Dyah Rini Indriyanti, Indah Budi Damayanti, Ning Setiati, Yoris Adi Maretta
Oryctes rhinoceros is one of the major pest of palm oil in Indonesia. The entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae is a potential biocontrol agent of O. rhinoceros larvae. This study aimed to investigate the mortality and tissue damage of O. rhinoceros larvae infected by M. anisopliae using four different dosages. Forty eight larvae were used in this study. The larval mortality was observed for 12 days. Four samples of infected larvae with different levels of tissue damage were taken and made into a microscopic object. The result showed that various dosages of M. anisopliae resulting in different periods of larval mortality. The black spot in the integument of O. rhinoceros larvae was an early symptom of M. anisopliae infection. Eventually, the mycelia spread out from the larval body to the integument surface and form green conidia which searching for a new host. M. anisopliae cause O. rhinoceros larvae mortality occurred on 2nd - 12th day (P3), while P1 and P2 treatment took more than 12 days to die. The beneficial dose was P3 (4 g M. anisopliae + 100 g manure). The infection of M. anisopliae in O. rhinoceros larvae was characterized by brown spots (melanization); mummify symptoms (mummification), the appearance of white mycelium (mycoses), and dark green conidia in the final stage. © 2006-2018 Asian Research Publishing Network (ARPN).
Biology Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Sciences, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia; Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia Bendan Ngisor Campus Semarang, Indonesia
