The Plant Structure and Development Laboratory hosted two researchers (Dian Rahma Pratiwi, B.Sc., M.Sc. and Muhhamad Rio Eko Bayu P., B.Sc.) from the Oil Palm Research Center (PPKS), Medan. PPKS is a part of PT. Riset Perkebunan Nusantara, where the parent company is PT. Perkebunan Nusantara (Holding) Persero. PPKS plays a strategic role in national palm oil plantation research and development, with research focused on superior plant breeding, precision agriculture 4.0 technology, and upstream-downstream product development for oil palm plantations.
The training was conducted over a span of 10 days, from August 21, 2023, to September 1, 2023, at the Plant Structure and Development Laboratory. The event was inaugurated by Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc., Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Cooperation, and Alumni Affairs. Dr. Eko was accompanied by Dr. Maryani, M.Sc., the head of the Plant Structure and Development Laboratory. The opening ceremony was attended by participants,lecturers, and lab technicians who were involved throughout the event.
During his opening remarks, Dr. Eko Agus Suyono expressed gratitude for PPKS’s trust in the Faculty of Biology to organize this training. He stated, “Biology as a fundamental science is now crucial in underpinning applications and bridging their implementations across various aspects, including anatomy, physiology, and molecular biology.” He hoped that this training would contribute to the development and application of Biology within PPKS in the future. In his capacity as Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Cooperation, and Alumni Affairs, Dr. Eko also hoped that this activity would foster not only intellectual growth but also serve as a platform for networking and collaboration, with the potential to initiate future research partnerships.
The training participants were provided with instructional materials and engaged in hands-on exercises related to plant tissue preparation techniques, including whole-mount sample preparation, paraffin embedding, non-embedding methods, maceration, squash preparations, pollen slides, as well as micro-metry and optical lab work.
The Plant Structure and Development Laboratory extends its gratitude to PPKS for entrusting their research staff to partake in this training. The laboratory hopes that this endeavor will foster an expanded collaboration between the Faculty of Biology at UGM and PPKS. May such activities inspire other institutions with similar needs to collaborate, particularly in the realm of anatomical preparation techniques.
