Potential of endophytic fungi against Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae as a causal pathogen of black necrotic lesions on Theobroma cacao
(1,2) Vietgar Membalik, (2,3) Asman, (4,5) Muhammad Yusril Hardiansyah, (2) Andi Khusnul Fatima Bahar

1. Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 4, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
2. Plant protection Study Program, Hasanuddin University, Makassar 90245, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
3. Cocoa Research Group (CRG), Faculty of Agriculture, Hasanuddin University, Makassar 90245, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
4. Global Agriculture Technology and Genomic Science, International Collage, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
5. Department of Agronomy, Hasanuddin University, Makassar 90245, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract

As one of the effective agents controlling plant pathogens in cocoa, endophytic fungi have immense potential as biocontrol agents against Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae. This fungus can cause many diseases, including leaf blight, stem canker, and pod rot. The research aimed to determine the effect of the endophytic fungi on L. pseudotheobromae on the stem of cocoa seedlings. The streaks on the observed stems are vertical (V1 and V2) and streak horizontal (H1 and H2), starting from the inoculation area. A randomized block design consisting of six treatments and three replications was used in this research, with five different fungi isolates that belong to the Aspergillus genera. The treatment is three isolates of endophytes fungi (isolate T2S2LT, T245LT, T645LT), Aspergillus isolates combination, and control (with and without pathogen). The result showed that the clone with the lowest visible bar streak average on Clone S1, while the most effective treatment in suppressing streak symptoms on stems, was the T2S2LT treatment. Endophytic fungi can potentially be an important option to control stem canker.

Keywords: Aspergillus species, Black necrotic lesions, Endophytic fungus, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Theobroma cacao

Topic: Integrated pest and disease management