Endophytic fungi play important role in rice protection against brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae)

Endophytic fungi has both beneficial and detrimental effect on plants. Knowledge on the role of endophytic fungi of rice in relation to associated insect pests is limited. The research aimed to investigate the diversity of endophytic fungi of rice sheath and to examine its importance in rice protection against brown plant hopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens. The fungi was isolated from 2 regencies, Cianjur and Subang -West Java, with 2 cultivars in each locations, Ciherang and Pandanwangi. Cianjur samples were differentiated in 3 level of BPH infestation i.e. zero, low and high. Some predominant fungi were further tested their activity on population growth and nymph-adult survival of BPH in a greenhouse experiment. Number of isolated fungal species, diversity index and total colonization of endophytic fungi of rice from Cianjur was higher than Subang. Diversity index and total colonization of endophytic fungi of cv. Pandanwangi was higher than of Ciherang. Three predominant fungi in free-BPH rice: Nigrospora sp.1, Nigrospora sp.2 and Nigrospora sp.3, enhanced rice resistance against BPH, indicated by decreased of nymph-adults survival, non-preference phenomenon and decreased of population growth.