Diversity of fungal community associated with cacao (Theobromae cacao L.) top clones from Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.), one of the most significant smallholder commodities in Indonesia, is mainly planted in the Sulawesi island of Indonesia. The new paradigm approach for improving plant health is the use of indigenous microbes which associates with cocoa tree. One of microbial communities is endophytic fungi. The research aimed to identify of fungal endophyte of cocoa top clones Sulawesi. A total of 27 isolates of fungi was isolated from two clones and three areas; 11 isolates from East Luwu area (MCC-02 Clone was six; Sulawesi-2 (S-2) was five), seven isolates from North Luwu area (MCC-02 clone was four; Sulawesi-2 (S-2) was three), Nine isolates from Bantaeng area (MCC-02 was three; Sulawesi-2 (S-2) was six). The isolates belonged to genera Penicillium (two isolates), Aspergillus (five isolates), Geotrichum (two isolates), Sordaria, Lasiodiplodia, Myrothecium, Monilia, Colletotrichum, dan and five isolates that have not been identified as not showing conidia on media of PDA. The result revealed that fungi associated with cacao was diverse and every clone and cocoa producing area shows different diversity of fungi. The endophytic fungi were potential to be biological control for controlling cacao diseases.