Correlation study between gastronomy culture and content of selenium towards prevalence of cardiovascular and diabetes in West Java,Indonesia

Background and aimSelenium (Se) is an important element in the human body. Deficiency or excess of Se can cause harm to human health. A previous study showed an association of Se with cardiovascular and diabetes diseases. One of the food sources of Se is vegetables. In West Java, Indonesia, people consume fresh vegetables such as Garlic, Jengkol, and Petai. This research aims to study the correlation between the gastronomy culture of people in West Java, Se content in Garlic (Allium sativum), Jengkol (Archidendron pauciflorum) and Petai (Parkia speciosa) from several Regencys/cities in West Java, and the prevalence cardiovascular and diabetic diseases.MethodA cultural study was conducted based on a literature review. Cluster sampling was chosen for the sampling method. The prevalence of cardiovascular disease and diabetes in these regencies were obtained from the Ministry of Health of Indonesia. The measurement of Se content in a sample was conducted by the fluorometry method, based on the formation of the piazoselenol complex from the reaction between selenite ion and DAN (2,3-diaminonapthalene).ResultsPeople in West Java prefer to consume garlic, jengkol, and petai as a fresh vegetable as part of their culture. The highest content of Se in Allium sativum was found in Tasikmalaya City with a value of 69.20 ng/g. For Archidendron pauciflorum from Subang Regency values were 498 ng/g. Parkia speciosa found in the Bandung Barat Regency had a mean value 257.9 ng/g. There is a positive correlation between Se-concentration in Archidendron pauciflorum and the prevalence of diabetes while negative correlation with the prevalence of cardiovascular disease. In addition, no correlation was observed for Allium sativum and Parkia Specose might be due to a lower Se-concentration in these vegetables that in the Archidendron fauciflorum.ConclusionDifferent areas have varying concentrations of Se in plants that grow in the region. The gastronomy culture and Se content may play a role to increase or decrease cardiovascular and diabetes prevalence in that area.     

Identification of the terebrantian thrips (Insecta,Thysanoptera) associated with cultivated plants?in?Java,Indonesia

An illustrated identification key is provided to 49 species of Thysanoptera, Terebrantia that have been found in association with cultivated plants in Java. This is the first published identification system to this group of insects from Indonesia, and includes 15 species not previously recorded from Indonesia, and a further three species not previously recorded from Java. A table is provided indicating the plants from which thrips were taken.     

Schistosoma incognitum from Cikurai,West Java,Indonesia

Schistosoma incognitum is reported for the first time from West Java, Indonesia where 84% of ricefield rats, Rattus argentiventer, were infected. Radix auricularia rubiginosa snails were intermediate hosts. The adult stage of the Javanese strain of S. incognitum and lesions in naturally-infected rodents are described. Rattus exulans, Rattus norvegicus and Mus musculus were experimentally infected. Epizootiology is similar to that described in other countries.     

A new species of Paratachardina Balachowsky (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Kerriidae) related to the lobate lac scale,P. pseudolobata Kondo & Gullan

A new species of lac insect, Paratachardina javanensis Kondo and Gullan, sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Kerriidae), is described and illustrated from a collection on Myrica rubra Siebold and Zucc. (also called Morella rubra Lour., Myricaceae) in West Java, Indonesia. This lac insect species is most similar morphologically to the pestiferous lobate lac scale, Paratachardina pseudolobata Kondo and Gullan. A comparison of the two species and an updated taxonomic key to all named Paratachardina species are provided.     

Application of west java water sustainability index to three water catchments in west java,Indonesia

This study presents a comparative application of the West Java Water Sustainability Index to Citarum, Ciliwung and Citanduy catchments in West Java, Indonesia. A two-fold comparison is presented, firstly, that of the overall condition of water resources using the final index value and secondly, that of specific water sustainability issues using the comparison of the sub-index values of the indicators. The overall comparison ranks the condition of water resources of Citanduy catchment is slightly better, whereas sub-index values of Education, Health Impact, Water Demand, and Poverty show important differences among catchments. Based on the performance of the catchments identified in this study, priority of actions has been recommended to the authorities.     

