Diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Bukit Duabelas and Harapan Forest, Jambi Province (ABS Funds)

The objective of the present study is to determine the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in lowland rain forest located in Bukit Duabelas National Park and Harapan rainforest in Jambi Province. Analysis of the number of AMF spores showed that there was variation in four types of ecosystems, both in Bukit Duabelas and Harapan rainforest. The number of spores in the forest ecosystem was lower than in rubber plantations, oil palm plantations and jungle rubber, both in Bukit Duabelas and in Harapan rainforest. The disturbance of ecosystems seems to influence the abundance and distribution of AMF spores. On the contrary, based on the morphology of the spores, the number of different spore types found in the forest ecosystem was higher than in the other ecosystems, both in Bukit Duabelas and in Harapan rainforest. This means that the transformation of land may decrease the diversity of AMF species, but increase the number of spores. Further research is needed to know whether the transformation of ecosystems to rubber or oil palm plantations decreases soil fertility.