Insights of symbiotic relationships and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in rubber-based agroforestry systems

Rubber agroforestry is a means of agricultural land management that can be widely utilised by farmers, with the potential to enhance the biodiversity of the surrounding forest.An important aspect of rubber agroforestry systems is the symbiotic relationship between rubber plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF).AMF is a fungus that lives in the soil symbiotically with plant roots that provide many benefits to plants, including nutrition and plant growth sustainability.This study aims to identify the type and density of AMF in the soil, rhizosphere, and their associations in the roots of rubber plants in agroforestry patterns in Jojjolo Village, Bulukumpa District, Bulukumba Regency.Soil and root sampling was conducted on five 20 20 m plots per location, each 50 m apart, with 1.000 grams of soil per plot.Spore extraction was carried out through the filter pour method at hole diameters of 425 m, 250 m, and 45 m.The ecstasy results were observed using a 4 magnification dissecting microscope.AMF roots are identified using the root staining method, and then the roots are observed with a compound microscope with 40 magnification.The results showed that the spores were found at three density levels.The density of rubber plants in agroforestry patterns is as many as six types of Glomus genus and 1 type of Acaulospora genus.AMF spore density was the highest, with an average of 88.97 per 50 grams of soil, found in rubber plantations with agroforestry planting patterns with sparse plant density intercropping of cloves and durian.Rubber plants in plantations with agroforestry cropping patterns have a moderate AMF colonisation percentage.This study reveals the community structure of AMF in agroforestry patterns and potential for soil fertility and chemical input reduction, particularly in Indonesian rubber agroforestry.