Penyakit Layu Ubi Jalar (Ipomoea batatas) di Kabupaten Kuningan: Penyebab dan Hubungannya dengan Teknik Budidaya

Abstract

Sweet potatoes have great potential as an alternative food crop. However, the presence of poorly managed plant pests poses a significant threat to their cultivation. Recently, this also appeared in sweet potato areas in Kuningan Regency, West Java Province. This study aims to determine the causes of wilt disease in sweet potatoes and the effect of cultural practices on disease incidence. Data was obtained through observing symptoms in the field, calculating disease incidence and conducting interviews with farmers whose disease conditions were observed. Interviews with farmers were conducted using a structured questionnaire covering cultivation techniques, plant health problems faced, and pest and disease management practices. Meanwhile, the samples were observed using a compound microscope and a stereo microscope in the laboratory to be identified based on morphological characteristics and symptoms in the field. The field data obtained were tabulated with Microsoft Office Excel 2010 and analyzed descriptively. The observations result showed symptoms of wilting caused by the pathogen Ceratocystis fimbriata with the highest incidence of 27.4% and the lowest 0%. The diversity of insect pests was obtained by observing the land along with observing the incidence of disease. Some of sweet potato cultural practices and handling of diseased plants were related to the incidence of wilt disease. The use of cv Melati, sufficient N, P, K fertilization, and crop rotation tended to lower disease incidence. Meanwhile, plantation with intensified weeding showed higher disease incidence.