Evaluating the ability of endophyte fungus to tontrol VSD diseases in cocoa seeding

Abstract

The use of endophytic fungus is one of the effective ways to control Vascular Streak Dieback (VSD)-Ceratobasidium theobromae the in cocoa plants both preventively and curatively. The study aimed to evaluate the potential of several endophytic fungus isolates to reduce the incidence of VSD at the seedling level. This research was carried out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with eight endophytic fungus isolates as treatment, namely 1) Paecilomyces sp. EP1* isolate; 2) Paecilomyces sp. EP1 isolate; 3) Cladosporium sp.; 4) Nigrospora sp.; 5) Paecilomyces sp. EP isolate; 6) Paecilomyces sp. EP8 isolate; 7) Fungicide and 8) distilled water as a control. The results showed that endophytic fungi Paecilomyces Ep1* from cacao petiole was the best inhibitor of VSD disease (0%), and was able to increase the growth of plant height and stem diameter of cocoa plants.