Search

The population of ebony trees in Sulawesi has decreased and has been included in Appendix II Cites, which means it can only be traded based on quotas. Insect studies on ebony stands are still limited, especially in South Sulawesi. This study aims to determine the diversity and association of ebony with insects found in ebony stands in the Hasanuddin University Education Forest, Maros Regency. This activity was carried out in June 2021. Sampling was carried out using the light trap method for winged insects with nocturnal activity and pitfall traps for insects crawling on the ground. Data analysis to determine the diversity of insect species was carried out using the Shannon-Wiener (H') species and the Margalef index. The results showed that the insects found were 8 orders, 20 families, and 28 species from 128 individuals. Based on analysis of their functional role, the insect complexes consist of 34% herbivores, 50% predators, 8% parasitoids, 14% detritivores and 2% transient species. The diversity of species was classified as moderate, namely 2.71, while the richness index value of 5.56, which was classified as high richness in Ebony Stands.

Knowledge of the physiological properties of tree species is one of the basic requirements in determining the prescription silvicultural treatment of stands in nature. This study aims to analyze the physiological characteristics of the species of ebony (Diospyros celebica Bakh), as one of the potential endemic species of Sulawesi, based on leaf position in the crown and differences in altitude. Leaf sampling locations were in the Hasanuddin University Educational Forest (507 m asl) and Makassar city (16 m asl). The research variables consist of number of stomata, size of stomata, leaf stomata index, and leaf chlorophyll content. The results show that the physiological characteristics of the leaves were influenced by their position in the tree crown and differences in altitude. The highest number of stomata was found in the leaves exposed to the sunlights with 52.900 stomata/mm2 compared to 29.800 stomata/mm2 in shaded leaves. Likewise, the highest chlorophyll content was found in leaves exposed to the sunlights of 0.043 mg/L and shaded leaves of 0.034 mg/L. The difference occurs based on differences in altitude as well. The number of stomata in the lower area was 35.733 stomata/mm2, while in the high area was 42.667 stomata/mm2. The chlorophyll content in the low area was 0.038 mg/L and in the high area it was 0.037 mg/L. The higher a place, the more the number of stomata, this is inversely proportional to the size of the stomata and the stomata index, while the number of chlorophylls is not significantly different.

Ebony (Diospyros celebica Bakh) is a woody plant that has been used in the manufacture of luxury veneers, plywood, luxury furniture, sculpture, carving decorative tools, sticks, piano guitars, wind instruments and building materials. To maintain the existence of Ebony, it is necessary to provide good seedling quality through the tissue culture method. Tissue culture is one of the clonal propagation techniques for mass propagation. Moreover, it is able to produce a large quantity of plants in a relatively short time and obtain superior seedling. The process of sterilizing plant material (explants) is an important activity in tissue culture which aims to eliminate microorganisms carried during explant extract, which can cause contamination. This study aimed to obtain the optimal sterilization procedure for Ebony in vitro micropropagation. The analysis used was descriptive analysis by observing the percentage of contaminated explants, types of contamination, and explants that had browned (browning). Sterilization using Bactericides and Fungicides showed the lowest contamination level (71%). There were three types of contamination found, namely fungal contamination, bacterial contamination, and a combination of fungal and bacterial contamination. The lowest percentage of browning explants was using sterilization 3 (71%).

Ebony (Diospyros celebica Bakh.) is an endemic tree species of Sulawesi. Based on the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, it is one of the protected tree species and listed in IUCN Red List under the category of vulnerable. This species is well known for its beautiful and luxurious wood. In practice, natural forests dominated by Diospyros can be managed using the Indonesian Selective Logging System (TPTI). The purpose of this paper was to determine the cultivation and management techniques of ebony plants in order to establish ebony plantations and their conservation strategy. Data were collected based on primary field observation and review of previous research written by other authors. Direct field observations were conducted to collect data on the management of seed, scarification techniques, germination, and seedling growth increment (height and diameter), while secondary data were collected from Diospyros-related studies. From the study, it was identified that the best time to produce fruit for the species was between September - November, with a germination rate, was up to 94.67%. The recommended parent trees should be over 20 years old. Seedlings were weaned when having 2 - 4 leaves with compost enriched with NPK as the best planting media. The seedling can be moved to the planting location after the age of 8-9 months with weeding as the initial treatment. The optimum growth for nine-year-old Ebony trees may reach 6.5 m in height and 6.63 cm in diameter and this growth may still be seen for 12 years old trees that showed 9 m in height and 12.81 cm in diameter. Based on this optimum growth, it is prospective to establish ebony plantation and or enrichment planting as long as the silvicultural aspect described in this study was used as a basic guideline.

