Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and different composition of growing medium on growth and production of potato seed cultivars Medians in Inceptisols Jatinangor

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) has been known can increase the productivity of many crops including potatoes. Growing medium is also vital for the growth of potatoes, especially in medium-high land. Good combination of AMF and growing medium is expected to improve the physical and biological soil properties and increase growth and seed production. An experiment aimed to evaluate the effect of AMF and different media composition on growth and yield of potato seeds G2 cultivars Medians in medium land has carried out at Jatinangor, Indonesia. The experiment used randomized block design with treatments: growing medium (soil + compost (2: 1), soil + compost + cocopeat (2:1:1), and soil + compost + charcoal husk (2: 1: 1); and AMF (without and with AMF). Results showed that there was interaction effect between AMF and composition of growing medium on percentage of stolon formed into tuber and weight of potato tubers per plant. Treatment of medium soil + compost + cocopeat (2:1:1) and the addition of AMF increased the percentage stolon formed into tubers as high as 84%, and potato tuber weight to 328 g plant. Growing medium consisted of soil + compost + cocopeat (2:1:1) increased plant height, plant dry weight, shoot root ratio, and number of potato tubers. This finding showed that AMF application combined with proper growing medium increased the the production of potato seeds.