Ectomycorrhizal fungi inoculation on Shorea balangeran and Tristaniopsis obovata in peatland ecosystems

Abstract

The majority of tropical forest plants form associations with Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF). These symbiotic fungi play important roles in promoting the survivability of their host, improving their productivity, and increasing microbial biodiversity in the underground. In order to promote the survivability and the growth of two peatlands tree species (Shorea balangeran and Tristaniopsis obovata) on Central Kalimantan and South Sumatra, their seedlings were inoculated with EMF. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of EMF inoculation by identifying the EMF that colonized the root tips of Shorea balangeran and Tristaniopsis obovata using a molecular approach after 3 years of planting. The results shows that eight molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTU) were successfully identified out of twelve EMF root tips. Most of these MOTU identified as Thelephoraceae family, which is a cosmopolitan fungus in Southeast Asia forests. However, none of the inoculated EMF were detected in the root tips, indicating the occurrence of natural succession process, where native EMF in the field replacing inoculated EMF in the nursery.