The Inhibition of Aspergillus flavus by Endophytic Fungi isolated from Calabash Tree (Crescentia cujute L.) In Vitro

The contaminant fungus Aspergillus flavus is a producer of Aflatoxin compounds, where this fungus is a saprophytic fungus that can grow anywhere and damage seeds in storage. Endophytic fungi are one of the efforts that are used as biological agents to inhibit the growth of aflavus-producing aflatoxin, because of their ability to produce antifungal secondary metabolites. Utilization of healthy majapahit leaves as host plants for endophytic fungi can produce antimicrobial compounds. This study aims to determine the antagonistic activity of the endophytic fungus from Majapahit leaves against A. flavus contaminants in peanuts. This research was conducted at the Production Laboratory of the Department of Agroecotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture. This study used a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) non -factorial consisting of five treatments and four replications. Thus, twenty experimental units were obtained. The parameters observed in this study were the growth rate of the endophytes, morphological identification from macroscopic and microscopic properties, as well as the inhibition test using the multiple culture method. The results obtained from the isolation of endophytic fungi from Majapahit leaves, namely Pestalotia sp, Fusarium sp, Collectotrichum sp, Curvularia sp, Rhizoctonia sp. All of these isolates were then tested for their antagonist against A. flavus contaminants. The highest inhibition test results by Rhizoctonia sp, namely 45.9% and the lowest inhibition by Pestalotia sp, namely 42.5%.