IPB Students Use These Three Leaf Extracts to Suppress Viruses on Oyong Plants
Some species of Cucurbitaceae are plants that are high in nutrients. Squash mosaic comovirus (SqMV) is one of the most alarming viruses that attack the Cucurbitaceae plants including Oyong. This virus infects plants through seeds. Aside to be carried by the seed, the spread of the virus is also can happen in the field that occurs mechanically and through insect beetles.
Plants that infected by this virus will show symptoms that can be seen on the leaves and fruit. However, it also possible to show none. Symptoms indicated from the leaves are mosaic symptoms, chlorosis, blisters, curls, stiffness, size narrowing of the leaves, and deformation into more jagged form on the leaves. Symptoms are shown in the fruit such as changes of the shape of fruit and sporadic skin patterns or unformed fruit.
Generally, the control of this virus is done by using pesticides for vector insects, quarantine, and healthy seeds. Effective control is performed using resistant varieties, but there are not many resistant varieties available in the market. One other attempt that can be done is biologically through the induction of plant systemic resistance using plant extracts.
This is what underlies researchers from Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), Dr. Tri Asmira Damayanti, along with students of Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture IPB, Maharani Mustika Putri, which utilizes bougainvillea leaf extract, Celosia leaves, and Mirabilis jalapa leaves to suppress SqMV infection.
"The advantage of systemic endurance induction using plant extracts is non-phytotoxic, enhances crop growth, improves yield and is easily applied in the soil. In the previous study, the use of these three plant extracts was chosen because it could inhibit BCMV infection in long beans with a relative level of obstacles reaching 100 percent. Therefore, we tried to utilize the three plants to suppress SqMV infection, "said Dr. Tri.
In addition to the plant extracts utilization, they also use salicylic acid or aspirin as a comparison. Salicylic acid itself is able to increase plant resistance.
"It is true that our allegations, bougainvillea leaves, Celosia leaves, and Mirabilis jalapa leaves extract are more effective in suppressing SqMV infection than aspirin. However, the treatment of bougainvillea leaves extract is the best treatment in suppressing SqMV infection. Through this research, it can be concluded that by spraying three leaf extracts on Oyong is able to suppress the infection of Squash mosaic comovirus (SqMV), "he explained. (DMR)
