Growth and Nutrient Status of Kayu Kuku [ Pericopsis mooniana (Thw.) Thw] with Mycorrhiza in Soil Media of Nickel Post Mining Site.

BACKGROUND: Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi are categorized as phytoremediant and increase the tolerance of plants under condition of heavy metal pollution. Effectiveness of AMF is determined very much by species of AMF, plant species and environmental condition. Therefore, testing the effect of local AMF on growth and absorption of nutrients and metal by Pericopsis mooniana planting stocks in growing media which are heavily polluted by heavy metal, need to be conducted. METHODOLOGY: There were testing of 6 inoculums of local AMF which were isolated from rhizosphere of P. mooniana, namely AMF from district of Kolaka (Lamedai Nature Reserve, Tanggetada Natural Forest, Bali Jaya Village Plantation Forest and PT. Vale Indonesia Tbk) and from Kendari town (Campus environment of Halu Oleo University and Office of Southeast Sulawesi Governor). Besides the 6 local AMF, there were treatment without AMF (control) and treatment with mycofer as comparison. RESULTS: Results showed that local AMF were effective in increasing growth and biomass of plants; absorption of C, N, P and K in three parts of the plants; Ca in stems and leaves and of Mg in leaf tissues; increasing formation of plant's root nodules and were able to reduce Ni content in tissues of kayu kuku planting stocks. Effects of local AMF from Lamedai nature reserve and AMF from PT. Vale Indonesia were greater as compared with those of mycofer IPB. Content of Ni in kayu kuku plant tissue was found more in roots as shown by the value of TF<1. CONCLUSION: Based on this study, kayu kuku is categorized as excluder species (TF<1) and moderate species toward Ni (>50 mg Ni/kg of plant dry weight) and possessed very high dependence on AMF (MIE >75%). Local AMF are potential to be developed as biological fertilizer to improve planting stocks for rehabilitation of degraded land.

Diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in the Growth Habitat of Kayu Kuku (Pericopsis mooniana Thw.) In Southeast Sulawesi.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) are categorized as fungi which have symbioses with terrestrial plants and are distributed in various habitat types. The objectives of this research were to investigate the diversity of AMF in stands of kayu kuku (Pericopsis mooniana Thw.) in Southeast Sulawesi. Collection of samples of soil and root were conducted in six locations. Isolation of spores used the method of wet sieving and decanting, whereas AMF identification was conducted by observing morphology of AMF spores. Parameters of AMF diversity, namely species richness, diversity index, dominance index, evenness index and colonization were studied using method of infected root length. Research results showed that location differences affected significantly the spore density and parameters of AMF diversity, except colonization of AMF (p < 0.116). Location around the Governor office showed the highest number of spores (208.6 spores/100 g of soil). Soil chemical properties, such as C, N, P and heavy metal contributed towards AMF spore density and diversity. Soil C and N correlated negatively with spore density. In terms of location, Glomeraceae constituted the genera with the largest number of species and possessed wide distribution in all research locations. In general, natural forest has higher AMF diversity index (Shannon-Weiner diversity index-H'), evenness (E) and species richness (S) as compared with location of PT. Vale Indonesia Tbk.