Uji Patogenisitas Jamur Metarhizium anisopliae sebagai Agens Hayati dalam Mengendalikan Hama Ulat Grayak (Spodoptera frugiperda) pada Tanaman Padi (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

Rice plants (Oryza sativa L.) are the main source of carbohydrates for a large portion of the world's population, especially in Asia. One of the obstacles to reducing rice production is the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), an insect known as polyphagous, which has the ability to attack various types of plants. Biological control can be carried out using biological control agents in the form of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae as a biological agent in controlling fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) pests on rice plants. This research was conducted at the Plant Pest and Disease Laboratory, Agrotechnology Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, University of North Sumatra, Medan, at an altitude of ± 32 meters above sea level from February 2025 to August 2025. This study used a completely randomized design (CRD) non-factorial with 6 levels of M. anisopliae conidial density treatments, namely P0: Control, P1: 10⁵ conidia/ml, P2: 10⁶ conidia/ml, P3: 10⁷ conidia/ml, P4: 10⁸ conidia/ml, P5: 10⁹ conidia/ml, with four replications, resulting in 24 experimental units. The research results showed that the application of the entomopathogenic fungus M. anisopliae was able to increase the mortality of S. frugiperda larvae compared to the control treatment, with the peak of death occurring 4 days after application. Symptoms of S. frugiperda larvae infected with M. anisopliae fungus are characterized by larvae hardening, color changing to dark green covering the body, then turning black and stiff several days after infection.