Cherax (Astaconephrops) pulcher,a new species of freshwater crayfish (Crustacea,Decapoda, Parastacidae) from the Kepala Burung (Vogelkop) Peninsula,Irian Jaya (West Papua), Indonesia

A new species, Cherax (Astaconephrops) pulcher sp. n., from Hoa Creek, close to the village Teminabuan in the southern-central part of the Kepala Burung (Vogelkop) Peninsula, West Papua, Indonesia, is described, figured and compared with the morphologically closest species, Cherax boesemani Lukhaup & Pekny, 2008.     

Taxonomy of new relatives of Onthophagus?catenatus Lansberge, 1883 from New Guinea (Coleoptera,?Scarabaeidae,Scarabaeinae)

Four new taxa from New Guinea are proposed in the dung beetle genus Onthophagus Latreille, 1802, all in the operational group of Onthophagus catenatus Lansberge, 1883. The group is discussed, defined, and the five taxa included are listed, keyed, and diagnosed. Three new species are described: Onthophagus abmisibilus (from West New Guinea, Indonesia), Onthophagus kokodanus, Onthophagus kokosquamatus (both from Papua New Guinea). One new species comprises a lowland and an upland subspecies: Onthophagus kokodanus kokodanus and kokodanus hagenaltus (both in Papua New Guinea).     

Pseudoidium javanicum,a new species of powdery mildew on Acalypha spp. from Indonesia

Pseudoidium javanicum is proposed as a new species based on analyses of 28S, ITS and IGS rDNA sequences, and morphological data. This new species was found on Acalypha wilkesiana var. marginata, A. argentea, and A. cristata collected from Cibodas Botanical Garden, Bogor (West Java Province, Indonesia). Our analyses showed that all these specimens have identical rDNA sequences and similar morphological characteristics. They form a distinct clade separated from other species of Erysiphaceae. Pseudoidium javanicum differs from Erysiphe acalyphae by having shorter conidiophores and foot cells 1–3 times as long as the 0–2 following cells. The conidial size of Ps. javanicum is also smaller than that of E. jatrophae.     

Survey for threatened plants in riparian fragmented forests: A case study on three Vatica (Dipterocarpaceae) species in Kapuas Hulu,West Kalimantan

Forest fragmentation potentially increases the extinction risk of plant species. Conservation and effective management of threatened plants in fragmented forests require basic information on their population status. In the present study, we conduct population surveys and provide the most current population status of one Endangered (Vatica rynchocarpa) and two Critically Endangered (Vatica havilandii and Vatica cauliflora) species of Vatica in fragmented riparian forests of Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Using a focused survey method, we assessed populations of the target species in 13 locations with a total covered distance of c. 26 km. We located 317 individuals of V. rynchocarpa and 568 individuals of V. havilandii of which 31 (10.8 %) and 10 (1.8 %) are mature individuals, respectively. In Kapuas Hulu, the endemic tree V.cauliflora were 191 individuals with only 29 (17.9 %) being in a mature stage. All the individuals were found in an unprotected and relatively flat riparian forest with an elevation range of 30–52 m above sea level. We observed that habitat conversion into rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) and the medicinal plant kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) plantations are the main threat to the species. Further studies are needed in order to understand the effects of land use changes and other factors such as river discharge patters on the survival and population dynamic of the species. In addition, protection of the forest fragments is required to conserve all the target species.     

The influence of intercropping with Allium on some insect populations in potato (Solatium tuberosum)

Two field experiments were conducted in West Java, Indonesia to investigate the effects on insect populations in a potato crop of intercropping with Allium cepa or A. sativum. Intercropping reduced populations of Myzus persicae, Aphis gossypii and Empoasca spp. when less than 0.75 m separated the potato plants and Allium spp. Leaf damage to potato by Henosepilachna sparsa was also reduced at this spacing; but populations of Thrips palmi or T. parvispinus were increased. The implications of these trends are noted.     

