Efek Aplikasi Mikoriza Dan Chitosan Dalam Upaya Peningkatan Produksi Cabai Rawit Varietas Bara

Low productivity of cayenne pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.) is often caused by high disease incidence. The application of biological agents like mycorrhizae and chitosan offers a promising strategy for sustainable intensification. This study aimed to evaluate the synergistic effects of mycorrhizae and chitosan on the growth, yield, and disease resistance of cayenne pepper var. Bara. A field experiment was conducted from April to July 2023 in Batu, Indonesia, using a factorial Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The first factor was mycorrhizal dosage (M: 0, 5, and 10 g/plant ), and the second was chitosan concentration (C: 0, 4, 8, and 12 mL/L). Results showed a significant interaction (P 0.05) between mycorrhizae and chitosan on most vegetative and generative parameters. The treatment M2C3 (10 g/plant mycorrhizae + 12 mL/L chitosan) yielded the best performance, producing 8.03 t ha⁻¹, a 204% increase compared to the control (2.64 t ha⁻¹). This combination also significantly enhanced plant height, leaf count, and biomass. While no statistical interaction was found for disease incidence, both agents individually reduced disease severity. This study demonstrates a strong synergistic effect between soil-applied mycorrhizae and foliar-applied chitosan, highlighting its potential for significantly boosting cayenne pepper production.