Infestasi Cendawan Patogen Terbawa Benih pada Jagung Komersil

Abstract

Cendawan patogen terbawa benih dapat menurunkan produktivitas dan kesehatan benih jagung. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengidentifikasi cendawan terbawa benih jagung dan mengevaluasi tingkat patogenisitasnya. Cendawan diinkubasi dari masing-masing 400 benih yang telah dilapisi dengan fungisida metalaksil. Seluruh isolat dikarakterisasi secara morfologi dan dievaluasi patogenisitasnya secara in vitro. Dua isolat yang menyebabkan gangguan paling destruktif pada uji patogenisitas dikonfirmasi secara molekuler untuk memperoleh hasil identifikasi yang lebih akurat dengan menargetkan wilayah internal transcribed spacer (ITS) melalui teknik PCR. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa terdapat empat cendawan patogen yang menginfestasi benih jagung adalah Fusarium verticillioides, Bipolaris maydis, Aspergillus flavus, dan F. semitectum. Keempat isolat terbukti bersifat patogenik. Cendawan B. maydis dan F. verticilloides menyebabkan aborsi pada benih. Analisis molekuler berhasil spesies B. maydis dengan tingkat kemiripan genetik di atas 99%. Isolasi DNA F. verticilloides belum berhasil dan memerlukan optimasi dalam proses ekstraksinya. Berdasarkan penelitian ini, selain tetap mewaspadai bulai (Peronosclerospora maydis) sebagai patogen utama, terdapat empat cendawan lain yang perlu mendapat perhatian dan perlu ditangani selama proses produksi benih dan selama musim tanam untuk meningkatkan produktivitas jagung nasiona

Seed-borne pathogenic fungi can threaten the productivity and health of maize seeds. This study was conducted to identify maize seed-borne fungi and evaluate their pathogenicity levels. Fungi were incubated from 400 seeds, which had been coated with the fungicide metalaxyl. All isolates were characterized morphologically and evaluated for their pathogenicity in vitro. The two isolates causing the most destructive symptoms in the pathogenicity test were molecularly confirmed for a more accurate identification by targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region using the PCR technique. The results showed that there were four pathogenic fungi infesting the maize seeds, namely Fusarium verticillioides, Bipolaris maydis, Aspergillus flavus, and Fusarium semitectum. All four isolates were proven to be pathogenic. B. maydis and F. verticillioides caused seed abortion. Molecular analysis successfully identified B. maydis with sequence identity of over 99%. The DNA isolation of F. verticillioides was unsuccessful and requires optimization in the extraction process. Based on this study, in addition to remaining vigilant against downy mildew (Peronosclerospora maydis) as the main pathogen, there are four other fungi that require attention and management during the seed production process and planting season to increase national maize productivity