Judul: Observation of dieback disease of  clove in Semarang and Tegal  regencies, Central Java
Abstrak: Cengkih (Syzygium aromaticum L. Merr. & Perry) merupakan tanaman rempah asli Indonesia yang memegang peranan penting dalam pembangunan perkebunan untuk peningkatan devisa negara. Di Indonesia, bunga cengkih kering digunakan terutama untuk bahan baku campuran rokok kretek dan sebagian kecil untuk keperluan industri makanan, minuman, kosmetik dan farmasi. Serangan hama dan penyakit menyebabkan terhambatnya pertumbuhan tanaman cengkih bahkan kematian pada tanaman. Hal ini dapat menurunkan kualitas dan kuantitas produktivitas cengkih. Salah satu penyakit yang menyerang tanaman cengkih dan paling merusak tanaman cengkih yaitu penyakit mati pucuk yang disebabkan oleh Bakteri Pembuluh Kayu Cengkih (BPKC). Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengamati kondisi serangan penyakit mati pucuk di lapangan dan mengetahui pengaruh praktek-praktek budidaya serta kemungkinan penyebab penyakit mati pucuk. Pengamatan dilakukan di dua kabupaten yaitu Kabupaten Semarang dan Tegal, Provinsi Jawa Tengah. Pengamatan dilakukan pada pertanaman cengkih yang berada di daerah perbukitan dan daerah sekitar pemukiman, kemudian dihitung kejadian dan keparahan gejala penyakit mati pucuk, serta mengamati keberadaan penggerek dan kanker batang. Sampel gejala penyakit mati pucuk diambil dan diamati di laboratorium untuk melihat keberadaan bakterinya. Kejadian serangan penyakit mati pucuk di Kabupaten Tegal lebih tinggi dibandingkan Kabupaten Semarang sedangkan keparahan serangan penyakit mati pucuk di Kabupaten Semarang lebih tinggi dibanding Kabupaten Tegal. Penyakit BPKC tidak hanya disebabkan oleh bakteri saja tetapi ada peran OPT lain yaitu penggerek dan kanker batang, Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum L. Merr. & Perry) is an Indonesia origin spices, has important role in the development of plantations to increase state revenues. In Indonesia, dried cloves used primarily as raw material mixture of cigarettes and a small portion for the purposes of the food industry, cosmetic and pharmaceutical. Pests and diseases causes inhibition of cloves growth and death. It can decrease the quality and quantity of cloves productivity. One of the diseases which can infect cloves is called dieback caused by Wooden Vessels Bacteria Cloves (in indonesian is BPKC). The purpose of this study were to observe the dieback disease condition in the field, and determine the influence of cultivation practices on the diseases. Observations were ca rried out in districts of Semarang and districts of Tegal in Central Java Province. Observations were made on the plantation in hilly areas and residential areas, and then were be calculated the incidence and severity of dieback symptoms. The existence of stem canker and stem borer symptoms were also observed which might be accompanied to dieback disease. Symptoms of dieback samples were detection of bacteria in the laboratory. Dieback incidence in district of Tegal is higher than the district of Semarang while dieback severity in district of Semarang is higher than the district of Tegal. Bosed on field observation and laboratory detection, the dieback symptoms on clove in those areas were not only caused by bacteria, but stem canker and stem borer were also have a role on the development of the symptoms
Keyword: cengkih, kanker, penyakit mati pucuk, serangga