KARAKTERISASI JAMUR ENTOMOPATOGEN DARI AREAL RHIZOSFER TANAMAN JARAK PAGAR (Jatropha curcas L.) UNTUK MEMINIMALISIR SERANGAN ULAT GRAYAK (Spodoptera litura)

Entomopathogenic fungi from the rhizosphere area of plants can be used to control plant-disturbing organisms (OPT). Some of the advantages of using entomopathogenic fungi in controlling pests are having high reproductive capacity, short life cycle, can form long-lasting spores in nature even under unfavorable conditions, are relatively safe, are selective, are relatively easy to produce, and very little resistance is possible. This study aims to determine the characterization of entomopathogenic fungi from the area of rhizosphere of Jatropha plant and minimize the attack of armyworm. This research was conducted at the Biotechnology Laboratory of the University of Muhammadiyah Malang, carried out for 3 months starting from March 2019 to May 2019 using an analysis of Schneider-Orelli's formula and descriptive calculations. Based on the results of the study, entomopathogenic fungi were successfully isolated from soil samples of the rhizosphere area of Jatropha plant using a dilution method. The diversity of entomopathogenic fungi as many as 51 isolates were identified. The best application of entomopathogenic fungus in minimizing the attack of armyworm on Jatropha plant is Metharizium sp with a long period of caterpillar death for 3.6 days