BackgroundPanicle architectural traits in rice (branching, rachis length, spikelet number) are established between panicle initiation and heading stages. They vary among genotypes and are prone to Genotype x Environment interactions. Together with panicle number, panicle architecture determines sink-based yield potential. Numerous studies analyzed genetic and environmental variation of plant morphology, but the plasticity of panicle structure is less well understood. This study addressed the response of rice panicle size and structure to limited light availability at plant level for near-isogenic lines (NILs) with IR64 or IRRI146 backgrounds, carrying the QTL qTSN4 (syn. SPIKE) for large panicles. Full light and shading in the greenhouse and two population densities in the field were implemented. The image analysis tool P-TRAP was used to analyze the architecture of detached panicles.ResultsThe qTSN4 increased total branch length, branching frequency and spikelet number per panicle in IRRI146 background in the field and greenhouse, and in IR64 background in the greenhouse, but not for IR64 in the field. In the field, however, qTSN4 reduced panicle number, neutralizing any potential yield gains from panicle size. Shading during panicle development reduced spikelet and branch number but qTSN4 mitigated partly this effect. Spikelet number over total branch length (spikelet density) was a stable allometry across genotypes and treatments with variation in spikelet number mainly due to the frequency of secondary branches. Spikelet number on the main tiller was correlated with stem growth rate during panicle development, indicating that effects on panicle size seemed related to resources available per tiller.ConclusionsThe qTSN4 effects on panicle spikelet number appear as indirect and induced by upstream effects on pre-floral assimilate resources at tiller level, as they were (1) prone to G x E interactions, (2) non-specific with respect to panicle architectural traits, and (3) associated with pre-floral stem growth rate.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12284-016-0101-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The qTSN4 was identified as rice QTL (Quantitative Traits Locus) increasing total spikelet number per panicle and flag leaf area but potentially reducing panicle number depending on the environment. So far, this trade-off was mainly observed at grain maturity and not specifically studied in details, limiting the apprehension of the agronomic interest of qTSN4. This study aimed to understand the effect of qTSN4 and of the environment on panicle sizing, its trade-off with panicle number, and finally plant grain production. It compared two high yielding genotypes to their Near Isogenic Lines (NIL) carrying either QTL qTSN4 or qTSN12, two distinct QTLs contributing to the enlarged panicle size, thereafter designated as qTSN. Traits describing C sink (organ appearance rate, size, biomass) and source (leaf area, photosynthesis, sugar availability) were dynamically characterized along plant and/or panicle development within two trials (greenhouse, field), each comparing two treatments contrasting for plant access to light (with or without shading, high or low planting densities). The positive effect of qTSN on panicle size and flag leaf area of the main tiller was confirmed. More precisely, it could be shown that qTSN increased leaf area and internode cross-section, and in some cases of the photosynthetic rate and starch reserves, of the top 3–4 phytomers of the main tiller. This was accompanied by an earlier tillering cessation, that coincided with the initiation of these phytomers, and an enhanced panicle size on the main tiller. Plant leaf area at flowering was not affected by qTSN but fertile tiller number was reduced to an extent that depended on the environment. Accordingly, plant grain production was enhanced by qTSN only under shading in the greenhouse experiment, where panicle number was not affected and photosynthesis and starch storage in internodes was enhanced. The effect of qTSN on rice phenotype was thus expressed before panicle initiation (PI). Whether early tillering reduction or organ oversizing at meristem level is affected first cannot be entirely unraveled. Further studies are needed to better understand any signal involved in this early regulation and the qTSN × Environment interactions underlying its agronomic interest.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate and analyze the demographic bonus from the perspective of human capital in Indonesia. This research methodology uses qualitative methods and uses literature and documentation study techniques. This research data comes from secondary data sources, based on literature studies, and is analyzed descriptively qualitatively which emphasizes the use of scientific logic. The results of the study found that Indonesia is in a very good demographic bonus position, and is expected to be able to take advantage of the age structure, especially the portion of the productive age which has the potential to be the main driver of economic growth. Therefore, the government must have a supporting policy to encourage economic growth by having a strategy and implementing competency-based training (CBT) through the implementation of Deming's (1986) plan-do-check-action (PDCA) as a human resource development program that includes material for integrating technical skills and competencies in the form of skills, competencies, and the right point of view or character to make students become professionals. On the other hand, the government is expected to be able to create jobs and open up a wide work environment for young people, the workforce skilled as human capital.

Increasing rice yield potential is essential to secure world food supply. The quantitative trait locus qTSN4 was reported to achieve yield increases by enhancing both source and sink capacity. Three greenhouse experiments and one field experiment in the Philippines were conducted to study near-isogenic lines (NILs) in two genetic backgrounds, subjected to treatments with restricted light resources through shading (greenhouse) or population density (field and greenhouse). A consistent promotion of flag leaf width, leaf area and panicle size in terms of spikelet number was observed in the presence of qTSN4, regardless of environment. However, grain production per plant was enhanced only in one greenhouse experiment. An in-depth study demonstrated that increased flag leaf size in the presence of qTSN4 was associated with increased photosynthetic rates, along with lower SLA and greater N content per leaf weight and per area. This was emphasized under low light situation as the qTSN4-NILs did not express shade acclimation traits in contrast with the recipient varieties. The authors conclude that qTSN4 is a promising subject for further physiological studies, particularly under limited radiation. However, the QTL alone may not be a reliable source of increased yield potential because its effects at the plant and population scale are prone to genotype × environment interactions and the increased panicle size is compensated by the adaptive plasticity of other morphological traits.

