Skripsi
EFEKTIVITAS INOKULASI JAMUR ENDOFIT ENTOMOPATOGEN MELALUI PERENDAMAN BENIH Brassica rapa TERHADAP MORTALITAS ULAT GRAYAK, Spodoptera litura (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE)
Spodoptera litura is a significant pest that infests more than 120 plant species often present in tropical areas. This study aims to assess the pathogenicity of entomopathogenic endophytic fungi on the mortality of S. litura larvae and to find the fungal isolate with the greatest efficacy against these larvae. This research employed a Randomized Block Design (RBD) methodology to evaluate the pathogenicity of 16 endophytic fungal isolates from six species: Aspergillus niger, Beauveria bassiana, Curvularia lunata, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium citrinum, and Metarhizium anisopliae, against S. litura larvae via seed treatment on pak choi (Brassica rapa L.). The experiment was conducted thrice, with 25 test larvae in each iteration, alongside a single control treatment. The findings of this investigation indicated that larval mortality over the 17-day observation period reached 29.33% for the CaTpPga isolate (M. anisopliae). The JgCrJr and JgSPK isolates of the B. bassiana fungal species subsequently exhibited a death rate of 20.00%. Larvae of S. litura infected with endophytic fungi display mortality indicators, including diminished body size and some larvae enveloped by the pathogenic fungus. Larvae devoid of fungal infection exhibit a deeper, drier hue and suffer mummification. The larval weight from the JgSPK (B. bassiana) treatment recorded the lowest measurement, at 219.67 mg/larvae on the final day of observation. The JgSPK (B. bassiana) treatment exhibited a significant difference compared to the CMTJP (C. lunata) treatment, which recorded the maximum weight of 501.67 mg/larvae on the final observation day. The study results on the final day of manure weight observation indicated no significant difference. The maximum weight recorded on the final observation day was 519.67 mg/larvae from the PsgTjPr (A. niger) treatment. The minimum weight was recorded in the JgByu (A. niger) treatment, measuring 261.00 mg/larvae. This study concludes that the treatment associated with the highest death rate, 29.33%, was from feeding pak choi inoculated with endophytic fungus via seed treatment, namely from the CaTpPga isolate of the fungal species M. anisopliae. Consequently, it is advisable to administer entomopathogenic endophytic fungi via seed treatment to inhibit the proliferation of S. litura.