Dean of FMIPA UI Visits Research Institution in Japan, Discusses Joint Research Progress on Rubber Leaf Fall Disease Outbreak

As part of his visit to several universities and research institutions in Japan from May 23 to 27, 2023, the Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Universitas Indonesia (FMIPA UI), Dede Djuhana, Ph.D., attended the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) Meeting of the SATREPS Project at Koryuto Hall, RIKEN Yokohama, on Thursday (May 25, 2023). This event was held in person for the first time after being conducted virtually for the past two years.

The meeting was coordinated by RIKEN Yokohama, led by Minami Matsui, D.Sci., who serves as the Group Director of CSRS RIKEN as well as the chief executive of the third implementation phase.^rd JCC Meeting-Short Training  Visiting serta Manajer Proyek SATREPS.

The event, officially opened at noon by Dr. Kyoko Watanabe (Tamagawa University) and Prof. Toshiaki Umezawa (Kyoto University), was held to discuss the progress of the research collaboration between FMIPA UI and the Japanese research institutions RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS), RIKEN Center for Advanced Photonics (RAP), and the Indonesian Rubber Research Institute (IRRI). The goal of the collaboration is to develop technology to prevent and control leaf fall disease. Pestalotiopsis on rubber trees, through the SATREPS project (Science & Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development), dengan dukungan pendanaan oleh pihak International Coorporation Agency (JICA) dan Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST).

The collaborative activities include the development of new fungicide candidate compounds for rubber tree leaf fall disease (both chemical and biological), the creation of new clones Hevea brasiliensis which demonstrates resistance to leaf fall disease through genomic and transcriptomic approaches, development of a detection system for areas affected by leaf fall disease by imaging analysis Artificial Intelligent (AI) uses data obtained from  satellites,drone, serta leaves data images to strengthening the basis for research and development and practical application of relevant and long-term technologies.

The funding support provided by JICA is intended to facilitate research activities between Indonesian and Japanese researchers involved in the project, which has a duration of five (5) years. This research collaboration involves faculty members, researchers, and students from the Department of Biology, Department of Geography, Department of Mathematics, and the Indonesian Rubber Research Institute (IRRI).

In his remarks, the Dean stated, “The development of rubber plantations in Indonesia is progressing rapidly. Rubber is one of the most important plantation commodities. Increasing the productivity of rubber plants is essential to support the national economy. Unfortunately, the outbreak of rubber leaf fall disease has affected rubber tree growth and reduced both the yield and quality of rubber. Therefore, joint research on leaf fall disease is highly necessary. Through the collaboration between RIKEN, FMIPA UI, IRRI, and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia, we hope to bring a positive impact on the sustainability of rubber cultivation in Indonesia.”

The rubber leaf fall disease outbreak itself, the Dean continued, was first identified around 2017 and has caused a decline in national rubber production by up to 40%. As such, the Pestalotiopsis Leaf Fall Disease (LFD) has become a serious issue for the sustainability of rubber plantations in Indonesia.

The Dean also highlighted several achievements resulting from the joint research efforts in combating the rubber leaf fall disease outbreak. These include the discovery of potential new fungicide components and microbes as biofungicides, genomic and transcriptomic analysis results for the development of new rubber plant clones, as well as AI-based imaging analysis of rubber plantations using data obtained from satellites and drones.

From May 15 to 24, 2023, four representatives from FMIPA UI — Dr. Retno Lestari, M.Si., and Sanya Khaerunnisa, S.Si. from the Department of Biology; Dr.Eng. Masita Dwi Mandini Manessa, S.Si., M.Si., M.Eng. from the Department of Geography; and Devvi Sarwinda, S.Si., M.Kom. from the Department of Mathematics — participated in the Short-Visiting Training Program at RIKEN Yokohama, RIKEN Wako, and Gifu University. They were joined by five representatives from the Indonesian Rubber Research Institute (IRRI): Dr. Suroso Rahutomo (Director of IRRI), Dr. Tri Rapani Febbiyanti, Dr. Fetrina Oktavia, Alchemi Putri Juliantika Kusdiana, S.P., M.Si., and Charlos Togi Stevanus, S.P.

In addition to providing basic reinforcement for research and development and practical application of relevant and long-term technology by expertise researcher from Japan, namely Minami Matsui, D.Sci. as Group Director of CSRS RIKEN and also the 3rd Chair of the Executive Committee^rd JCC Meeting, Dr. Yuko Makita, Kiwamu Kase, D.Eng, Dr. Yuki Yanagawa, Dr. Wen Dee Ong, Dr. Hidehumi Hamasaki, Dr. Tomoko Kuriyama, Associate Prof. Masafumi Shimizu, Prof. Yoshiharu Yamamoto, Dr. Stephany Angelia, and Dr. Syafaah Afdholiatus, training participants and JCC Meeting participants also visited the Yokohama Rubber Factory to see the rubber processing and tire production process, as well as discuss the impact of this project on the rubber industry in Japan as a rubber importing country.

The FMIPA UI delegation attending the meeting included Dr. Tito Latif Indra (Vice Dean for Resources, Ventures, and General Administration), Anom Bowolaksono, Ph.D. (Head of the Department of Biology), Prof. Alhadi Bustamam, M.Kom., Ph.D. (Head of the Department of Mathematics), Iqbal Putut Ash Shidiq, M.Sc., Ph.D. (Head of the Undergraduate Geography Program), Dr. Retno Lestari, M.Si. (Lecturer from the Department of Biology and SATREPS Project Coordinator from UI), Dr. Eng. Masita Dwi Mandini Manessa, S.Si., M.Si., M.Eng. from the Department of Geography, and Devvi Sarwinda, S.Si., M.Kom. from the Department of Mathematics.

In addition to the FMIPA UI delegation, other representatives present included those from the Indonesian Rubber Research Institute (IRRI), namely Dr. Tri Rapani Febbiyanti (Senior Researcher and SATREPS Project Coordinator from IRRI), Dr. Thomas Wijaya, M.Agr.Sc. (SATREPS Project Advisor), Dr. Radite Tistama, M.Si. (Senior Researcher), and Dr. Fetrina Oktavia (Senior Researcher). Also in attendance were representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia: Dr. Ir. Hendratmojo Bagus Hudoro, M.Sc., and Farriza Diyasti, S.P., M.Si., as well as representatives from JICA Indonesia: Mr. Satoru Mitani, Dr. Safendrri Komara Ragamustari, and Sheny Marliana, S.S.

Also in attendance from Gifu University were Prof. Yoshiharu Yamamoto and Associate Prof. Masafumi Shimizu, who are faculty members and researchers, as well as Dr. Stephany Angelia and Dr. Syafaah Afdholiatus, both doctoral students.

News source : https://sci.ui.ac.id/