RESEARCH ARTICLE

Journal of Oil Palm Research Vol. 22 (2) August 2010, p. 796-802

GROWTH EFFECTS BY ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZA FUNGI ON OIL PALM (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) SEEDLINGS

SUNDRAM, Shamala*

ABSTRACT

The effects of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) infection on the growth of oil palm seedlings in nursery trials showed that the seedlings treated with Glomus etunicatum soil inocula resulted in 80.36% increased growth response. Oil palm seedlings treated with G. etunicatum in association with Gigaspora rosea, Acaulospora morrowiae and Scutellaspora heterogama, respectively, gave lower to negative growth responses. Oil palm seedlings that showed growth depression, however, had significantly higher root colonizations than the non- AMF plants. G. etunicatum thrives better as a single inoculant and successfully increases the vegetative growth of oil palm seedlings.

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* Malaysian Palm Oil Board,
P. O. Box 10620,
50720 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.
E-mail: shamala@mpob.gov.my