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Abstract
Under the sponsorship of the ACIAR-Funded on Chili Integrated Diseases Management project in Central Java, Indonesia; a preliminary participatory trial was executed to evaluate the effect of mulch and bio fungicide to control anthracnose and other important disease in Brebes. Brebes, at the north coast of Java, is one of the most important chili pepper central production in Indonesia, with its major limiting factors for marketable yield are anthracnose, virus diseases and leaf spot. Farmers have to face a difficult problems, where District of Agricultural extension also found the most difficult questions from farmers dealing with these major diseases. Goal of Brebes trial is, to answer farmer problems on diseases for their commercial chili, since chili has a high market price. The trial introduced straw mulch application plus bio-fungicide, mainly to reduce anthracnose incidence. Mulching is a main plot, whereas bio-fungicide versus synthetic chemical fungicide as sub plot treatment. Mulch utilization exhibited delayed and reduced of virus infestation on chili in the field. Percentage of virus infestation showed lower on mulch treatment than no mulch treatment, almost 50% reduced. Mulch utilization did not affect significantly different on aphid population on chili. Bio-fungicide treatment showed non significantly different as well at 38 dap-88 dap; one these virus vector known is aphid.There was no significant different among treatments against leaf spot (Cercospora). Higher yield was achieved by mulch treated plot plus bio fungicide, and good harvest time allow chili price gave benefit to farmers. Chili plants treated by the bio-fungicide showed a similar capacity to produce chili fruit, and produced higher yield than synthetic fungicide treated plots. Mulch treatment could not reduced anthracnose diseases on chili, however, application of bio-fungicide could reduce significantly different for anthracnose disease of chili fruit compared to synthetic fungicide treatment.