Patogenesitas Cendawan Entomopatogen Metarhizium Anisopliae terhadap Spodoptera Frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji patogenesitas cendawan entomopatogen Metarhizium anisopliae terhadap mortalitas larva, pembentukan pupa, dan imago hama ulat grayak jagung Spodoptera frugiperda. Penelitian dilaksanakan di Laboratorium Mikrobiologi Fakultas MIPA Universitas Sumatera Utara pada April–Juni 2025 menggunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) dengan lima perlakuan dan empat ulangan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa aplikasi Metarhizium anisopliae dengan kerapatan 108 konidia/ml mampu menyebabkan mortalitas larva Spodoptera frugiperda hingga 100% pada 7 HSA, dengan LT50 tercapai pada hari ke-2 hingga 4. Perlakuan Metarhizium anisopliae juga menghambat pembentukan pupa dan imago secara signifikan dibanding kontrol. Hasil ini membuktikan bahwa Metarhizium anisopliae berpotensi sebagai agen hayati untuk pengendalian hama ramah lingkungan. This study aimed to evaluate the pathogenicity of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae against larval mortality, pupal formation, and adult emergence of the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda. The research was conducted at the Microbiology Laboratory, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara, from April to June 2025, using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with five treatments and four replications. The results showed that the application of Metarhizium anisopliae at a density of 108 conidia/mL was able to induce up to 100% mortality of Spodoptera frugiperda larvae at 7 days after application (DAA), with an LT50 achieved within 2 to 4 days. The Metarhizium anisopliae treatment also significantly inhibited pupal development and adult emergence compared to the control. These findings demonstrate that Metarhizium anisopliae has strong potential as a biological control agent for eco friendly pest management.