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Keladi tikus (Typhonium flagelliforme) is a medicinal plant originated from Indonesia with its potential role as a cancer adjuvant therapy. The plant is commonly confused with other species from the genus Typhonium due to similarity in their morphology. Correct identification of authentic plant species becomes very important, especially in the purpose of developing an herbal medicine with a good quality control or standardization. In this study, 15 plant samples of Typhonium in Java Island were collected, including naturally growing plants and those which have been cultivated. The aim of this study is to perform taxonomy identification of Typhonium flagelliforme of different accessions in Java and its closely related species using morphology and SRAP markers. Plants were characterized based on their morphological characteristics, especially in the flowers and the leaves. Three species were predicted to present in the collection, including Tyhphonium flagelliforme, Typhonium roxburghii, and Typhonium blumei. Some morphological variations were also observed among Typhonium flagelliforme of different accessions. Genetic variations were then analysed by using SRAP markers that were found to be useful to identify inter and intra-specific variation among the plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fifty-nine endophytic bacterial isolates from rat taro have been obtained; thirty-four bacterial isolates from rat taro type 3 (TF3) and twenty-five bacterial isolates were from type 4 (TF4). The extracellular enzyme activity was observed qualitatively from rat taro endophytic bacterial isolates. The amylase activity test used starch as substrate, whereas the protease test used gelatin. A cellulose activity test was carried out using Carboxy Methyl Cellulase (CMC) media. The results showed that twenty-seven endophytic bacterial isolates of rat taro TF3 and TF4 showed extracellular enzyme activity. Endophytic bacterial isolate TF3Bt4 had the highest protease activity, indicated by its lytic index of about 11.304 mm in the gelatin-containing medium. The highest amylase activity was produced by isolate TF3U3, where the lytic index was 23.875 mm in the starch containing medium. Bacterial isolate TF3A4 showed a lytic index of about 6.9653 mm in the CMC medium, indicating the highest cellulase activity. The endophytic bacteria with protease activity are potentially utilized in the food industry, whereas endophytic bacteria with cellulase activity can be used in the textile industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]