The purpose of rice breeding is to create varieties that are well adapted, highly productive, and acceptable to farmers. However, rice productivity is limited as a result of combined biotic stresses (pests/diseases). This study combines assessment by farmers with the evaluation by breeders with respect to promising rice lines within a range of environments. The aim is to investigate farmers’ preferences and to characterize the yield of promising rice lines, as well as their resistance to pests/diseases by consulting 120 farmers and breeders. This study used an oversite design replicated three times with thirteen promising lines and two varieties, which were all evaluated at farmers’ fields between December 2019 and May 2020. The Importance Performance Analysis was used to compare line performance and farmers’ expectations. Lines Gamapadi-2 and Gamapadi-4 had the highest acceptability scores based on the farmers’ preferences. The yield performances were evaluated using the Finlay–Wilkinson test and the genotypes were evaluated using environmental models (GGE biplot) to determine the most stable lines to be recommended for large-scale planting. The Finlay–Wilkinson and GGE biplot conclusion analyses also showed that the Gamapadi-2 and Gamapadi-4 lines exhibited high potential yield and stability, as well as indications of specific advantages. The results for both lines in all locations indicated no symptoms of brown planthoppers or bacterial leaf blight due to its absence during the field research. These lines in all age ranges at two sites showed no symptoms of leaf blast.

Genetic Variability, Standardized Multiple Linear Regression and Principal Component Analysis to Determine Some Important Sesame Yield Components

Indonesia has a dry land area of 79.69%, with low soil productivity (physical, chemical, and biological), as well as uneven and unpredictable rainfall. The dryland potential is optimally utilized using biofertilizers that can produce microbes to increase soil fertility. This research aims to determine the effects of biofertilizers on dryland improvement and crop production. The study was conducted from February to May 2021 in Central Java, Indonesia. Using a randomized block design in peanut cultivation. Six biofertilizers (Controlled, Agrimeth, BioNutrient, Gliocompost, Agrimeth + BioNutrient, Agrimeth + BioNutrient + Gliocompost) were applied with four replications. The performance of each biofertilizer was assessed based on chemical soil parameters, soil microbe population, plant growth, and yields. The soil in the study area belonged to the Inceptisols group and exhibited moderately acidic pH, low organic carbon content, and low nitrogen levels. However, it had high potential and available phosphorus, as well as moderate potential and high available potassium. BioNutrient and Gliocompost increased available phosphate by 12 and 19%, respectively, due to the presence of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Aspergillus sp. Agrimeth influenced the population of Azospirillum (45–63%) and enhanced phosphate-solubilizing bacteria. Agrimeth + BioNutrient + Gliocompost promoted the growth of the Azospirillum and Trichoderma populations (17–18%), resulting in a 45.04% increase in profits. Biofertilizer inoculation positively affected peanut development, root nodule formation, and yield. This novelty showed the potential of biofertilizers in improving dryland conditions, increasing crop productivity, and contributing to sustainable agriculture in the long term.

Food needs serious handling in responding to the challenges of environmental changes and population growth. The diversity of local food crops has the advantage as a source of nutrition and breeding materials. The research aims to determine diverse local food crops in Central Java. A total of 120 farmers were selected by purposive random sampling from Tegal, Brebes, Banjarnegara, and Karanganyar regency, based on different agro-ecological sequences. The field inventory found 257 varieties of 11 types of exotic crops. The compositions of local rice varieties (Indica and Javanica) included seven red rice, nine black rice, 27 white rice, 17 glutinous rice, one animal feed rice, three upland rice, and eight aromatic ones. The frequency of the species distribution rate proves was very narrow in Tegal-Brebes, limited in Banjarnegara, and spread evenly in Karanganyar. The Shannon Diversity Index revealed the diverse species in a region. Banjarnegara had the highest species abundance index. The relationship between the Shannon Diversity Index and Equitability Index illustrates the dominant types of local food plants, especially in Karanganyar dominated by rice. The Sorensen Similarity Coefficient was used to estimate the level of structural similarity between species and regions. Tegal-Brebes have similar species composition and agro-ecological.