Ruben M. Gapasin, Jesusito L. Lim, and Carlito V. Ranches
Department of Plant Protection
Visayas State College of Agriculture (ViSCA)
doi.org/10.57043/transnastphl.1997.5946
Abstract
A study was conducted to determine and identify indigenous mycorrhizae associated with selected tree species growing in Mt. Pangasugan, evaluate grasses as trap crop for their culture and mass production, test their efficacy for tree growth improvement and evaluate the most efficient delivery system for the mycorrhizae. There were 14 tree species sampled and based on root sample assay seven (7) were found positive for mycorrhizal association. These were Kaliandra (Calliandra calothrsus), Antoso-an (Cassia javanica L.), Paguringon (Craoxylum celebicum Blume), Fire tree (Delonix regia (BoJer Hook) Raf). Yamane (Gmelina arborea Roxb.), lpil-ipil (leucaena leucocephala (Lamarck) de Wit) and Narra (Pterocarpuz indicus Willd). However, all the soil samples contained vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) spores with Paguringon having the highest spore count of 359 while Dao had the lowest count of 65 spores. Four major genera of VAM fungi were identijied associated with the tree species namely: Glomus, Gigaspora, Acaulospora and Sclerocystis. All the three grasses evaluated as trap crops supported the build up of mycorrhizal fungi with Napier grass producing the heaviest roots (21.57 g) and containing the highest mycorrhizal spores (476). In terms of inoculum produced in the soil there was an increase of 61.6%, 48. I% and 39.8% for Paragrass. Napier grass and Guinea grass, respectively after 3 months. Mycorrhizal roots and soil containing mycorrhizae as inoculum increased both the height (cm) and stem diameter of tree seedlings tested in the screenhouse and field. The general observation was that the soil with
mycorrhizae had greater effect on seedling growth.