ABSTRACT

Eichhornia crassipes is a kind of weed species that can be used as material of woven
handicraft products for commercial purposes. Generally, the problems of using natural fiber
material for woven handicraft products especially Eichhornia crassipes that it is very
susceptible from moisture effect so that it can trigger an organisms atack like fungal attack.
One of alternative materials that can be used to maintain Eichhornia crassipes from fungal
attack is wood vinegar galam. The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of
application wood vinegar galam in the Eichhornia crassipes against fungal attack and also
to determine the optimum level concentration of wood vinegar to block the fungal attack from
Eichhornia crassipes. Model of Research using two treatments that is concentration factor
A1 (20%), A2 (25%) and A3 (30%); and soaking time factors B1 (7 hours), B2 (10 hours)
and B3 (15 hours) and also compared with the controls (0%). The results of research in the
field test showed that the intensity of fungal attack in the Eichhornia crassipes by wood
vinegar treatment from 6th week to 10th week is ranged from 2 to 31%. Whereas the untreated
Eichhornia crassipes from 6th week to 10th week ranged from 31.5 to 56%. In the laboratory
tests, the average value of weight loss due to attack by fungi Aspergillus niger and
Penicillium sp. with treatments ranging from 5.848 to 10.553% and 6.664 to 11.874% while
the untreated Eichhornia crassipes is 18.945% and 14.325%. Treatment of wood vinegar in
the Eichhornia crassipes from both field tests and laboratory tests showed significant effect
to resist fungal attack so that it can be used as a preservative Eichhornia crassipes.