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Melaleuca cajuputi breeding in Indonesia is entering the advanced generation cycle and improvements have been achieved for oil concentration and 1.8 cineole-content. In commercial plantations, the total oil yield is an important factor to ensure the sustainability and continuity of oil production. This variable is calculated based on oil concentration, survival rate, and leaf biomass. However, to date, biomass productivity is maintained through silviculture practices rather than genetics. Therefore, genetic improvement for other traits related to leaf biomass is necessary. This study aimed to optimize the breeding strategy of M. cajuputi for a multiple-trait selection using the economic weight of traits related to oil yield. The economic weight was derived by combining selection results in the past generation breeding population and the assessment in genetic gain trials. The study revealed that leaf biomass should be prioritized as selection criteria for oil concentration in the advanced generation breeding based on the current baseline of the achieved gain. The implication of the economic weight to further generation breeding selection for improving oil yield productivity is that the major traits affecting the oil yield should be incorporated simultaneously for selection in the breeding strategy of M. cajuputi. The leaves biomass could be more weighted than other traits in constructing the index for the multiple-trait selection considering the correlation among the three traits observed.

Melaleuca cajuput (cajuput) subsp. cajuputi is an endemic species of Indonesia, found naturally in the island of Buru, Seram and Ambon and cultivated in Java. The cajuputi tree is harvested for the leaves which contain important essential oil of 1,8 cineole. Because of intensive utilization and inappropriate management of the resources, the genetic diversity in the natural distribution is under threat. Collection of genetic materials across its natural distribution conducted in 1995 and 1998 had captured more than 160 genotypes for screening of high oil yield and 1,8 cineole content. The selected genotypes had been planted as seed orchards in Java for production of genetically improved seeds. Breeding program is continuing to produce elite clones. The use of superior seeds/clones for plantation is the best solution to increase cajuput oil production and to achieve self-sufficiency in oil supply. Both industrial scale and smallholder plantations are being established to increase the national production which currently stood at around 650 ton/year whilst domestic demand is already over 3500 ton/year. The species is a good example of successful domestication. The native stands are still utilized for oil production and plantations outside the natural range are developing. The paper also discusses importance of breeding program to increase cajuputi oil production in Indonesia.

One of the causes of environmental and climate problems is human-generated waste such as Galam (Melaleuca cajuputi) leaf waste. Galam leaf waste with Essential oil ingredients can be a solution to the problem. The research objective was to utilize Galam Leaf waste in the form of essential ingredients and to determine the impact of climate change from the continuous utilization of Galam Plants The formula used was 10 liters of water, 4, 5, and 6 kg of Galam leaf biomass. Distillation activities carried out for 3 hours/formula. Repetition of each formula is done 5 times with the distillation technique. The essential oil results obtained from the formula of 4 kg of Galam leaf biomass are 4 ml, 6.2 ml, 12 ml, 7.5 ml, and 14 ml. Formula 2 is 11.5 ml, 16 ml, 14.5 ml, 13.5 ml and 15.5 ml. Formula 3 is 24.5 ml, 28 ml, 27 ml, 20.5 ml and 16 ml. Galam leaf waste processing activities can be a solution to reduce the impact of environmental and climate pollution.

Cajuput tree is native to Maluku and produce 1,8 cineole based essential oil. Since 1995, the Centre of Biotechnology and Tree Improvement has implemented a genetic improvement program of cajuput aiming to increase oil yield and oil content. The program has successfully produced superior seeds with the yield of 2%. In early 2016, a small scale pilot plantation of cajuput was established in 5 ha community land di Kampung Rimbajaya Distrik Biak Timur Kabupaten Biak, Papua. Leaf distillation started at the end of 2017 using a simple distillation unit. Previously, the local farmers were woodcutters and shifting cultivators. After the establishment of cajuput plantation, they became permanent farmers and cajuput oil refiners. Leaf distillation of genetically improved trees produced oil yield of 1.3%, a significant improvement from the average of 0.6 – 0.8% yield of unimproved trees. This 5 ha plantation of 2500 trees/ha potentially produce 400 kg/year. Some of the cajuput oil is sold in a local market in 8ml bottle. This cajuput oil production scheme has increased the farmers welfare. Furthermore, the success story of Kovarwis farmers inspired other farmers surrounding Rimbajaya to develop similar plantation. When this small-scale plantation is replicated in other parts of Indonesia, cajuput oil production will increase and Indonesia may one day become self-sufficient in cajuput oil. An agreement with cajuput packaging company is being establish to ensure that the oil produce by farmers will be purchased by the company and thus ensuring steady supply of good quality oil.

Cajuput plant (Melaleuca cajuputi Powell) and its waste is one of the plants that can produce atsiri oils. Cajuput plant essential oil has the largest compound component, 1.8 cineol which has the ability as an antibacterial to kill pathogenic bacteria. The purpose of this study was to determine the antibacterial activity of cajuput leaf waste extract against pathogenic bacteria and find out the category of inhibition zones formed from extracts of cajuput leaf waste. This study used a completely randomized design method. Cajuput leaf waste used has a shelf life of 0, 2 and 4 months old. The pathogenic bacteria used consisted of 17 isolates, each treatment was repeated twice. The results showed that cajuput leaf extract had antibacterial activity known by the formation of inhibitory zones. The inhibitory zone in the extract of the 0-month leaf waste was greater than in the leaf extract of leaf of 2 months and 4 months. The diameter of the inhibition zone is at most 13 mm and at least 1 mm. With these results, it can be concluded that the antibacterial activity of cajuput leaf waste belongs to the category of low to strong.

Arthropods have an important role in the forest ecosystem. Arthropods play a role in food webs as herbivores, carnivores, and detritivores. This study aims to analyze the diversity and abundance of arthropods in different forest stands, namely Pelawan (Tristaniopsis merguensis), Cajuput (Melaleuca cajuputi), and Sungkai (Peronema canescens). The research was carried out in the Forest Research Station of Kemampo belonging to the Environment and Forestry Research and Development Institute of Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia; through an observation approach with sweep nets, then taken to the laboratory for selection and identification. Research results showed that the levels of arthropod diversity in Pelawan, Cajuput, and Sungkai were relatively low. Those arthropods belong to 8 families with the highest number of the individual dominated by Pelawan stand, followed by Cajuput and Sungkai stands. Arthropod families consisted of Formicidae, Lycosidae, Elateridae, Scarabaeidae, Crabronidae, Chrysomelidae, Scolitidae, and Entomobryidae. The diversity index of arthropods under Pelawan, Cajuput, and Sungkai stands were 0,68; 0,31; and 0,3, respectively. The dominance index of arthropods on Cajuput stand was higher than in Pelawan, and Sungkai stands.

Weeds are diverse in habitats throughout the world. In landscape management, weed is of major concern because they compete for growth factors with landscape plant of interest. Modern management relies on the importance of synthetic chemicals to control weeds as unwanted plants to reduce the weed management cost. The use of herbicides is not an appropriate tool for controlling development of some weeds but can create negative effects to the environment. Managing the natural and landscape resources are not only designing for good views and environment merely, but need to sustain all of living environment through consideration. Therefore, this study was aimed to explore Melaleuca cajuputi, heath forest species as potential natural herbicides agent in sustainable landscape management. Three assessments were conducted to determine their effectiveness towards suppressing weeds without degrading the environmental quality index. Assessment of allelochemical compounds in M. cajuputi demonstrated that these species have allelopathic potential as a natural herbicide.