Review of the millipede family Opisotretidae (Diplopoda,Polydesmida), with descriptions of?new?species

The small, basically Oriental family Opisotretidae is rediagnosed, reclassified, and shown to comprise the following seven genera, all keyed: Carlotretus Hoffman, 1980, with two species, including Carlotretus triramus sp. n. from southern China; Corypholophus Attems, 1938, with two species, one in Vietnam, the other in the Ryukyus, Japan; Martensodesmus Golovatch, 1987, with eight species, all keyed, including Martensodesmus cattienensis sp. n. from southern Vietnam, as well as Martensodesmus bedosae sp. n. and Martensodesmus spiniger sp. n. from southern China; Opisotretus Attems, 1907, with seven species, all keyed, including Opisotretus beroni sp. n. and Opisotretus hagen sp. n., both from Papua New Guinea, Opisotretus deharvengi sp. n. from Sulawesi, Indonesia, and Opisotretus spinosus sp. n. from Nusakambangan Island, off Java, Indonesia; Opisthoporodesmus Silvestri, 1899, with six nominate species; Retrodesmus Chamberlin, 1945, with two species, i.e. the type-species Retrodesmus dammermani Chamberlin, 1945, from Java, Indonesia, revised from the holotype, and Retrodesmus cavernicola sp. n., from Papua New Guinea; and Solaenaulus Attems, 1940, with two species. Comments are presented on the family’s possible relationships and palaeogeographic history. Instead of being considered as the sole component of the superfamily Opisotretoidea, the Opisotretidae is believed here to form one of the families of the diverse superfamily Trichopolydesmoidea, perhaps the sister-group to, if not immediately derived from, the pantropical family Fuhrmannodesmidae. The origin of Opisotretidae, previously dated as far back as the Triassic (220 Ma) in relation to the fragmentation of eastern Gondwanaland, mainly in the region of present-day Indonesia, could have had nothing to do with Gondwanaland. Opisotretids might have originated in mainland Southeast Asia well within the Cenozoic, with subsequent dispersals along the Himalayas in the West and across Indonesia (including New Guinea) in the East, also reaching as far north as the Ryukyus, Japan and Guangxi, southern China.     

Photosymbiotic ascidians from Pari Island (Thousand Islands,Indonesia)

Photosymbiotic ascidian fauna were surveyed in the subtidal zone off Pari Island in the Thousand Islands (Java Sea, Indonesia). Nine species were recorded: Didemnum molle, Trididemnum miniatum, Lissoclinum patella, L. punctatum, L. timorense, Diplosoma gumavirens, D. simile, D. simileguwa, and D. virens. All of these species have been previously recorded in the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. Diplosoma gumavirens and D. simileguwa were originally described from the Ryukyu Archipelago in 2009 and 2005, respectively, and all of the observed species are potentially widely distributed in Indo–West Pacific coral reefs.     

Description of a new species of Petrolisthes in the Indo-West Pacific with a redefinition of P. hastatus Stimpson, 1858 and resurrection of P. inermis (Heller, 1862) (Crustacea,Anomura, Porcellanidae)

The porcellanid crab Petrolisthes hastatus Stimpson, 1858, has been traditionally viewed as a highly variable species with a wide distribution in the West Pacific. For more than a century there has been taxonomic confusion of this species with morphologically similar taxa, some of which were synonymized with Stimpson’s taxon. We redefine Petrolisthes hastatus, resurrect Petrolisthes inermis as a valid species, discuss the status of Petrolisthes tenkatei De Man, 1893, and describe a new species as Petrolisthes elegantissimus from Indonesia.     

Setoidium castanopsidis,a new species of anamorphic Cystotheca (Ascomycota,Erysiphales) from Indonesia

A powdery mildew fungus belonging to the genus Setoidium (anamorph of Cystotheca) was found on Castanopsis javanica in Cibodas Botanical Garden and mount Tangkuban Perahu, West Java, Indonesia. The fungus is considered as a new species, namely, Setoidium castanopsidis. Phylogenetic analyses of the 28S and ITS rDNA regions showed that S. castanopsidis formed a distinct lineage separated from Cy. tjibodensis, Cy. lanestris, and Cy. wrightii. Setoidium castanopsidis also differs morphologically from Cy. tjibodensis in having distinct appressoria (nipple-shaped), longer conidiophores with longer foot-cells, larger conidia, and being found on Ca. javanica. The teleomorphic state has not been found during the collection.     

