Kayu Ules (Helicteres isora) is one medicinal plant species in which the fruits are utilized for manufacturing traditional medicine or jamu. Plant propagation of this species is one problem need to be investigated as only few studies conducted on this. This research was undertaken to investigate the ability of Kayu Ules propagated through stem cuttings. The experiment was designed with completely randomized design (CRD) using 2 main treatments which werethe source of stem cutting materials including material from hard-wood, semi hard-wood and soft-wood stem. The second treatment was the use of commercial growth regulators, which were Atonik and Root-up. The result showed that cutting materials from soft-wood stem was not recommended due to very low survival. Meanwhile, the use of cutting material from semi hard-wood (24% with atonik, 12% with root-up and 8% with control) and hard-wood stem (36% with atonik, 24% with root-up and 20 % with control)appeared potential to be used. This research recommended that there were six diameter classes of stem cutting showing ability to be propagated, which were diameter class I

Screw tree (Helicteres isora) is a shrub species (Fam: Malvaceae) with 1.5–4 m in height and  with multi-main trunks up to 9–12. In Indonesia, kayu ules has been used as a traditional medicine, known as jamu, and has been commercialized. In order to cultivate this species, vegetative propagation is likely promising compared to the generative propagation since seed viability is low and cannot be stored for longterm. Nevertheless, there is a lack of information on which diameter classes, media types and light intensities would give the best result for vegetative propagation. This research aimed to obtain information on which diameter classes and media that were suitable for kayu ules stem cutting propagation and to what degree the light intensity would be best for the growth of the seedlings of kayu ules. Three diameter classes and four media types were employed in a  complete random design under the greenhouse environment.   Three months old good quality vegetatively-propagated seedlings were transplanted under two light intensities (under transparent canopy and shading net). The result showed that  considering the factor of diameter classes and media in kayu ules stem cutting propagation, it had improved the survival of the stem cutting. Diameter class I was best grown in media type 3 with 46.67 ± 12.2 % of survival rate, diameter class II was best grown in media type 2 with 38.67 ± 11.6 % of survival rate, whereas diameter class III was best grown in media type 4 with 52 ± 6.9 % of survival rate. The transplanted seedlings also grew significantly better under transparent canopy with higher light intensity. The distinctive features of screw tree under shading net were wider leaf area, higher specific leaf area and relative water content but it was lower in above ground dry biomass compared to the kayu ules under transparent canopy.

Local wisdom has been coexisting with the state system in several places in Indonesia. The Mountain Mutis Nature Reserve in East Nusa Tenggara province is the strict nature reserves, but a customary land tenure system, called suf, exists so far in the nature reserve. The objectives of this study are (1) to organize the historical territorialization process, (2) to clarify the customary land tenure system and activities for livelihoods by local people, and (3) to discuss the challenges of its land tenure system to manage forests sustainably as well as policy methods to harmonize legal pluralism in Mutis Area. Field observation and in-depth interviews with key informants were employed for data collection, and the collected data were analyzed by a qualitative descriptive method. The findings showed the traditional reward and punishment systems regarding extracting non-timber forest products, grazing livestock, and preventing forest fires were working well for sustainable forest management. However, increased pressure on forests due to future population growth appears to have an impact on the traditional system. It also showed the government officers and local people started some discussions to recognize the suf in the formal legal order. However, there were institutional problems to introduce current state systems. Therefore, it is required to flexibly operate or revise the state laws according to the actual situation to harmonize society between state and people.

Kayu ules (Helicteres isora) or screw tree has bioactive compounds benefiting for anti-diabetes, antioxidant and antibacterial. In Indonesia, the fruits have been commercially harnessed for traditional medicine. The benefit of kayu ules has attracted some farmers to evolve this species in their garden, however, the domestication technique has not mastered well yet. Therefore, this study aimed to domesticate kayu ules under a home garden (HG) and analyze the feasibility of cultivating kayu ules through stem cuttings. Kayu ules development underwent two split HG’s: tree shade (HG1) and open area (HG2). Other nursery performances at each home garden were made with no shade (N1), with shading net (N2) and a coco-leaf shade (N3). The result showed that within 60 days on HG1, the best survival was on N2 with 76% of survival and declined on N1 at 30%. Conversely, under HG2, N1 gave the best survival compared to N2, 81% and 46% each. Meanwhile, N3 was in between N1 and N2 on HG1 (56%) and HG2 (58%). The shading treatments, which allowed 20 to 40 % sunlight to pass through, effectively increased the survival of stem cuttings. According to an online market platform at the highest price, nursery N1 delivered the highest IRR at 106% and the second was on N3, followed by N2, which were 104% and 85%, respectively.

