Seedling Growth and Mineral Uptake of Eucalyptus pellita with Different Mycorrhizal Inoculants in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia
Heung-Kyu Moon1 and Nelly S. Aggangan2*

1Research and Development Research, PT Korintiga Hutani (KTH) Camp Pelita, Desa Nanga Mua Kab Kotawaringin Barat 74152 Kalimantan Tengah, Indonesia;  2National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH), University of the Philippines Los Baños, 4031 College, Laguna, Philippines. *Corresponding author, nellysaggangan@gmail.com

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the response of Eucalyptus pellita cuttings to different mycorrhizal inoculants from the Philippines as compared with ectomycorrhizal fungi collected under E. pellita plantations in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Shoot tips (2-3 inches) of eucalypts were collected from the seedlings orchard, dipped in rooting hormone, inserted in rooting materials and then incubated under mist system. After 2 wk, the rooted cuttings were transferred into containers filled with soil. During seedling transfer to individual container, they were inoculated with the following mycorrhizal inoculants: KTH (contains spores of Scleroderma and Pisolithus sp. native in Kalimantan, Indonesia), MYKOVAM®, MYKORICH®, MYKOCAP®, MYCOGROETM, MYCOGROETM+MYKORICH® and MYKORICH®+MYKOCAP® from the Philippines following the recommended dosages as stated in the label. Results showed that Mykocap® and MYCOGROETM+MYKORICH® inoculated plants were 51 and 49%, respectively, taller than the control (8.86 cm). In terms of mineral components, highest total plant N, K, Mg, Fe, and Mn uptakes were observed in plants inoculated with MYCOGROETM+MYKORICH®. MYKORICH® alone gave the highest percent increase in total plant uptakes of B (86%), Cu (76%) and Zn (104%). The results clearly showed that growth and mineral composition of E. pellita were greatly improved by inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi particularly by MYCOGROETM+MYKORICH® , which is a combination of ectomycorrhiza and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

Keywords: arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, ectomycorrhizal fungi, mineral elements