Improvement of Early Growth of Endemic Sulawesi Trees Species Kalappia celebica by Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Gold Mining Tailings

Abstract

Kalapi (Kalappia celebica Kosterm.) is an endemic species of Sulawesi and listed in the IUCN red list as an endangered species. In addition, information about silviculuture of K. celebica type in the world is still limited. One important component of silvicultural techniques to support conservation efforts of K. celebica is the application of fertilizers such as mycorrhizal biofertilizers. The aim of the study was to examine the improvement of initial growth of K. celebica by inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on gold tailings media. This research was conducted in the greenhouse of the Indonesian Mycorrhizal Association (AMI) branch of Southeast Sulawesi in March - July 2019. The study was designed by using a completely randomized design with 4 AMF inoculums treatments namely control, Acaulospora delicata, Ambiospora appendicula, and Mixed AMF types. Each treatment was repeated 3 times with 5 plant units of each treatment. The results showed that the AMF colonization ranged from 42.2 to 74.6%. The colonization of AMF significantly increased the early growth of K. celebica aged 4 months. Inoculation of A. delicata significantly increased shoot height, number of leaves, shoot and total dry weight. There was no difference of AMF effect in both diameter of the stem and roots dry weight. The dependence of K. celebica on mycorrhizal fungi was high about 51-71% (Mycorrhizal inoculation effect). AMF inoculation improves the initial growth of K. celebica, therefore, it can contribute to the conservation of tropical endangered tree species.