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Entomopathogenic fungi have the potential to infect most arthropods including termites which are economically important major insects pest of wood, wood products and building structures. However, the application of this fungus in the field has not shown satisfactory results yet, one of which is constrained in mass production of conidia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate 16 types of biodegradable products and waste as substrates for mass production of conidia using solid state fermentation method and two types of inoculum namely solid and liquid inoculum. Toxicity tests were carried out on subterranean termites ( Coptotermes sp.) based on JIS K 1571, 2010. The parameters observed were the number and dry weight of the conidia produced, conidial viability, nutrient content of the substrate, and percentage of termite mortality. The results showed that rice, sorghum and corn were the best media for the growth of entomopathogenic fungi based on the number of conidia and dry weight of the conidia produced. Metarhizium sp. T4.B23 produced the highest number of conidia, 1.12 x 10 11 conidia/100 g substrate and yielded 180.9 ± 0.623 g dry conidia/kg of rice; followed by Metarhizium sp. B2.2 grown on sorghum that resulted in 1.11 x 10 10 conidia/100 g substrates and 8 ± 0.570 g /kg sorghum; and B. bassiana produced 8.3 x 10 9 conidia/100 g substrate and 31.24 ± 0.407 gr/ kg sorghum. Metarhizium sp. B2.2 showed the highest toxicity to termites with 100% mortality was observed within the second day of testing. Therefore the conidia of Metahizium sp. B2.2 is potential to be developed as a biopesticide using rice or sorghum substrate as a carrier.

The wood-rot fungus is one of the most destructive organisms for wood, wood products and building structures besides termites and beetles. Until today, wood-root fungi are still difficult to control, so it is necessary to search for new natural ingredients to be developed as wood preservatives. The purpose of this study was to screen some plant extracts from the area surrounding Lake Toba as anti-wood-rot fungi. This study evaluated antifungal properties of 6 different plant extracts dissolved in methanol against 9 species of wood-rot fungi. The activity was determined using the method of Mohareb [1] by growing the fungi on PDA supplemented with the plant extracts. Parameters observed included diameter of fungal growth and inhibition percentage of fungal growth by plant extracts. Extracts of Tithonia diversifolia, Chromolaena odorata, Saurauia bracteosa dan Azadirachta indica displayed extraordinary activity in inhibiting the growth of wood rot, up to 100%, therefore these plant extracts have the potential to be further investigated as wood rot control agent.

The purpose of this study was to apply microbial suspension of which formulated as bio-insecticide to observe its effectiveness in controlling insect pest on chili plants, Capsicum annum L. The efficacy of bio-insecticide was evaluated based on potential entomopathogenic microorganisms used in the microbial suspension. The bio-insecticide consisted of entomopathogenic fungal and bacterial suspensions. The experiment was carried out in chili cultivation area in Situ Gede, Bogor. The application used spray method with multiple various doses. The observation showed that the plant treated with spore suspensions of entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium sp. T4B23, B2-2, and cell suspensions of entomopathogenic bacteria Bt + SP4, were able to resist against insect pests, such as whitefly, grasshopper, and armyworm. In addition, the treated plant had more vigorous growth and yield than the control treatment.