The Effect of Combined Plant Growth Regulators from Banana Corm and Mung Bean Sprout Extracts on Total Phenolics, Antioxidant Activity, and Growth of Bird’s Eye Chili (Capsicum frutescens)

Cabai rawit merupakan tanaman hortikultura bernilai gizi tinggi dan bersifat sebagai obat alami karena mengandung alkaloid, fenolik, dan capsaicin. Kandungan metabolit sekundernya berperan dalam aktivitas antioksidan. Namun, produktivitas cabai rawit di Indonesia masih rendah, sehingga diperlukan inovasi budidaya, salah satunya melalui aplikasi ZPT alami dari kombinasi ekstrak bonggol pisang dan tauge. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengevaluasi pengaruh kombinasi ZPT tersebut terhadap parameter pertumbuhan, total fenolik, dan aktivitas antioksidan tanaman cabai rawit. Metode yang digunakan adalah eksperimental dengan Rancangan Acak Kelompok (RAK) dengan enam variasi (variasi A (ekstrak bonggol pisang) (10:0), variasi B (ekstrak bonggol pisang : tauge) (8:2). variasi C (ekstrak bonggol pisang : tauge)  (6:4), variasi D (ekstrak bonggol pisang : tauge)  (4:6), variasi E (ekstrak bonggol pisang : tauge)  (2:8), variasi F (ekstrak tauge)  (10:0). dan empat kali ulangan. Parameter pertumbuhan yang diamati meliputi tinggi tanaman, jumlah daun, jumlah tunas, biomassa basah, total fenolik dan aktivitas antioksidan. Analisis data tiap parameter dilakukan menggunakan uji ragam sidik ANOVA dan uji Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) taraf 5%. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa kombinasi ZPT ekstrak bonggol pisang dan tauge berpengaruh signifikan terhadap tinggi tanaman, jumlah daun, biomassa basah, total fenolik, dan aktivitas antioksidan, namun tidak signifikan terhadap jumlah tunas. Pertumbuhan tinggi tanaman dan jumlah daun menunjukkan variasi C berpengaruh signifikan, variasi ZPT kombinasi E menghasilkan biomassa basah tertinggi sebesar 83 gram, sedangkan variasi kombinasi C (ekstrak 6:4) menghasilkan total fenolik sebesar 18,69 mgGAE/g dan aktivitas antioksidan sebesar 106,22 ppm.

Kata kunci: Ekstrak bonggol pisang, Ekstrak tauge, Cabai rawit, pertumbuhan, Total fenolik, Aktivitas Antioksidan.

                   Bird’s eye chili (Capsicum frutescens) is a horticultural crop with high nutritional value and medicinal properties due to its content of alkaloids, phenolics, and capsaicin. These secondary metabolites contribute to its antioxidant activity. However, the productivity of bird’s eye chili in Indonesia remains relatively low, thus requiring cultivation innovations—one of which involves the application of natural plant growth regulators (PGRs) derived from a combination of banana corm and mung bean sprout extracts. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of these combined natural PGRs on growth parameters, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity of bird’s eye chili plants. The research was conducted experimentally using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with six treatment variations: A (banana corm extract 10:0), B (banana corm : sprout extract 8:2), C (6:4), D (4:6), E (2:8), and F (sprout extract 10:0), each with four replications. Observed growth parameters included plant height, number of leaves, number of shoots, fresh biomass, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity. The data were analyzed using ANOVA followed by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at a 5% significance level. The results showed that the combined PGR treatments significantly affected plant height, number of leaves, fresh biomass, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity, but had no significant effect on the number of shoots. Treatment C (6:4 ratio) significantly enhanced plant height and leaf number, while treatment E produced the highest fresh biomass at 83 grams. Additionally, treatment C yielded the highest total phenolic content of 18.69 mg GAE/g and the highest antioxidant activity at 106.22 ppm.

Keyword: Banana stem extract, Bean sprout extract, Bird’s eye chili, growth, Total phenolics, Antioxidant activity.