Efficacy of application time of Penicillium sp. suspension on White Root Fungus (Rigidoporus lignosus) in Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans)

Abstract

Cultivation of nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) is running into several problems, one of these is caused by white root fungus (Rigidoporus lignosus) which causes losses to nutmeg farmers. This fungus is known to be controlled by biological control using microorganisms such as Penicillium sp. This research was conducted to determine the efficacy of application time of Penicillium sp. crude extract against white root fungus (Rigidoporus lignosus) in nutmeg plants. The design used in this study was a non-factorial completely randomized design with the main factor being the application time of Penicilllium sp. crude extract with 4 treatments. Each treatment on 7 replicates. Control without suspension application Penicillium sp. (PK0), Application of Penicillium sp. 7 days before inoculation of Rigidoporus lignosus (PK1), Application of suspension of Penicillium sp. concurrently with Rigidoporus lignosus (PK2) inoculation, Application of suspension of Penicillium sp. 7 days after Rigidoporus lignosus (PK3) inoculation. Total are 28 experimental units. In this case, the test plants used are 11 months old nutmeg. The research parameters consisted of the incubation period, disease incidence and attack intensity. The results showed that the treatment at one-time application of the suspension of Penicillium sp. Significantly affect the intensity of attacks and the incidence of infectious disease pathogens Rigidoporus lignosus. Application time for Penicillium sp. 7 days before the suspension of Rigidoporus lignosus is the best offer in the attack of Rigidoporus lignosus disease.