Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

EXPLORATION AND PATHOGENICITY TEST OF ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGUS FROM BROWN PLANT HOPPER (NILAPARVATA LUGENS STAL) PEST

Endang Warih Minarni, Loekas Soesanto, Agus Suyanto and Rostaman

Abstract

Brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens Stall.) is the main pest of rice in several countries in the East and Southeast Asia regions. Banyumas Regency is one of the endemic areas for brown plant hopper in Indonesia Entomopathogenic fungi have the potential to control brown plant hopper naturally. The study aims to obtain entomopathogenic fungi isolates that effectively control Nilaparvata lugens. The study was conducted with exploratory studies to obtain fungal isolates, followed by experimental research. Exploration was carried out in seven sub-districts, five villages were taken for each sub-district, and five rice fields were taken for each village. The results of the exploration found 66 fungi isolated from infected brown plant hopper. Exploration isolates of each sub-district were then tested on brown plant hopper using RCBD with three replications on a plastic house scale. The variables observed were mortality and time of death of brown planthopper. Data were analyzed by 5% F test if there were significant differences followed by 5% Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. The test results found 8 of the best isolates, namely isolates J11 (Aspergillus sp.), J22 (Paecilomyces sp.), J34 (Beauveria sp.), J35 (Beauveria sp.), J41 (Fusarium sp.), J56 (Fusarium sp), J60 (Paecilomyces sp.) and J65 (Curvularia sp.). These fungus have the ability to kill brown plant hopper ranges from 70-80% with a time of death ranges from 3.43 to 4.87 days.