Combination on endophytic fungal as the Plant Growth-Promoting Fungi (PGPF) on cucumber (Cucumis sativus)

Syamsia Syamsia (Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar. Jl. Sultan Alauddin No. 259, Makassar 90222, South Sulawesi, Indonesia)
ABUBAKAR IDHAN (Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar. Jl. Sultan Alauddin No. 259, Makassar 90222, South Sulawesi, Indonesia)
AMANDA PATAPPARI FIRMANSYAH (Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar. Jl. Sultan Alauddin No. 259, Makassar 90222, South Sulawesi, Indonesia)
NOERFITRYANI NOERFITRYANI (Department of Agribusiness, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar. Jl. Sultan Alauddin No. 259 Makassar 90222, South Sulawesi, Indonesia)
IRADHATULLAH RAHIM (Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Fisheries, Universitas Muhammadiyah Parepare. Jl. Jend. Ahmad Yani Km 6., Parepare 91113, South Sulawesi, Indonesia)
HENRY KESAULYA (Department of Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Pattimura. Jl. Ir. M. Putuhena, Kampus Poka, Ambon 97233, Maluku, Indonesia)
RAKHMAD ARMUS (Department of Environmental Engineering, Sekolah Tinggi Teknologi Nusantara Indonesia. Jl. Baruga Raya, Makassar 90234, South Sulawesi, Indonesia)

Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity
Vol. 22 No. 3 (2021)

Abstract. Syamsia S, Idhan A, Firmansyah AP, Noerfitryani N, Rahim I, Kesaulya H, Armus R. 2021. Combination on endophytic fungal as the Plant Growth-Promoting Fungi (PGPF) on Cucumber (Cucumis sativus). Biodiversitas 22: 1194-1202. Endophytic fungi are known to stimulate plant growth by producing secondary metabolites, including phytohormones (IAA and Gibberellins), siderophore, phosphate-solubilizing metabolites. In this study, a total of six endophytic fungi were successfully isolated from local rice plants and showed different abilities in producing secondary metabolites, during single isolates testing. These six isolates were then combined to obtain 15 combinations for analysis, to determine the best combination for application as a plant growth promoter. Subsequently, each combination was tested for phytohormones (IAA, gibberellins) and siderophore (quantitatively)-producing activity, phosphate-solubilizing ability, and the effect on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L) plant growth. F13 showed activity in producing IAA and produced the highest gibberellin levels, while F1 exhibited the highest phosphate-solubilizing activity. In addition, F11 (Na-salicylate) and F1 (catechol) showed the highest siderophore activity, while a combination of F6, F8, F9, and F12 successfully increased plant height growth. Also, F4 increased the root growth, while the fresh weight of cucumber was increased by F8 treatment, under controlled conditions. Molecular analysis showed the tested isolates have close similarity to Daldinia eschscholtzii, Sarocladium oryzae, Rhizoctonia oryzae, Penicillium allahabadense, and Aspergillus foetidus. The combination of endophyte fungal isolates showed potential as plant growth promoters, however, further testing on several plant types is required before the combination is to be widely applied.