Potential of Phylloplane Fungi from Mangrove Plant (Rhizophora apiculata Blume) as Biological Control Agents against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense in Banana Plant (Musa acuminata L.)

Abstract

Phylloplane fungi is a non-pathogenic fungi on the leaf surface that can be used to control plant diseases caused by pathogens. One of the most damaging banana plant diseases is fusarium wilt, caused by the pathogenic fungi Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Cubense (Foc). Mangrove plant Rhizophora apiculate is widely distributed and is a high-diversity area where microorganisms that produce anti-microbial compounds flourish. This plant can be used as a biological agent. This study aims to determine the various phylloplane fungi available from mangrove plant R. apiculata leaves and their potential use against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) in banana plants (Musa acuminata L.). All 20 phylloplane fungi were identified through DNA sequencing with identities of 83.88–100%; of those 20, 3 were found that have antagonistic potential against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc): Lasiodiplodia theobromae (67.43%), Trichoderma harzianum (66.65), and Nigrospora sphaerica (65.33%). In the in vivo tests, the best inhibition of disease incidence was shown by treatment with Lasiodiplodia theobromae (11.11%). The present study confirmed that phylloplane fungi isolated from R. apiculata can inhibit fusarium wilt disease in banana plant.