Teak is a kind of high-quality wood production. A big tree, with a straight trunk, can grow to a height of 30-40 m. Big leaf, which is shed in the dry season.
The scientific name of teak is Tectona grandis L.f.
Teak can grow in areas with rainfall of 1 500 – 2 000 mm/year and a temperature of 27 – 36 °C in both the lowlands and highlands.
The best place for teak growth is soil with a pH of 4.5 – 7 and not flooded with water. Teak has wide elliptical leaves and can reach 30-60 cm as adults.
Teak has a slow growth with low germination (usually less than 50%) which makes natural propagation difficult so it is not enough to cover the demand for teak wood.
Teak is usually produced conventionally by using seeds. Will but the production of large quantities of seeds in a certain time becomes limited because of the hard outer layer of the seed.
Several alternatives have been made to overcome this layer such as soaking the seeds in water, heating the seeds over low heat or hot sand, and adding acids, bases, or bacteria. However, the alternative is still not optimal to produce teak in a fast time and in large quantities.
Generally, teak that is in the process of seeding is susceptible to several diseases, including leaf spot disease caused by Phomopsis sp., Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Alternaria sp., and Curvularia sp., leaf rust caused by Olivea tectonea, and powdery mildew caused by
Uncinula tectonae. Phomopsis sp. is the most common infection, it was recorded that 95% of seedlings were infected in 1993-1994. The infection occurs in seedlings aged 2-8 months. Characterization of this infection is the presence of light brown necrosis on the leaf margins then gradually spreading to the midrib, the infection then spreads to the tops of leaves, petioles, and stem tips resulting in The leaves from the stems being dry. If not realized and uncontrolled, infection from Phomopsis sp. will spread to all the seeds so that the teak planting process cannot be carried out.