EFFECT OF THE NUMBER OF DOSAGES IN THE APPLICATION OF Beauveria Bassiana CONTROLLING SANGIT PUMPKIN IN RICE PLANTS

ABSTRACT
MUNADI, this research is entitled " The Effect of Different Application Doses of Beauveria
bassiana in Controlling Rice Bug (Leptocorisa acuta) on Rice Plants" Advisor I. Nanik Lutfiyah,
S.Si., M.Si. and II. Agus Fahmi, S.P., M.Si.
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a major carbohydrate source for a significant portion of the global
population, including Indonesia, where nearly 95% of the population consumes rice as a staple
food. The demand for rice continues to rise with the increasing population. One of the major
challenges in rice cultivation is pest infestation, particularly the rice bug (Leptocorisa acuta),
which can cause substantial damage to crops. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of
different doses of the biological agent Beauveria bassiana in controlling the rice bug
population in rice plants. The research was conducted at the UPT Plant Protection and
Horticulture Mojokerto, from January to December 2023. A Completely Randomized Design
(CRD) was used, with four treatment groups of Beauveria bassiana concentrations: P0 (no
treatment), P1 (9 ml/L), P2 (12 ml/L), and P3 (15 ml/L), each repeated four times, resulting in
16 experimental units. The results showed that the application of Beauveria bassiana
effectively reduced the rice bug population. Mortality started at 5 days after application (DAA)
for P2 and P3, while mortality for P1 occurred at 6 DAA. The fastest mortality was observed
in P3 (15 ml/L), followed by P2 (12 ml/L), and P1 (9 ml/L), while no mortality was observed
in P0. Infected rice bugs showed signs of mummification, with their bodies hardening and
being covered with white fungal mycelium. Based on the findings, the optimal dose for
controlling rice bugs was 15 ml/L. Further field studies are recommended to assess the
effectiveness of Beauveria bassiana in controlling pest populations under varying
environmental conditions.
.Key words : Rice, Beauveria bassiana, Leptocorisa acuta