangandaran Nature Reserve. These isolates were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against the challenge bacteria (Eschericia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Serratia marcescens) and fungi (Fomitopsis palustris, Fusarium oxysporum, Trichoderma viridae) by dual culture method. The result revealed that several isolates were active against fungi and bacteria. Isolate Pn-TN2 showed the highest level of antibacterial inhibition and the highest antifungal inhibition with Inhibition Rate value more than 80%. By morphological and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis strongly suggested that the isolate Pn-TN2 belonged to Streptomyces prasinopilosus. We suggested that termite nest is a potential source of bioactive strains of cultivable Actinomycetes for future biotechnological needs. active compounds for further biotechnology application in the medical, pharmaceutical, and agricultural fields.
Spodoptera litura (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is one of the agricultural pests that attacking almost all kinds of herbaceous plants, especiallyvegetables. Insect control using entomopathogenic bacteria is an alternative strategy that is effective and has a lower environmental impact than the use of synthetic insecticides. The purpose of this research was to explore entomopathogenic bacteria that have insecticidal activity against S. litura larvae at various stages of instars. The result showed that 25% of total number of isolated bacteria have potency as entomopathogenic bacteria. Isolate Staphylococcus sciuri strain BLSP-3 and isolate Serratia sp. strain BLSP-4 showed the highest larvicidal activity against the first and second instar larvae of S. litura 83% and 86%, respectively. The activity against on the third instar larvae however was only by 40%. However, the mortality caused by both isolates was lower than that of Bacillus thuringiensis (more than 90% mortality to the first and second instars and 80 % of the third instar larvae). It is suggested that both of isolates are potential to be developed further as a biocontrol agent to control S. litura population.
Termite’s biodiversity is known to be strongly affected by disturbance, particularly in an urban area. The present study evaluated termite biodiversity and distribution in Batam Botanical Garden, an urban conservation area in Batam Island. In the surveyed area, termites could play a major beneficial role through the promotion of essential ecological processes in ecosystems, such as soil modification and rehabilitation; as well as their well-established role as pests for vegetation. Therefore, biodiversity evaluation of termite is very important to identify economically and ecologically important species. Termite survey had been conducted by a 100 × 2 m belt-transect. Transect area was divided into 20 sections (5 × 2 m), in which each section was surveyed for 30 minutes by two trained people. In total, 106 specimens (15 termite genera) were collected from three sampling sites: Plantation, Mangrove forest, and Forest.
The Indo-Malayan drywood termite, Cryptotermes cynocephalus (Light) (Kalotermitidae), is considered one of the most invasive drywood termites in the Southeast Asian region. Once infesting a timber, the colony of a drywood termite is very difficult to be controlled. Thus, the best way to mitigate a new infestation of a drywood termite is by applying chemical protection on wood. In recent years, particular attention has been given by researchers to develop and use organic termiticides, such as essential oils extracted from plants as active ingredients. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the repellency performance of several economically important essential oils from Indonesia, such as Clove (Eugenia caryophyllata), Cubeb Pepper (Piper cubeba L), and Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt) against a drywood termite, C. cynocephalus. The test was performed by subjecting various concentrations of essential oil toward C. cynocephalus in the force-feeding test method. Sample weight-loss was evaluated after two weeks test. The results suggested that Clove oil has the highest repellence performance against C. cynocephalus, followed by Lemon Grass and Cubeb Pepper oils. The Termite mortality rate was also recorded to understand the toxicity performance of those essential oils.
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