Diversity and Traditional Knowledge of Textile Dyeing Plants in Northeastern Thailand

The objective of this study was to document the traditional knowledge of plants used for textile dyeing by the Tai-Lao ethnic group in Roi Et province in northeastern Thailand. Traditional knowledge of plants used for textile dyeing is disappearing because of modernization including new lifestyles, urbanization, and the introduction of synthetic colors. Textile dyeing with local plants, however, is experiencing a revival connected to ecotourism and global interest in natural products. To exploit that potential, it is important to preserve the local knowledge related to textile dyeing. We interviewed 60 Tai-Lao informants in 15 villages and 9 districts about their dyeing traditions and the species used through individual semi-structured and focus groups interviews. A total of 56 species in 50 genera and 31 families were used for dyeing cotton and silks; most species belonged to Fabaceae (11 spp., 19%) and Anacardiaceae (5 spp., 9%). Trees (36 spp., 65%) were the best represented life form among the dye plants, followed by shrubs and herbs (8 spp., 16% each), and climbers (4 spp., 7%). Bark was the plant part most commonly used for dyeing (25 spp., 42%) followed by leaves (12 spp., 20%), and fruits (9 spp., 15%). Home gardens were the most common habitat of dye plant (30 spp., 53%) followed by community forests (16 spp., 28%). Indigofera tinctoria L. and Pterocarpus indicus Willd. were the most important dye plant species of the Tai-Lao ethnic group as demonstrated by their high use value index (UV = 0.60). Blue/indigo-blue was the color most informants had common knowledge about with an informant consensus factor (ICF) of 0.92 followed by black with ICF = 0.84. Ten different colors were obtained from the 56 plant species. Brown/pale-brown/golden-brown was the color obtained from most dye plant species (14 spp., 25%) followed by green/pale-green/dark-green (13 spp., 23%). Nine different kinds of mordants were used in the dyeing, including alum, chrome (potassium dichromate; K₂Cr₂O₇), copper sulfate (CuSO₄), iron oxide (Fe₂O₃), tamarind juice (tartaric acid), salt (NaCl), lime (calcium oxide; CaO), ash (potassium hydroxide; KOH), and mud. Among the 56 species used for textile dyeing, three are on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, including: Dipterocarpus alatus Roxb. & G.Don, Dipterocarpus obtusifolius Teijsm. ex Miq., and Pterocarpus indicus Willd. Documenting these and other species used for textile dyeing will provide additional arguments for their conservation. It will also help to secure the reappearing tradition of textile dyeing with local plants, and hence support the cultural integrity of the Tai-Lao communities, and serve as an example for other communities in Thailand and elsewhere for preserving their traditional knowledge.     

Parasitoids of the arctiid mothPareuchaetes pseudoinsulata (Lep.: Arctiidae), an introduced biocontrol agent against the weedChromolaena odorata (asteraceae), in asia and Africa

The leaf-feeding arctiid mothPareuchaetes pseudoinsulata has been released widely in tropical countries for the control of the weedChromolaena odorata. P. pseudoinsulata is now widespread and locally abundant in Ghana, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Micronesia and the Philippines. In the West Indies where it is native,P. pseudoinsulata is host to 2 species of egg parasitoids, 4 species of tachinid larval parasitoids, 1 larval-pupal parasitoid, and 1 pupal parasitoid, as well as a virulent nuclear-polyhedrosis virus.P. pseudoinsulata is not significantly parasitised where it is established in south-east Asia, Oceania or Africa. No egg parasitoids have been reported, and only 3 larval or larval-pupal parasitoids. Only one of these, the larval-pupal tachinidExorista xanthaspis, is regularly encountered, and rarely exceeds 10% parasitism in the field. These results confirm the pattern that herbivorous insects from families with exposed larvae are unlikely to be heavily parasitised in a new geographic range.     

