PROBLEMATIKA PEMBELAJARAN ANAK USIA DINI DI MASA COVID-19

Pendidikan yang semula dengan metode tatap muka di lembaga pendidikan, kini diubah menjadi pembelajaran daring/online dan dilaksanakan dari rumah masing-masing untuk mencegah dan menanggulangi penyebaran virus COVID-19 ini. Kebijakan tersebut berlaku bagi semua jenjang pendidikan baik dari tingkat PAUD hingga tingkat perguruan tinggi. Hal tersebut menimbulkan banyak problematika khususnya pelaksanaan pembelajaran bagi anak usia dini. Pembelajaran dengan menggunakan sistem daring ataupun sistem online ini masih mengalami banyak problematika dalam penerapannya, karena anak tidak dapat belajar sendiri tanpa pendampingan dari orang tua. Dalam mendorong kualitas pembelajaran pada Anak Usia Dini perlu kerjasama dan dukungan  orang tua. Orang tua menjadi salah satu pihak yang bertanggung jawab dalam keberlangsungan pendidikan anak usia dini di masa covid-19. Pengasuhan positif, penyediaan lingkungan belajar yang memadai, dan sumber belajar yang relevan akan sangat membantu anak usia dini dalam menjalani masa transisi menuju era new normal. Oleh karena itu, komunikasi antara guru dan orang tua harus berjalan dengan baik. Kebijakan pemerintah tentang belajar dari rumah tidak serta merta membuat guru melepaskan tugasnya dalam memberikan pendidikan kepada anak usia dini. Justru hal tersebut menuntut guru untuk meningkatkan kompetensinya dalam melakukan pembelajaran jarak jauh dan tetap menilai perkembangan anak berdasarkan laporan kegiatan dari para orang tua.

Biological Diversity of Ralstonia Solanacearum Strains Causing Bacterial Wilt of Solanaceous Crops in Pakistan

Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is a major production constraint of solanaceous crops in tropical and sub tropical areas of the world including Pakistan. Therefore the biology of this disease was studied to elaborate current status of bacterial wilt in the country. The disease was mainly found distributed in Punjab and Islamabad Capital Territory. R. solanacearum was found to be associated with tomato, pepper, brinjal and potato. High prevalence of the disease was noticed in pepper, especially sweet pepper. During the surveys, other diseases of solanaceous crops were observed i.e Verticillium and Fusarium wilt, root knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp), Phytophthora rot (Phytophthora capsici), stem rot/southern blight of tomato (Sclerotium rolfsii), pepper leaf curl virus, bacterial blights (Xanthomonas compestris and Pseudomonas syringae). According to farmers, bacterial wilt has been present in some fields of Punjab province for the past 20 years where out breaks of the disease were observed during monsoon season each year. Most of the farmers were not aware about bacterial wilt symptomology and its causal organism. Most of the commercial varieties used by farmers were imported whose disease resistance information was not known. Bacterial wilt was found in areas with diverse soil, pH, temperature, relative humidity, rainfall and topographical patterns. Mostly wilt affected soils were alkaline, calcareous in nature. Based on biochemical, serological and host tests specified for the identification of R. solanacearum, out of 326 isolates 45 (13.8%) were found to be R. solanacearum. The tests further revealed that biovar 2 and 3 were more prevalent in Pakistan with 80 % of strains belonging to biovar 3. The predominant biovar associated with potato was biovar 2. Studies further revealed that the rest of strains obtained from tomato, sweet pepper, hot pepper and brinjal were mainly biovar 3. Majority of R. solanacearum strains were isolated from plant and soil samples. In addition, some biovar 3 strains were also found to be associated with sweet pepper and hot pepper seeds. The strains obtained from sweet pepper formed a distinct cluster (based on serological and pathogenicity tests) as compared to the rest of strains. Studies further indicated that soil inhabiting bacteria (Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Klebsiella pneomoniae, Pseudomonas entomophila) or possible phenotypic conversion affect detection of R. solanacearum from soil. Enrichment ELISA combined with PCR proved to be a useful tool for detection of R. solanacearum from soil. Local pepper varieties i.e Sanam, Sangri and Ghotki showed good resistance to bacterial wilt. On the other hand local tomato varieties Roma and Rio Grande, and imported commercial sweet pepper variety California Wonder was found to be highly susceptible to bacterial wilt. UW 585 (Phylotype 1 American strain) was significantly distinct from UW 371 (Phylotype 1 Asian strain). Asian strain GMI 1000 and American strain K60 were equally aggressive on all tomato varieties. Results of these studies will provide basis for improved diagnosis, monitoring of bacterial wilt and formulation of management strategies.