Treatment with hypovirulent binucleate Rhizoctonia (HBNR) isolates induced systemic resistance against anthracnose infected by Colletotrichum orbiculare in cucumber, as there were no direct interaction between HBNR and C. orbiculare. This is because of the different distances between HBNR and C. orbiculare, where the root was treated with HBNR isolate and C. orbiculare was challenged and inoculated in leaves or first true leaves were treated with HBNR isolate and C. orbiculare was challenged and inoculated in second true leaves. The use of barley grain inocula and culture filtrates of HBNR significantly reduced the lesion diameter compared to the control (p = 0.05). The total lesion diameter reduction by applying barley grain inoculum of HBNR L2, W1, W7, and Rhv7 was 28%, 44%, 39%, and 40%, respectively. Similar results was also observed in treatment using culture filtrate, and the reduction of total lesion diameter by culture filtrate of HBNR L2, W1, W7, and Rhv7 was 45%, 46%, 42%, and 48%, respectively. When cucumber root was treated with culture filtrates of HBNR, the lignin was enhanced at the pathogen penetration, which is spread along the epidermis tissue of cucumber hypocotyls. Peroxidase activity in hypocotyls in the treated cucumber plant with culture filtrates of HBNR significantly increased before and after inoculation of pathogens as compared to the control. Significant enhancement was also observed in the fast-moving anodic peroxidase isozymes in the treated plants with culture filtrates of HBNR. The results showed the elicitor(s) contained in culture filtrates in HBNR. The lignin deposition as well as the peroxidase activity is an important step to prevent systemically immunised plants from pathogen infection.

Background: The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a new invasive pest in Indonesia causing financial losses. S. frugiperda larvae hide in the leaf midrib all day. To overcome the hidden larvae, pathogenic endophytic fungi are needed. The objective of this research was to molecularly identify the endophytic fungal species from South Sumatra and determine the most pathogenic species against S. frugiperda larvae. Endophytic fungal identification was based on morphological and molecular characteristics. The molecular identification was based on gene sequential analysis of Intergenic Transcribed Spacer (ITS) 1 and ITS 4. Bioassay of the endophytic fungal species was treated against the 2^nd larval instar of S. frugiperda. Result: The results of molecular identification revealed endophytic fungal species consisted of Chaetomium sp. (GaTpeOi, JgTjPr, PiCrPga, and CaCjPga isolates), Aspergillus niger (L.) Van Tieghem (PsgTjPr, JgByU, and JaBuBys), Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (JgSPK, JaGiP, JaSpkPGA(2), JgCrJr, and JaTpOi (1) isolates), Curvularia lunata (Wakker) Boed. (JaGiPRB, CMTJP, JaMsBys, JaSpkPga(3), and JgTgSr isolates), Aspergillus flavus Link. (JgPWSR isolate), Penicillium citrinum Thom F 1539 (JaTpOi(2) isolate), and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschn.) Sorokin (CaTpPGA isolate). All fungal isolates were deposited in the GenBank. The endophytic fungal species of B. bassiana (JgSPK isolate) caused up to (22.67%) mortality, C. lunata (JaSpkPga(3) isolate) caused (17.33%) mortality, and M. anisopliae (CaTpPga isolate) caused (8%) mortality of the pest’s larvae. First report of B. bassiana and C. lunata isolated from maize (Zea mays L.), while M. anisopliae was isolated from red chili (Capsicum annuum L.) as entomopathogenic endophytic fungi against S. frugiperda larvae in Indonesia. Conclusion: The endophytic fungi species of B. bassiana, C. lunata, and M. anisopliae had potentials as entomopathogens of S. frugiperda.

Wilt disease with unknown etiology causes mass mortality in commercialAcacia mangiumnurseries in South Sumatra. This pathogen induces symptoms of chlorosis in the lower leaves and develops into the shoots; subsequently, the plants wither and die. This research identifies the pathogenic species causing this wilt disease and to assess its pathogenicity or virulence. Fifteen isolates ofFusarium oxysporumwith varying colony sizes and color pigments were recovered from symptomaticA. mangiumseedlings. The pathogenicity test showed that all isolates could infect plants with wilt severity reaching 80%, and the pathogen was verified as causing vascular disease. Koch’s postulate was verified by re-isolating theF. oxysporumisolates. The pathogen was confirmed by observing the morphological characters and elongation factor 1-α(tef1-α)gene sequences asF. oxysporum.

Herlinda S, Octariati N, Suwandi S, Hasbi. 2020. Exploring entomopathogenic fungi from South Sumatra (Indonesia) soil and their pathogenicity against a new invasive maize pest, Spodoptera frugiperda. Biodiversitas 21: 2955-2965. Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is a new invasive maize pest in Indonesia that can cause maize yield losses of 18 million tons/year. To overcome the pest, local-specific entomopathogenic fungi are needed. This study aimed to explore entomopathogenic fungi from soil in South Sumatra and to determine their pathogenicity against S. frugiperda larvae. The fungi exploration was carried out in the lowlands and highlands of South Sumatra and the pathogenicity of obtained isolates were tested against the third instar larvae. The entomopathogenic fungi found were Metarhizium spp. and were successfully isolated as many as 14 isolates. All of the isolates were pathogenic to S. frugiperda larvae (70.67−78.67% mortality), the most pathogenic caused 78.67% mortality and significantly suppressed the emergence of adults up to 81.2%. Unhealthy larvae had a dry, shrunken, shrinking, odorless body, and its integument was covered in mycelia and conidia like yellowish-white powdery mixed with dark green. The unhealthy pupae and adults were in the abnormal and malformation shape. The abnormal pupae were shorter in size, bent, the to-be wings got wrinkled, and darker color, while the unhealthy adults had folded wings and were unable to fly. The two most pathogenic isolates were found from the lowland (PirOI) and highland (CasPsPGA) soil of South Sumatra. In conclusion, both of these isolates had the potential to be developed into local-specific mycoinsecticides to control pest insects in the highlands and/or lowlands in Indonesia.

Gustianingtyas M, Herlinda S, Suwandi. 2021. The endophytic fungi from South Sumatra (Indonesia) and their pathogenicity against the new invasive fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. Biodiversitas 22: 1051-1062. Maize in Indonesia is currently experiencing attacks and outbreaks of the new invasive fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. The S. frugiperda larvae emerge from the leaf midrib when eating, after hiding in the maize stalk so that it is difficult to control by contact. This study aimed to find out the endophytic fungi from the roots of maize, banana and chili in South Sumatra and to determine their pathogenicity against S. frugiperda larvae. The endophytic fungi were isolated from the plant roots. Fungal isolates proven to be endophytic were dropped (1 × 106 conidia mL−1) on the second instar larvae. The result showed that the endophytic fungi found were 8 isolates consisting of the genus, Aspergillus sp., Beauveria sp., Chaetomium sp., and Curvularia sp. First report of Aspergillus sp., Chaetomium sp., and Curvularia sp. have insecticidal activity against S. frugiperda larvae. However, the two most pathogenic isolates were JgCrJr and JgSPK isolates of Beauveria sp. with larval mortality of 29.33% and 26.67%, respectively, and could reduce the emergence of S. frugiperda adults up to 44%. So, the two isolates of Beauveria sp. have a high potential to be developed to control S. frugiperda larvae in maize both in the lowlands and the highlands.