Seedling Growth and Mineral Uptake of Eucalyptus pellita with Different Mycorrhizal Inoculants in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

This study was conducted to examine the response of Eucalyptus pellita cuttings to different mycorrhizal inoculants from the Philippines as compared with ectomycorrhizal fungi collected under E. pellita plantations in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Shoot tips (2-3 inches) of eucalypts were collected from the seedlings orchard, dipped in rooting hormone, inserted in rooting materials and then incubated under mist system. After 2 wk, the rooted cuttings were transferred into containers filled with soil. During seedling transfer to individual container, they were inoculated with the following mycorrhizal inoculants: KTH (contains spores of Scleroderma and Pisolithus sp. native in Kalimantan, Indonesia), MYKOVAM (R), MYKORICH (R), MYKOCAP (R), MYCOGROE (TM), MYCOGROE (TM) + MYKORICH (R) and MYKORICH (R) + MYKOCAP (R) from the Philippines following the recommended dosages as stated in the label. Results showed that Mykocap (R) and MYCOGROE (TM) + MYKORICH (R) inoculated plants were 51 and 49%, respectively, taller than the control (8.86 cm). In terms of mineral components, highest total plant N, K, Mg, Fe, and Mn uptakes were observed in plants inoculated with MYCOGROE (TM) + MYKORICH (R). MYKORICH (R) alone gave the highest percent increase in total plant uptakes of B (86%), Cu (76%) and Zn (104%). The results clearly showed that growth and mineral composition of E. pellita were greatly improved by inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi particularly by MYCOGROE (TM) + MYKORICH (R), which is a combination of ectomycorrhiza and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.