Diversity of Airborne Fungi at Pepper Plantation Lembah Bidong, Kuala Terengganu

Piper nigrum L. is well-known as the king of spices and widely used in various field such as food and medicines. In Malaysia, 98% of pepper production comes from the state of Sarawak. The National Commodity Policy (2011-2020) targets to increase the pepper plantation area from the current 16,331 ha to 20,110 ha by year 2020. However, pepper diseases remain as a major challenge in the pepper industry. A great number of airborne fungi pathogen may contribute to a significant economic loss in pepper production. Therefore, this study aims to morphologically identify the diversity of fungi obtained from air-borne samples in a pepper planation that are capable of causing pepper plant diseases. This experiment was conducted at a pepper plantation near Lembah Bidong, Kuala Terengganu. An Andersen spore sampler was used to collect the fungi spores. Culture based identification were then made. The study resulted in the identification of four genus of fungi such as Fusarium sp, Fusarium semictectum Fusarium oxysporum, Curvularia sp., Penicillium sp. and Trichoderma sp. (Ascomycetes). Further molecular identification will confirm the species of fungal pathogens and more understanding of their population as well as severity.   Keywords: Pepper, Piper nigrum L., air-borne, fungi, Andersen spore sampler