ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAE EXPLORATION AND IDENTIFICATION ON SUGARCANE PLANTATIONS IN HUMID TROPIC AREA OF INDONESIA

The presence of arbuscular mycorrhizae can vary in type and quantity which is determined by the environment. This study aims to explore and identify vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) in sugarcane plantations in tropical area of Indonesia. The method used was a quantitative survey that described the VAM characteristics and its morphology in sugarcane plantation. The Soil sampling were located at 3 provinces in Indonesia, namely, Takalar (South Sulawesi), Bombana (Southeast Sulawesi), and Gorontalo. The isolation of mycorrhizal fungi was carried out by extracting spores using the pour-filter according to Pacioni method, followed by centrifugation based on Brundrett method. The results of the soil samples from 3 different sugarcane plantations in Sulawesi island found 3 types of VAM namely, Acaulospora sp., Glomus sp., and Gigaspora sp. The highest number of VAM spores belonging to Acaulospora sp genus with small round shape was found in Takalar (South Sulawesi), while the lowest number was found in the soil samples of Bombana (Southeast Sulawesi) and Gorontalo sugarcane plantations. The VAM spores number and types on sugarcane plantation were commonly found in soil with high fertility than in nutrient-poor soil.