Screw tree (Helicteres isora Linn.) is a shrub species with 5 to 15 main stems where the natural distribution can be found in South Timor Tengah (TTS) regency of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province and it is potential as a medicinal plant. The fruits are the main material harnessed for traditional medicine or jamu. Recently, little is known on fruit productivity of screw tree under shaded and open area. At the field showed that there were differences on fruit and flower production under two shade condition and the main stems. The research aimed for gaining information on the effect of pruning on screw tree fruit productivity in the natural habitat under two shade conditions on fruit productivity. Split plot design was employed with two factors which were two shade conditions (shaded under trees and open) as a main plot and the pruning techniques as a sub plot. Pruning techniques had affected significantly on the number of shoots and fruits, and there was an interaction between treatments to the number of fruits. Shade conditions had an important role on fruit production. Plants grew under open space had better fruit characteristics on fruit length (46,94 cm), fruit diameter (6,41 mm), post-harvest fruit weight (0,94 g), oven-dried fruit weight (0,89 g) and lower water content (5,57 %), compared to under shaded space 44,16 mm; 5,73 mm; 0,87 g; 0,81 g and 6,95 %, respectively for fruit length, fruit diameter, post-harvest fruit weight, oven-dried fruit weight and fruit water content.

Abstract. Kurniawan H, Pamungkas D. 2020. The limiting factors of land suitability for sandalwood (Santalum album) in Sumba Island, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 3364-3372. The land suitability assessment for sandalwood is very important for the successful cultivation and development of sandalwood (Santalum album Linn.) in Sumba Island, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. The map of land suitability classification for sandalwood is currently available. The land suitability assessment is determined based on designated indicators and predictors. It is important to identify the most influential measures in a particular area to determine the suitable treatment to be applied to the sandalwood plant, as well as to recognize the land suitability evaluation swiftly and efficiently. This study was aimed to determine the variables of indicators or verifiers that have the strongest relationship with the land suitability class for sandalwood. Regression method was used to develop the relationship model and to determine the level of the relationship through the coefficient of determination. The result shows that P2O5 content was the most influential factor to determine the land suitability class for sandalwood in Sumba Island.

Sandalwood (Santalum album) is an essential species as containing fragrant substances in the heartwood. Seed germination is one of the essential keys to the success of sandalwood development, and the use of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) is also essential to plant enhancement. This study aimed to obtain information on the influence of scarification techniques and the use of VAM on germination media to sandalwood seed germination. Five scarification treatments (control, soaked in water for 24 and 48 hours, GA3 300 and 500 ppm for 17 hours) and two VAM application (with and without VAM) were employed (split-plot with completely randomized design (CRD)). The result showed that the cumulative germination was higher on the seed with scarification of soaked in GA3 solution 300 and 500 ppm than control, soaked in water 24 H and 48 H. This pattern also appeared on germination index. Mean germination time showed slower on control, soaked in water 24 H and 48 H than the use of GA3 300 and 500 ppm. The use of VAM did not significantly affect the cumulative germination, germination index, and mean germination time. A time-series observation showed that seed sown on media with VAM tended to germinate slower than media without VAM.

The purpose of this study is to assess the field performance of the medicinal plant Screw tree (Helicteres isora Linn.) Family Malvaceae in two home garden environments. The screw tree has been commercialized for the production of Jamu, an Indonesian traditional medicine. On Timor Island, however, this species has not yet been cultivated and is considered a weed. Using the t-student test, we compared and described the growth performance of a vegetatively propagated screw tree in two environments. According to field plantation, screw tree grows well in both home gardens, with a survival rate of 97% and 99% for home garden 1 and 2, respectively. For home garden1 and 2, the Increment growth diameter was 0.1 mm month−1 and 0.2 mm month−1, respectively, and increment height was 1.22 cm month−1 and 0.95 cm month−1. For home garden 1 and 2, the average diameter was 0.4 cm; 0.5 cm (P>0.05, ns) and height was 58 cm; 48 cm (P<0.05). There is no significant difference in diameter, but there is a significant difference in height between home garden 1 and 2. In home garden 1, 26% of the plants have begun to flower, compared to 13% in home garden 2. Farmers may benefit from vegetative propagation due to faster flowering and fruiting. Furthermore, the screw tree is most likely appropriate for agroforestry tree/shrub components.