Eboni (Diospyroscelebica Bakh.) is aspeciesof Diospyros.It isone of the endemic species that distributesonly in Wallacea geographicalregion. Ebony is lowland tree species found in both rain forest and monsoon forest in Sulawesi with various soils types including in Alluvial, Latosols, Mediterranean, and Litosols. In its natural habitat this species associateswitharen (Arengapinnata), rattan and other palm trees.Ebony iswell known as an outstanding tree speciesthat producesdurable, fancy wood withcolorful mixed red and brownish yellow. Because of its superior quality and luxury, ebony has been utilized for high class furniture and house interior. Before trade banning ebony was an important species exported mainly to Japan.High demand in both domestic and foreign markets has lead the overcutting of the ebony and put the extinction of this species. To date, only few ebony treesremaining in Sulawesi natural forest. This species is having struggle of natural regeneration. The data showed that the potential ebony trees in term of IVI decreased dramatically from 92% to 23% during 1970 to 1990. At this moment, it is hard to find the ebony trees in the conservation areas, only a few ebony at poles levels can be found in those areas. Therefore, it is important to conserve the ebony through in situ replanting programs.Before Forest Concession was handed over to private parties in the 70s, the potential of value approached 92% and after management until the 90s, IVI droppedto less than 23%.At present the existence of ebony trees in some ex-processing is only in the pillars form and in the conservation area they can still be found at poles with small diameter. In the future, ebony conservation could be implemented through.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are known to exhibit an efficient, wide spectrum of antimicrobial properties. Certain metabolite compounds in plants can be used as reducing agents for silver ions reduction into AgNPs. The potential of Diospyros celebica extract was used to synthesize AgNPs and it was tested for their antibacterial activity. The phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of phenols and saponins. For biosynthesis, 2% (w/v) of the extracts were treated with 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 mM of AgNO3 as precursors in a ratio of 1:9 (v/v). AgNP formation was confirmed by the observation of the solution color change from yellow to brown as well as by UV–Vis spectrophotometry, which revealed a peak at 350–500 nm. The nanoparticle size and shape confirmed using a Particle Size Analyzer (PSA) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). The antibacterial activity of AgNPs against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was examined by the well diffusion method. The results revealed that AgNPs synthesized by using the D. celebica extract exhibit antimicrobial activity for E. coli, which was indicated by the formation of clear zones. This result paves opportunities to develop an antimicrobial agent trough this method optimization.

Ebony has a beautiful heartwood with black and brown streaks alternately. Each site has various streak pattern in which the industry classified it into two streak types namely batang macis (BM) and sarang laba-laba/bendera (SL). This research was conducted to investigate the influence of site on streak patterns and several physical properties of the heartwood of ebony. Ebony from Parigi has BM streaks pattern and meet the grade B-A, meanwhile ebony from Poso has SL streaks pattern, qualified for grade C only. On the basis of t-test, only L* (lightness-darkness) was differed between the two streak patterns, while wood density and initial moisture content were not differed significantly. The BM streaks pattern has a darker of heartwood color, higher density but lower initial moisture content.

Diospyros spp. is one of the genera of the Ebenaceae that has the highest distribution in tropical Asia and Africa. The high rate of deforestation in the tropics, so we need for preservation of species in conservation ex-situ at the Botanical Gardens. Research on the basic information and potential of Diospyros spp., the collection of the Bogor Botanical Gardens has been carried out through direct observation of all the Gardens’ Diospyros collections, both in the field and in the nursery. The results obtained as many as 32 species of Diospyros spp. which have been collected with the most specimens of the species Diospyros celebica, D. buxifolia, and D. maritima. Meanwhile, the source collection Diospyros spp. mostly from Sulawesi. The general potential of Diospyros spp. used as a valuable timber (ebony) and edible fruit.