[POD BORER ATTACK ON SIX SOYBEAN VARIETIES AND THEIR EFFECTS ON YIELD]. This study aims to determine the level of pod borer attack on six soybean varieties and their effects on yields. This research was conducted from December 2017 to March 2018 in the Experimental Field of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bengkulu, Kandang Limun Village, Muara Bangkahulu District, Bengkulu City. The experimental design used was a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with the treatment of six soybean varieties (Demas, Argomulyo, Dega, Ringing, Echo, and Dena I) and was repeated 4 times so that there were 24 experimental units. The results showed that the percentage of pod attack on the Demas, Argomulyo, Ringing, Gema, and Dena I varieties was classified as resistant, while the Dega variety was relatively resistant. Whereas the percentage of seed attack in all soybean varieties tested was classified as resistant. Argomulyo varieties have higher resistance to pod borer attack than other varieties because they produce the highest number of trichomes, and the lowest number of larvae per plant. Argomulyo variety produces the highest number of seed weight per plant, and the highest seed weight per plot. The echo variety produces the highest number of total pods, while the Dega variety produces the highest weight of 100 seeds.

Lima bean pod borer (LBPB), Etiella zynckenella Trietschke, is major insect pest of soybean in Indonesia. Currently it was also reported attacking groundnut in some parts of Sumatera causing serious yield loss. Insecticide treatment is not only ecologically unsafe, but also is not practical due to concealed behavior of the larvae within pods below soil surface. Systemic insecticide might be so but unsafe as it might leave unaccepted residue in harvested pods. It is clear that safer more effective technology such as biological control is badly needed. A Field study was conducted at the University of Bengkulu Research Station in 2012-2013. The objectives was to determine the effectiveness of non local strain of entomopathoegen nematode (EPN), Sterinenema carpocapsae, to control LBPB attacking groundnut. Groundnut seeds were sewed in plots which were later treated with S. carpocasae produce by Biological Control Laboratory University of Jember at the dose of 500.000 JI m-2. EPN was sprayed upon plants and soil surface twice at plant age of 45 and 65 days after sewing (DAS). There were insecticide treatment and control plots as comparison. Observations of damaged pods and the presence of LBPB larvae were done at plant age of 63, 77, 90 DAS and at the haevesting date. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and the means of damaged pods were separated with least significant different (LSD). The result revealed that in two years study, damaged pods consistently tended to be less in plots treated with S. carpocasae or insecticide than those in controls, indicating that it might be effective against PLPB. The lack of significant different between EPN treated and control plots might be as a result of low percentages of EPN larval survival due shipment problem (i.e. inappropriate packaging and long transportation that toke several days) or it might be that the strain was less adapted yet to local conditions. I speculate that local strain of EPN might be more effective to control LBPB attacking groundnut.

Evaluation of various natural diets for mass rearing of Spodoptera frugiperda J.E Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).Spodoptera frugiperda is one of the pests that attack corn in Indonesia. This study aimed to evaluate the most suitable dietfor rearing of S. frugiperda from various natural diets. The study was conducted in vitro. The treatments were consisted ofvariation on S. frugiperda natural diets, such as maize leaf, green mustard leaf, water spinach, sweet potato leaf, sugar caneleaf, and soybeans leaf. The observed variables were life cycle period, pupa size, and pupa weight. The results showed thatthe shortest life cycle period was on corn leaves diet (40.92 days), and the longest was on sugarcane leaves (45.01 days). Thelongest size of pupa were S. frugiperda on mustard leaves diet (12.86 mm) and corn leaves (12.56 mm), The heaviest pupaweights were observed in S. frugiperda on mustard leaves diet (0.18 mg), and corn leaves (0.16 mg). Based on the data, it couldbe concluded that corn leaves were the most suitable type of diet for the growth and development of S. frugiperda.