Peningkatan Pertumbuhan dan Pengendalian Rebah Kecambah Bibit Cabai Menggunakan Teknologi Agens Hayati pada Berbagai Ketinggian Tempat

Pengunaan agens hayati dalam perlakuan benih cabai merupakan alternatif pengendalian penyakit tular tanah berupa penyakit rebah kecambah yang disebabkan oleh berbagai cendawan pathogen tanah. Penelitian ini bertujuan (1) mengkaji keefektivan agens hayati dalam perkecambahan dan pertumbuhan bibit cabai besar dan (2) dan pengaruhnya terhadap pengendalian penyakit damping off di persemaian cabai pada berbagai ketinggian tempat. Penelitian ini terdiri dari tiga lokasi percobaan, (1) ketinggian tempat satu/KT I (947 m dpl) pada bulan Juni-September 2019 di lahan petani Desa Bumijawa, Kecamatan Bumijawa, Kabupaten Tegal, (2) ketinggian tempat dua/KT II (61 m dpl) pada bulan Juni-September 2019 di Desa Jembayat Kecamatan Margasari Kabupaten Tegal, dan (3) ketinggian tempat tiga/KT III (891 m dpl) pada bulan September-Desember 2020 di Desa Tuwel Kecamatan Bojong Kabupaten Tegal. Penelitian ini menggunakan rancangan acak kelompok satu faktor yaitu teknik pembibitan berupa konvensional dan teknologi agens hayati. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan aplikasi teknologi agens hayati terbukti secara nyata efektif meningkatkan perkecambahan (indeks vigor) dan pertumbuhan bibit cabai. Teknologi agens hayati mampu mengendalikan penyakit damping off pada kemunculan pertama penyakit dan kejadian penyakit di dataran rendah (KT II). Teknologi agens hayati direkomendasikan dalam teknik pembibitan cabai.Biological agents in chili pepper nursery is an alternative for controlling soil borne diseases, i.e. the damping off caused by soilborne pathogenic fungi. This study aimed (1) to examine the effectiveness of biological agents in germination and growth of chili seeds and (2) their effectiveness in controlling damping off disease chili in nurseries at various altitudes. This research consisted of three experimental locations, (1) the first place/KT I (947 meters above sea level) in June-September 2019 in Bumijawa Village farmer's land, Bumijawa District, Tegal Regency, (2) second place/KT II (61 meters above sea level) in June-September 2019 in Jembayat Village, Margasari District, Tegal Regency, and (3) the third place/KT III (891 meters above sea level) in September-December 2020 in Tuwel Village, Bojong District, Tegal Regency. This study used a one-factor randomized block design, that is conventional nursery techniques and biological agent technology. The results showed that the application of biological control technology is effective in increasing germination (vigor index) and growth (plant height) of chili pepper seedlings. Biological control technology was able to control damping-off disease, indicated by delay of disease onset, and disease incidence reduction in the lowlands (KT II). Biological control technology is recommended in chili pepper nursery techniques