IDENTIFICATION OF ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI IN RHIZOSPHERE SOIL OF SEVERAL GRASS SPECIES AND CACAO (Theobroma cacao L.) BASED ON ITS SPORE MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

ABSTRACT Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi live in a symbiotic mutualism with plant roots and helps plant absorb nutrients and also able to live in various places. The study aimed to identify arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in rizhosphere of several grass and cacao through microscopic method based on morphological characteristics and was conducted from December 2013 to March 2014. The methods used in this study were spore isolation using wet sieving and root staining techniques. The results showed that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi spores found in Imperata cylindrica L. were spores of Glomus (Glomales: Glomeaceae) with its vesicular and hyphae structure. The presence of spores and structures in Paspalum notatum were Acaulospora (Glomales: Acaulosporaceae) and Gigaspora with its arbuscules, vesicules and hyphae structure. Spores and structures found in the Pennisetum purpureum were belong to genus of Glomus with hyphae and arbuscular structure. Spores and structures of mycorrhizal fungi in Cyperus rotundus are spores of the genus of Gigaspora (Glomales: Gigasporineae) and spores of Glomus with internal hyphae structure. While spores and mycorrhizal structures in Cacao were found two types of spore belong to genus of Glomus with hyphae and vesicular structures. Keywords: Glomus, Gigaspora, Acaulospora, Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Structure