Keanekaragaman jenis cendawan entomopatogen endofit pada tanaman kakao (Theobroma cacao)

Abstract

Trizelia, Winarto. 2016. Diversity o endophytic entomopathogenic fungus from cacao (Theobroma cacao). Pros Sem Nas Masy Biodiv Indon 2: 277-281. The endophytic fungus is a fungus that is associated with healthy host tissues without causing disease symptoms. This fungus can be developed as the biological control agents of cacao pests. This study aimed to isolate, selected and evaluate the potency of endophytic fungi from cacao crops (Theobroma cacao) as entomopathogen. Endophytic fungi were isolated from leaves, branches and fruit of cacao. Screening endophytic fungal isolates pathogenic to insect were conducted using fifth instar larvae of Tenebrio molitor. The results showed that the number of isolates of endophytic fungus isolated from the cocoa plant more found on the leaves (45.61%) compared to the isolated from the branch (19.30%) and cacao fruit (35.09%). The results of the research also showed that of the 57 isolates of endophytic fungi that were successfully isolated from cacao, there are 20 isolates (35.09%) are pathogenic in insects that caused mortality of T. molitor larvae above 20%. Endophytic fungi from cacao were pathogenic in insect and can be developed as bioinsecticides identified as Beauveria sp., Aspergillus sp., and Fusarium sp.