Diversity and Distribution of Ectomycorrhizal Fungi in the University of Bengkulu Arboretum

Ectomycorrhizal fungi are only associated with certain types of trees or woody plants. The presence of ectomycorrhizal fungi in forest ecosystems is crucial for nutrient supply to plants. The diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi and their interactions with host trees in the University of Bengkulu Arboretum remains uncertain. An inventory must be conducted to determine the arboretum’s capacity to support various ectomycorrhizal growth forms. The study employed an exploratory approach, establishing five plots measuring 20cm × 20cm at the locations of ectomycorrhizal fruiting bodies. Four plots, each 5 x 10 m, were established within the 20 x 20 m observation plot to facilitate the assessment of fungi. The identified fungi were morphologically compared to those documented on various websites and journals. The total number of trees in all observation plots was 28, with five species and five families serving as fungal host trees: Senna siamea (Fabaceae), Artocarpus odoratissimus (Moraceae), Alstonia scholaris (Apocynaceae), Swietenia mahagoni (Meliaceae), and Gmelina arborea. We identified 138 ectomycorrhizal fruiting bodies from 9 species and seven families: Cortinarius sp. (Cortinarius), Hygrophorus sp. (Hygrophoraceae), Amanita sp. (Amanitaceae), Gymnopus sp. (Omphalotaceae), Scleroderma sp 1 (Sclerodermataceae), Porpolomopsis sp. (Hygrophoraceae), Scleroderma sp 2 (Sclerodermataceae), Ramaria sp. (Gomphaceae), and Mycena sp (Mycenaceae). The ectomycorrhizal diversity index is 1.56, placing it in the medium category. However, ectomycorrhizal fungi are relatively abundant, with Porpolomopsis sp. the most abundant species and Mycena sp. the least abundant. The distribution of ectomycorrhizal fungi is 1.37, classified as clustered.