Identification and Pathogenicity of Fungal Dieback Disease on Sengon (Paraserianthes falcataria (L.) Nielsen) Seedling and Rice (Oryza sativa).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Sengon (Paraserienthes falcataria (L.) Nielsen) is a plant species in forestry plantation while rice (Oryza sativa) is an agricultural crop which potentially used in the agroforestry system. Both species are susceptible to dieback disease. This study aimed to isolate and identify the dieback disease on sengon seedlings to understand the pathogenicity of fungal dieback disease on the seedlings of both sengon and rice and to observe the symptom of dieback disease both macroscopically and microscopically.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pathogenicity test was conducted in a factorial completely randomized design (CRD). The treatments were control, wounded by carborundum, inoculated with pathogen as well as inoculated with pathogen and wounded by carborundum.

RESULTS: Results revealed that the greatest percentage of dieback disease on sengon and rice was occurred on the treatment of inoculation with wound both100%. While, the greatest percentage of dieback disease intensity of sengon and rice was obtained on the treatment of inoculation with wound by 98.2 and 40.6%, respectively. The PCR result identified that the pathogen was Ceratobasidium ramicola that form imperfect state as Rhizoctonia sp.

CONCLUSION: This species of fungal pathogen is the major cause of dieback disease on sengon and rice seedlings due to seedlings death.