Exploration of the indigenous rhizosphere fungi as corncob waste decomposers and its potential as biological agent Fusarium graminearum and increase corn growth

Abstract

Corncob waste can be used as compost; corncob compost that microbial decomposers have composted positively affects soil and plants. The objectives of this study are 1). It was obtaining the type of fungi from the corn rhizosphere that acts as a decomposer of corncob waste and 2) knowing the potential of corncob waste compost in suppressing F. graminearum, which causes stem rot on corn and increasing plant growth. The designs used for the two steps of the study were: Randomized Block Designs with ten treatments and four replication. The first step is using the rhizosphere fungi isolates for composting corncob waste. The second step is testing corncob composted by ten different types of rhizosphere fungi to suppress corn stem rot caused by F. graminearum. Parameters observed in the first step were: the number of conidia and the number of propagules of rhizosphere fungi in corncobs compost. The third step was: Incubation period, disease incidence, disease severity, number of dead plants, and plant growth. The result of the research indicated that the corn rhizosphere obtained 15 isolates of fungi that varied the color, shape of the colony, and growth rate. The highest number of propagules was found in compost decomposed by rhizosphere fungi RF4, while the number of conidia classified as high was found in RF4, Rf, and RF6 compost. All corncob compost decomposed by rhizosphere fungi was able to suppress stem rot disease caused by F. graminearum.