Application of Glomus sp. and a mix of Glomus sp. with Gigaspora sp. in improving the Agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis Lamk.) seedling growth in Ultisol soil

Abstract

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) form symbiotic mutualism with the plant root, where fungi will help the host plant to absorb more nutrients and water from the soil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of two species of AMF namely Glomus sp. and Gigaspora sp. in increasing the agarwood seedling growth. The treatments were control (m0), Glomus sp. (m1), Gigaspora sp. (m2), and a mix of Glomus sp. with Gigaspora sp. (m3) with six replications arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The seeds of agarwood were germinated in sterilized sand for one month. The one-month-old seedlings were then transferred into 12 cm 19 cm polybags containing sterilized ultisol soil. During the time of transplanting, the AMF of 3oo spores per seedling were spread onto the root surface of agarwood seedling. The seedlings remained in the greenhouse for six months. Results showed that AMF increased the shoot and root fresh weights and the shoot and root dry weights. The conclusion showed that agarwood seedlings treated with Glomus sp. (m1) and a mix of Glomus sp. with Gigaspora sp. (m3) gave the highest agarwood seedling growth which indicated by the seedling height, total leaf area, fresh weight and dry weight of the shoot and root.