On five species of the tribes Abacetini and Pterostichini (Coleoptera,Carabidae)

Metabacetus willi sp. n. (type locality: Indonesia, Central Java Province, Purworejo Regency, Kaligesing District, cave Seplawan near Donorejo) and Rhytiferonia beroni sp. n. (type locality: Papua New Guinea, West Sepik Province, Bonforok bil, Tifalmin, 1600 m) are described. Two new combinations: Poecilus (Ancholeus) campania (Andrewes, 1937), comb. n. of Feronia campania Andrewes, 1937, Aristochroa poecilma (Andrewes, 1937), comb. n. of Feronia poecilma Andrewes, 1937, and a new synonymy: Pterostichus (Oreophilus) podgoricensis B. Guéorguiev, 2013, syn. n. of Pterostichus (Oreophilus) flavofemoratus pinguis (Dejean, 1828), are proposed, too.     

Phytoremediation of triphenylmethane dyes by overexpressing a Citrobacter sp. triphenylmethane reductase in transgenic Arabidopsis

Triphenylmethane dyes are extensively utilized in textile industries, medicinal products, biological stains, and food processing industries, etc. They are generally considered as xenobiotic compounds, which are very recalcitrant to biodegradation. The widespread persistence of such compounds has generated concerns with regard to remediation of them because of their potential carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, and mutagenicity. In this study, we present a system of phytoremediation by Arabidopsis plants developed on the basis of overexpression of triphenylmethane reductase (TMR) from the Citrobacter sp. The morphology and growth of TMR transgenic Arabidopsis plants showed significantly enhanced tolerances to crystal violet (CV) and malachite green (MG). Further, HPLC and HPLC–MS analyses of samples before and after dye decolorization in culture media revealed that TMR transgenic plants exhibited strikingly higher capabilities of removing CV from their media and high efficiencies of converting CV to non-toxic leucocrystal violet (LCV). This work indicates that microbial degradative gene may be transgenically exploited in plants for bioremediation of triphenylmethane dyes in the environment.     

Allozyme analysis of cryptic species in the Asplenium niduscomplex from West Java,Indonesia

In various fern species, a large amount of rbcL sequence variation has been reported, and it is possible that these species contain several reproductively isolated cryptic species. In our previous study on Asplenium nidus L., it was suggested that the plants growing in Mt. Halimun National Park, West Java, Indonesia, consist of several cryptic species based on the results of crossing experiments among rbcL sequence types. In this study, we examined allozyme polymorphisms of five rbcL sequence types found in West Java in order to test the hypothesis that the assemblages of A. nidus delimited based on the rbcL sequences are separate Mendelian populations and gene flow is disrupted by reproductive isolation from one another. The calculated fixation indices suggested that the individuals in each rbcL type are randomly crossing at least in the investigated localities. Nevertheless, these rbcL-based assemblages were genetically differentiated in allozymes that are encoded in their nuclear genomes, and it is also suggested that gene flow is disrupted even between sympatrically distributed pairs of rbcL sequence types. Therefore, our findings support the view that the five rbcL sequence types in West Java are potential cryptic species. Electronic Publication     

Elaphomyces tropicalis sp. nov.: A new ectomycorrhizal fungus associated with dipterocarps from tropical Indonesia

A hypogeous, sequestrate, ectomycorrhizal fungus belonging to Elaphomyces was found in a Shorea plantation at Haurbentes Research Forest, West Java, Indonesia. Elaphomyces tropicalis is described as a new species based on morphological characters and molecular phylogenetic analysis of the ITS rDNA sequence. Sequences of E. tropicalis formed a distinct clade close to E. hassiacus, and sister to E. granulatus and E. asperulus. Elaphomyces tropicalis is not closely related to the E. papillatus clade. Morphologically, E. tropicalis is similar to E. (subsect Papillati) papillatus var. striatosporus with its crested spore ornamentation, but differs by having larger ascomata and different associated hosts. Shorea selanica and S. leprosula are the presumed hosts of E. tropicalis. This is the first report of an Elaphomyces species with Shorea species thus widening the previously known Elaphomyces host range.