Rice is the staple food of Indonesian people and part of the world community. Indonesia, with a population growth rate of around 1.3-1.5% per year, requires additional rice production of about 1,8- 3 million tons of rice per year. This additional production can be achieved by using tidal swampland which is quite a large area in South Kalimantan. However, one of the obstacles in tidal swampland is the lack of nitrogen (N). N is a macronutrient that becomes the main limiting factor for plant growth as it is needed most among other nutrients. This study aimed to determine the agronomic traits of superior varieties at various N concentration. The experiment used a Split plot design with N concentration as the main plot and three rice varieties as sub-plots, while the environmental design used Randomized Block Design based on the direction of water flow. The agronomic characters observed were the number of leaves, number of tillers, plant height, the total number of panicles per plant, 1000 filled grains dry weight rice, and yield (t ha-1). The results showed that different varieties affected the plant height, number of leaves, number of tillers, the weight of 1000 grains of filled grain with IPB3S and IPB Batola 6R as the best variety, and the concentration treatment effect total of rice tillers, total of rice leaves and total number of per plant with 300 t N ha-1 as the best concentration.

The same rainfall can cause different degrees of water stress depending on soil type, so the production response shown by plants can be different. This study is essential for growers, especially in predicting oil palm production based on water deficit for each soil type. The study was conducted on oil palm plantations in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, with four soil types in 1,446.15 ha (40 blocks). The source of data collected from oil palm plantations included bunch number, average bunch weight, rainfall, and soil physical and chemical properties for the last 15 years (2007 - 2021). This experimental study used a two-stage cluster sampling method. The results showed that the best productivity, bunch number, and average bunch weight were found on Ultisols. The four soil types tested showed the same annual production distribution dynamic, but the response rate from each soil type showed differences. Entisols and Spodosols were more prone to drought stress due to water deficit than Ultisols and Histosols because of the differences in soil texture. Water deficit causes a decrease in oil palm productivity by 5 - 22% in the first year (Ultisols 12 - 22%; Entisols 12 - 22%; Spodosols 7 - 19%;  Histosols 5 - 15%) and 1 - 8% in the second year (Ultisols 3 - 7%; Entisols 2 - 4%; Spodosols 5 - 8%; Histosols 1 - 5%) compared to previous years production. A decrease in oil palm productivity occurs at 3 - 5 months (bunch failure phase), 1 year (abortion sensitive phase), and 2 - 2.5 years (sex differentiation phase) after a water deficit appears.

Climate change has a real impact on yields, seasonal shifts, cropping patterns of citrus siam banjar plantations (Citrus suhuensis) on tidal land. This research aims to analyze the relationship of the cropping patterns of surjan systems and climate extremes, as an effort to overcome climate change.  The research was conducted in Batola in 2020 using written and oral survey methods. Data was extracted from farmers and  related institutions. The respondents consisted of 45 men and 45 women. On each sub-district, 2 villages were surveyed according to tidal land type, namely Marabahan district (SP1 and SP2) type C, Mandastana subdistrict (Karang Indah and Karang Bunga) type B, and Cerbon district (Simpang Nungki and Kambat River) type A. The results showed that the chance of El-Niño was around 16.7-22.7%, while La-Niña reached 40%. The total extreme event  was 67.8% of La-Niña side by side with El-Niño 15 times and generally El-Niño precedes La-Niña by about 40%. The total extreme event  reached 62.7%. The productivity of citrus observations in 2015-2019 was 1.274 ton/ha and during El-Niño yields decreased by 0.05 ton/ha. Crops damaged by El-Niño in 20152016 were -2% of the area of 6,825.03 ha. More than 90% of farmers during extreme events applied a pattern of superior local-rice oranges-rice to tabukan and oranges-vegetables on mounds. Cropping patterns on tidal tidal land show a high level of resistance to climate change because they have not changed much for decades  in both normal, dry, and wet climatic conditions.   Keywords: El-Niño, extreme climate, La-Niña, siam banjar oranges, tidal land type A, B dan C

Oil palm is a vegetable oil-producing plant and one of the nine basic needs of the Indonesian people. The high demand for cooking oil in the country must be balanced by maximizing production sources in the agronomic stage, namely through nurseries. Oil palm seeds at the pre-nursery level only require about 40% sunlight intensity. Therefore, radiation intensity is a factor that must be considered in the growth of seedlings at the pre-nursery level. The aim of the study was to analyze the response of oil palm seedling growth to the effect of radiation intensity in the pre nursery and to analyze the best radiation intensity on the growth of oil palm seedlings in the pre nursery. This study used a single factor Completely Randomized Environmental Design (CRD), i.e. radiation intensity consisting of 5 levels, namely p0 = (0%, 50%, 100%), p1 = (25%, 25%, 100%), p2 = (25%, 50%, 75%) radiation intensity, p3 = (25%, 75%, 100%), p4 = (50%, 75%, 100%). Repeat each treatment 4 times so that there are 20 experimental units. Each experimental unit contained 9 polybags so that there were a total of 180 plants. Based on the results of growth analysis of stem diameter (mm), number of leaves (leaves), length of leaf blade (cm) response to solar radiation intensity p3 = (25%, 75%, 100%).