Exploration of Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizae (VAM) chili plants in various field types in Indonesia: A case study in Kolaka Regency, and their relationship with Fusarium oxysporum wilt disease

Abstract

The symbiotic relationship between mycorrhizal fungi and plant roots provides benefits to the host plant. Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum, is the most common disease on chili (Capsicum annuum), resulting in production losses of up to 50%. Until now, efforts to control wilt disease still rely on chemical control which has a negative impact on the environment.The purpose of this study was to examine the existence and number of Mycorrhizal spore morphology surrounding the roots of chili plants in three different types of fields in Kolaka Regency, as well as their relationship to Fusarium wilt. Plants were sampled from numerous chili farms in Kolaka Regency for this study, and the samples will be identified at the Plant Disease Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Hasanuddin University, Makassar.The proportion of infection, the amount of spores in the soil, and the incidence of fusarium wilt in chili were all measured. Mycorrhizae were found to infect chili roots and increase the amount of spores in three separate fields of chili plants. This demonstrates a link between mycorrhizae and chili roots, as well as the presence of spores in the soil and the kind of spores, Glomus sp. and Gigaspora sp.The interaction between mycorrhizae and Fusarium oxysporum disease in chili plants, namely suppressing the acceleration rate of Fusarium oxysporum disease is said to occur but is considered low. Different field types significantly affect the characteristics of mycorrhizae and the growth of chili plants, especially those that are attacked by Fusarium oxysporum. The field type with the least spores were found in Sani- Sani Village, Samaturu District, Kolaka Regency.