DefinePK

Abstract

ABSTRACT One of the main pests in sugarcane is white grub Lepidiota stigma, which can reduce production by up to 60%. Chemical pesticides, though commonly used, pose risks like pest resistance and environmental harm. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) offer a sustainable alternative, effectively controlling pests through symbiosis with toxin-producing bacteria. This study aims to identify species and the pathogenicity of entomopathogenic nematodes from various locations of sugarcane cultivation in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, against white grub consisting of young instars (instars 1 and 2) and old instars (instars 3 and 4). The pathogenicity study used a two-factor, completely randomized design (CRD) + 1 control without EPNs. The first factor was the origin of EPN isolates (Madukismo, Banyuroto, and Jangkang Ayu), and the second was white grub instar (young and old). Data were analyzed using a 5% level of variance and continued with a 5% DMRT test. Species identification was performed molecularly using PCR techniques with the D2A/D3B primers in the 28s rDNA region. The results showed that entomopathogenic nematode isolates from Madukismo, Banyuroto, and Jangkang Ayu sugarcane cultivation sites had pathogenicity that was not significantly different from L. stigma white grubs. EPN treatment on young instars of white grubs caused higher mortality than old instars, with a mortality value of 44.44% (15 days after application). The LT50 value in the treatment of isolate origin and white grub instar ranged from 13.33 to 16.48 days. Based on molecular identification, EPN from Madukismo was identified as Metarhabditis amsactae.