The endophytic fungi of palm oil from north Sumatera (Indonesia) and their potential as entomopathogens

Abstract

One of the biological agents used to control insect pests is Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF). EPF can be isolated from diseased insects, plant rhizosphere and endophytes in plant tissues. The study aims to obtain endophytic fungi from oil palm (Elaeis guinnensis) which have the potential as entomopathogens. Plant samples were taken in the lowland and medium oil palm centers in North Sumatra, namely oil palm plantations owned by the community in Aek Pancur Village and Sidamanik District. Samples were taken by purposive sampling. Isolation of endophytic fungi was carried out on healthy plant parts (roots, stems and leaves). Fungal pathogenicity tests (1 x 106 conidia/ ml) were carried out on Tenebrio molitor larvae. The results showed that out of 15 endophytic fungal isolates, there were 11 isolates that were entomopathogenic with the highest level of pathogenicity and mycosis being isolate EPB01 (Beauveria sp.). The identification results found 4 species of endophytic fungi that are entomopathogenic, namely Beauveria sp., Metarhizium sp., Aspergillus sp., and Trichoderma sp. It was concluded that these isolates were suitable for developing their potential against oil palm plant pests as local specific mycoinsecticides.