Symptoms of Aphid Infestation on Oil Palm Plants in the Main Nursery at the Experimental Garden of Politeknik Negeri Sriwijaya, Banyuasin Campus.

Abstract

Aphids are small insects that feed on plant sap and serve as pests as well as vectors for diseases and viruses in plants. The objective of this research is to identify the symptoms of aphid infestation and the damage caused by this pest in the main nursery operation conducted at the Experimental Garden of Politeknik Negeri Sriwijaya, Banyuasin campus. This study was carried out from February to April 2024. The observed variables include plant height, stem diameter, and the length of the 5th and 6th leaf stalks. The results of this research indicate that the symptoms of infestation manifest as color changes in the leaves. The affected leaves exhibit pale yellow spots or streaks. The pest population increased significantly during the observation period, particularly from days 15 to 20. This pest attack resulted in an average reduction in plant height of 25.76 cm, with a height range of 21.5 to 31.5 cm. Additionally, there was an average decrease in stem diameter of 0.81 cm, with a diameter range of 0.45 to 1.15 cm. However, the infested plants displayed a longer length of the 5th leaf stalk compared to non-infested plants, averaging 13.87 cm, with a length variation between 5 to 23.2 cm.