Native Endomycorrhiza With Tolerance to Heavy Metal Contamination in Organic Culture Media

Endomycorrhizal fungi are spora-carrying organisms that can survive in heavy metal- contaminated environments. The goal of this study was to investigate endomycorrhizal fungi from heavy metal-affected areas and determine an effective mix of organicculture media to increase the number and diameter of endomycorrhizal spores. In Sorowako, Indonesia, endomycorrhizal fungi were isolated from the rhizosphere of:rice husk charcoal, sand, zeolite (KM1); rice husk charcoal, sand, sawdust (KM2); rice husk charcoal, sand, cocopeat (KM3); rice husk charcoal, sand, rice soil (KM4); rice husk charcoal, sand, cold magma (KM5); rice husk charcoal, sand, cold magma (KM6); and rice husk charcoal, sand (KM7). The results of the first phase of research revealed that three endomycorrhizal genera (44.44%–75.86% Acaulospora sp, 9.52%–44.44% Gigaspora sp, and 3.38%–19.05 % Glomus sp) can adapt to and resist conditions contaminated with Hg, Cd, Ni, Pb, As, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Co, and Sn, namely as a carrier medium. It was concluded that a combination of organic media was recommended, but that this must decompose first.