GROWTH OF TWO LEGUME TREE SPECIES IN BIOPOT INOCULATED BY ARBUSCULA MYCORRHYZA FUNGI (AMF) Retno Prayudyaningsih, Andriyani Prasetyawati, Edi Kurniawan, Laras Murni Rahayu
Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional
Balai Penerapan Standar Instrumen LHK Makassar
Balai Pengelolaan Daerah Aliran Sungai Jeneberang dan Walanae
Abstract
Biopot is a combination of media (organic material) and containers in nursery so it is more efficient and environmentally friendly. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are soil microbes that are in symbiosis with plant roots and have been widely proven to be able to accelerate plant growth. The use of biopots and AMF inoculation is expected to produce quality seedlings that are able to survive in the marginal land. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of AMF inoculation on the growth of seedlings of 2 legume tree species, namely Enterolobium cylocarpum and Leucena leucocephala grown in biopots. The treatments applied were AMF isolates including Acaulospora sp., Gigaspora sp., Glomus sp. a mixture of the three types of AMF, and without AMF inoculation. The results showed that AMF inoculation on L. leucocephala accelerated growth in height, diameter, biomass, and AMF colonization rate compared to plants that were not inoculated with AMF. For E. cylocarpum, AMF inoculation was also able to accelerate growth in height, diameter and AMF colonization level. Meanwhile, the increase in biomass only occurred in seedlings inoculated with Gigaspora sp. and mixed AMF (Acaulospora sp., Gigaspora sp., and Glomus sp.). The type of AMF that produced the best growth increase in L. leucocephala seedlings was Acaulospora sp., while for E. cylocarpum was Gigaspora sp. Eventually, faster seedling growth will shorten nursery time. Meanwhile, the use of biopots as a medium as well as a container for seedlings will streamline time and reduce waste when planting in the field.
