Effectiveness of Mycorrhiza to the Growth and Essential Oil Content of Eucalyptus citriodora seedling

Abstract

Eucalyptus citriodora is one of the forest plant produced essential oil which contains various beneficial chemical compounds, including 1,8-cineol. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) is a biofertilizer widely used to increase biomass and bioactive content in cultivated plants. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of an AMF consortium on the growth, biomass yield, and 1,8-cineol content of E. citriodora seedlings. Research was conducted six months, in the greenhouse of Indonesian Spice and Medicinal Crops Research Institut (ISMCRI), Bogor, by using randomized complete block design, with six types of inoculum treatments and four replications. The AMF consortium inoculum were explored from various acidity land under several stand of plants, namely consortium inoculum of M1, M2, M3, M4 and M5. The result showed that AMF inoculum treatments had positive effect to the growth (plant height, number of leaves and branch) and weight of leaf, stem and root of E. citriodora. The oil, citronellal and 1.8 cineole content of Eucalyptus sp leaves were increased by the application of AMF. The highest oil content, citronellal and 1.8 cineole content of E. citriodora leaf were resulted from M4 consortium application, were 2.38%, 76.07%, 0.52% respectivelly. M4 consortium application showed the highest effectivenesss to the E. citriodora.