THE USE OF ENDOPHYTIC FUNGI AS BIOPESTICIDE AGAINST DOWNY MILDEW PERONOSCLEROSPORA SPP. ON MAIZE

Downy mildew is a major disease of maize caused by the fungus Peronosclerospora spp., widely distributed in all corn production centers in Indonesia. The disease can cause considerable losses; even total losses have been reported occurring on susceptible varieties. The purpose of the research was to determine the effectiveness of some isolates of endophytic fungi for the control of downy mildew on maize. The study consisted of four isolate treatments: Aspergillus spp., Trichoderma spp, Beauveria spp., Gliocladium spp., applied as seed treatment at planting and as flour formulation on rhizosphere 20 days after planting. Results showed that the average downy mildew disease intensity on the plots treated with Beauveria sp. was consistently lower than the control plots. The number of healthy plant was also consistently higher in the plots treated with Beauveria sp. than those in the untreated plots. Endophytism study results showed that Aspergillus spp. was not found in any part of the plant tissue. Triichoderma spp. and Beauveria spp. were found on 14% and 2% of the root pieces observed, respectively. Whereas Gliocladium spp., was reisolated from stem and leaf with the percentages of 16% and 92%, respectively. None of the tested isolates was detected in maize seed.