Aplikasi elisitor asal gulma dalam menginduksi pertumbuhan dan resistensi tanaman cabai terhadap cekaman biotik

Abstract

Red chili (Capsicum annuum L.) is an economically important horticultural commodity widely cultivated in tropical regions. Intensive cultivation practices, however, frequently expose plants to environmental stresses, with biotic stress being the most prevalent. Sustainable pest and disease management has therefore become a priority in chili production, as mandated by Indonesian regulations that emphasize agroecosystem-based approaches and environmental conservation. One promising strategy is the utilization of weed biomass as a source of natural elicitors. Weed-derived elicitors are bioactive compounds capable of stimulating plant growth and enhancing resistance to pests and diseases while reducing dependency on synthetic inputs. This study was conducted over seven months with two main objectives: (1) to evaluate the effectiveness of weed-derived elicitors in promoting growth and inducing resistance in red chili plants, and (2) to assess their potential in reducing the use of synthetic fertilizers. The findings revealed that the application of a 2% weed elicitor solution enabled a 50% reduction in NPK fertilizer use without compromising plant growth or yield. Furthermore, treatments combining 1–3% elicitor concentrations with 50–100% of the recommended NPK dosage significantly reduced pest and disease incidence, with field infection rates ranging from 18.33% to 22.67%, classified as mild (<25%). These results highlight the potential of weed-based elicitors as a sustainable biotechnological approach for enhancing productivity and resilience in red chili cultivation.