ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Suppression of maize downy mildew by Streptomyces hygroscopicus, Trichoderma asperellum, and Paenibacillus polymyxa
1
Department of Plant Protection, University of Lampung, Jl. Sumantri Brojonegoro No. 1, Bandar Lampung 35145, Indonesia
2
Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Lampung, Jl. Sumantri Brojonegoro No. 1, Bandar Lampung 35145, Indonesia
A - Research concept and design; B - Collection and/or assembly of data; C - Data analysis and interpretation; D - Writing the article; E - Critical revision of the article; F - Final approval of article
Submission date: 2026-06-25
Acceptance date: 2026-08-31
Online pre-proof publication date: 2026-09-11
Corresponding author
Titik Nur Aeny
Department of Plant Protection, University of Lampung, Jl. Sumantri Brojonegoro No. 1, Bandar Lampung 35145, Indonesia
Department of Plant Protection, University of Lampung, Jl. Sumantri Brojonegoro No. 1, Bandar Lampung 35145, Indonesia
HIGHLIGHTS
- Cox2 phylogeny confirmed the Lampung isolate as Peronosclerospora maydis
- All three antagonists significantly suppressed maize downy mildew
- Microbial treatments delayed symptom onset and reduced disease progress
- Application method did not affect disease suppression efficacy
- Streptomyces hygroscopicus showed the lowest disease severity and AUDPC
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
This study identified the causal agent of maize (Zea mays L.) downy mildew in Lampung and evaluated the suppressive effects of three antagonistic microorganisms. The pathogen was identified as Peronosclerospora maydis (Racib.) C.G. Shaw based on cox2 sequence and phylogenetic analyses. Streptomyces hygroscopicus (Jensen) Waksman & Henrici, Trichoderma asperellum Samuels, Lieckf. & Nirenberg, and Paenibacillus polymyxa (Prazmowski) Ash, Priest & Collins were evaluated via a seed germination assay and a greenhouse experiment with soil-drenching and foliar-spraying applications. Microbial treatments increased germination from 66.67% to 90.00–96.67% and prolonged the incubation period from 11.78 to 15.15–18.30 days. At 5 weeks post-treatment, disease severity decreased from 96.88% to 63.13–81.87%, and AUDPC decreased from 239.69 (control) to 120.31–177.81. Streptomyces hygroscopicus and T. asperellum significantly reduced final disease severity, whereas P. polymyxa showed an intermediate response. The application method had no significant effect, indicating that S. hygroscopicus and T. asperellum are promising biological control agents against maize downy mildew.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors wish to thank the Plant Disease Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Lampung, and the Food Crop and Horticulture Protection Laboratory, Gading Rejo, Pringsewu, for providing facilities and technical support. The authors also thank the Institute for Research and Community Service, University of Lampung, for partially supporting this research, as well as the laboratory staff and students who assisted with the experiments.
FUNDING
This research was partially funded by the Institute for Research and Community Service, University of Lampung, through the Professorship Research Grant, Contract No. 469/UN26.21/PN/2024, dated 24 April 2024.
RESPONSIBLE EDITOR
Zuzanna Sawińska
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors have declared that no conflict of interests exist.
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