Control of bacterial leaf blight disease in several varieties of rice plants (Oryza sativa L.) by using bacteria of Paenibacilus polymyxa Mace

Bacterial Leaf Blight Disease caused by bacteria Xanthomonas oryzae pv. Oryzae is an endemic disease found in all rice plantation in Indonesia. The bacteria infects plants from the vegetative to generative phase and is able to reduce production by up to 30%. Most of farmers control the disease by using chemical pesticides that cause pollution to the environment. While this study offers control by using biological pesticides with the bacteria Paenibacilus polymyxa Mace. The research aims to control Bacterial Leaf Blight Disease using P. polymyxa Mace in several varieties of rice plants (Oryza sativa L.) as well as to obtain effective concentrations of P. polymyxa Mace Bio agent to control Bacterial Leaf Blight Disease. Experiments were conducted using Split-plot design with 3 (three) replication. The main plot was the Concentration of P. Polymyxa Mace consist of 4 levels, they were P0=Control/Untreated, P1=2.5 mL.L-1 water, P2=5 mL.L-1 water, P3=7.5 mL.L-1 water, and as a Sub Plot was a Variety (V) consist of 3 levels, they were V1=Cibogo Variety, V2=Mekongga Variety, V3=Ciherang Variety. The results showed that that the Mekongga variety is the most resistant variety to the pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. Oryzae. The use of P. Polymyxa Mace as biological agents effective to control Bacterial Leaf Blight caused by the pathogen X oryzae pv. Oryzae on several rice plant varieties (Oryza sativa L.), and the best concentration of P. Polymyxa Mace to control Bacterial Leaf Blight disease was 5 mL.L-1 water.