The Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Faperta UGM), in collaboration with Kasetsart University, Thailand, held a guest lecture open to the UGM academic community and the public. The event took place online via Zoom Meeting on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, featuring Dr. Chanita Boonmak from the Duckweed Holobiont Resource and Research Center (DHBC), Kasetsart University, Thailand, as the keynote speaker.
The topic presented in this guest lecture was “Duckweed Microbiome: Unlocking Bacterial Potential for Environmental and Food Applications”, which highlighted research collaboration funded by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) program.
Thailand is home to four genera of duckweed: Spirodela polyrhiza, Landolita punctata, Lemna aequinoctialis, and Wolffia globosa. In her presentation, Dr. Chanita Boonmak explained,
“The composition of duckweed varies depending on its environment. Some of its key components include fiber, lignin, protein accumulation ranging from 7–45%, and starch content between 14–44%, all of which can be utilized by humans.”
In Thailand, Wolffia cultivation has been used as animal feed, which has been shown to enhance the quality of egg yolks in poultry. Beyond that, duckweed can also serve as a carbon sequestration agent that rapidly absorbs CO₂ during its growth, as well as a starch substrate for biofuel, and even as a raw material for bioplastics and polyester.
“The high protein content of duckweed is influenced by its environment. It is also an aquatic plant that grows rapidly in small areas while providing significant benefits to both water and land ecosystems,” added Dr. Chanita.
Her research revealed that duckweed thrives on water surfaces such as rice fields, lotus ponds, drying canals, and natural ponds. Remarkably, it can also survive in polluted waters, including urban areas or wastewater ponds.
The guest lecture also discussed the development of duckweed in wastewater streams through the role of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB). Several bacterial phyla commonly associated with duckweed include Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria. Agricultural waste—particularly from livestock farming—contains high levels of organic matter or solids such as chicken manure, feed residues, feathers, and wash water. However, the nitrogen content in such waste is difficult to eliminate and requires prior treatment, such as through facultative ponds enriched with duckweed.
Desi Utami, S.P., M.Env.Sc., Ph.D., lecturer at the Department of Agricultural Microbiology, expressed that these regular guest lectures featuring lecturers and researchers from various countries are expected to enhance students’ knowledge, curiosity, and international collaboration opportunities for Faperta UGM.
Through its collaboration with Kasetsart University and Hokkaido University, Faperta UGM aims to deepen research on the potential of duckweed and its diverse benefits for sustainable agriculture and the environment. In line with this commitment, Faperta UGM also strives to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 14: Life Below Water, SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
Writer: Octavia Riezqi Yusandra
Editor: Desi Utami
Documentation: Media Faperta