Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with Calophyllum sp. in Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Campus forests, Sarawak, Malaysia

Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi are soil fungi that form mutualistic symbiosis with the roots of plant. The objectives of this study were to investigate the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhiza and to identify isolated spores associated with Calophyllum sp. This study was carried out in a replanted forest and a logged-over forest in Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Campus (UPMBC). Samples of top soils that coexist with the selected host plant, Calophyllum sp. were collected. Total abundance of spores, species richness (S), Shannon-wiener Diversity Index (H’) and evenness (EH) were calculated. A total of 13 species of arbuscular mycorrhiza were isolated where 10 species were identified at the genus level. The replanted forest showed higher arbuscular mycorrhiza spores diversity as compared to the logged-over forest. On the other hand, the logged-over forest recorded higher evenness value as compared to the replanted forest. This was probably due to the fact that the replanted forest had the highest number of the Glomus species spores when compared to other genera. The present study suggested that proper logging practices have to be imposed in order to enhance the abundances and activities of AM fungi. The impact of harvesting on soil or site must be taken into consideration especially in maintaining soil productivity. The present study also proposed that the number of spores in the soil might act as one of the indicator to detect the level of disturbances in the forest.

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