The Rector Attends the Launch of the Sudamala Marigold Flower Variety, a Result of Research by IPB University

For the first time, IPB University, together with the Bali Provincial Government, launched a variety of marigold flowers, specifically the Sudamala variety. The launch was attended by the Governor of Bali, Dr Wayan Koster, and the Rector of IPB University, Prof Arif Satria, at the Sudamala Baturiti Experimental Garden in Tabanan, Bali, some time ago.

This marigold variety was developed with the support of the Bali Provincial Government through the Department of Agriculture, Food Security, and Plantation, along with researchers. The research team was led by Prof Muhamad Syukur and consisted of researchers Prof Dewi Sukma, Dr Syarifah Iis Aisyah from IPB University, and Prof Dewa Ngurah Suprapta from Udayana University.

The research began on August 2, 2019, and resulted in 7 marigold varieties: Sudamala Kuning, Sudamala Emas 1, Sudamala Emas 2, Sudamala Orange 1, Sudamala Orange 2, Sudamala Barak, and Sudamala Putih.

In his speech, the Rector of IPB University, Prof. Arif Satria, expressed his support for the Bali Provincial Government’s strong commitment to developing agriculture, particularly organic farming that is more environmentally friendly. He mentioned that this effort also promotes the independence of domestic plant seeds, reducing dependency on imported seeds.

“IPB University has produced various plant varieties that have been adopted by the community, such as rice, corn, chili, and others. In addition to marigold varieties, the IPB University research team has also developed propagation protocols for cuttings and optimal cultivation practices for high marigold production,” he said.

With its diverse benefits, marigold is not only important for Hindu religious practices but also for various food preparations such as tea, tempura, pudding, nagasari, and pukis. Additionally, marigold is used as feed for chickens to produce omega-3 eggs and for koi fish to enhance color quality. It is also utilized in skincare and oil. Therefore, the development of marigold in Bali and Indonesia is expected to intensify in the future.

This marigold research activity also involved eight undergraduate students and eleven master’s students from IPB University. Several international scientific publications have already been produced. Researchers have also written a book about marigold that serves as a reference for students and farmers on breeding and cultivation techniques for marigold. (*/Rz) (IAAS/RUM)