Seleksi Cendawan Endofit dari Tanaman Eucalyptus urophylla Secara In Vitro

Abstract

Eucalyptus urophylla merupakan komoditas utama Hutan Tanaman Industri (HTI) di Indonesia, namun pemanfaatan cendawan endofitnya sebagai agen hayati masih sangat terbatas. Penelitian ini bertujuan menyeleksi cendawan endofit dari jaringan tanaman E. urophylla dan menguji potensinya sebagai Agen Pengendali Hayati (APH) secara in vitro. Metode seleksi meliputi uji patogenisitas, uji antagonis, uji senyawa volatil, serta uji aktivitas enzim kitinase dan protease. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan empat dari enam isolat bersifat non-patogenik (DES 2.1, DES 7.2, DES 10.1, dan DES 10.2). Persentase daya hambat antagonis mencapai 60,00–82,22%, sedangkan persentase daya hambat melalui senyawa volatil mencapai 3,41–34,14%. Aktivitas enzim kitinase terdeteksi pada seluruh isolat, namun aktivitas enzim protease hanya terdeteksi oleh isolat DES 2.1 dan DES 10.1. Secara keseluruhan, isolat DES 10.1 merupakan isolat yang paling potensial sebagai APH karena menunjukkan kemampuan antagonis yang tinggi, serta memiliki aktivitas kitinase dan protease. Mekanisme penghambatan terbukti tidak hanya melalui kontak fisik, tetapi juga melalui senyawa volatil dan degradasi dinding sel.

Eucalyptus urophylla is a major commodity for Industrial Plantation Forests (HTI) in Indonesia, yet its endophytic fungi remain underutilized as biological agents. This study aimed to select non-pathogenic endophytic fungi from E. urophylla tissues and test their potential as biological control agents through in vitro. The selection methods included pathogenicity tests, antagonistic tests, volatile compounds tests, and enzymatic chitinase and protease. Results identified four out of six non-pathogenic isolates (DES 2.1, DES 7.2, DES 10.1, and DES 10.2). The percentage of antagonistic inhibition reached 60.00 – 82.22%, while the percentage of inhibition through volatile compounds reached 3.41 – 34.14%. Chitinase enzyme activity was detected in all isolates, whereas protease enzyme activity was only found in DES 2.1 and DES 10.1. Overall, isolate DES 10.1 was found to be the most potential biological control agent, as it demonstrated high antagonistic, along with detectable chitinase and protease activities. The inhibition mechanism demonstrates does not rely solely on physical contact but also operates through volatile phase compounds and cell wall degradation.