Preliminary studies on the potential Mycorrhiza Fungi of Sago (Metroxylon sagu ROTTBOLL) / Prof. Madya Dr. Margaret Chan Kit Yok ... [et al.]

A preliminary study on potential mycorrhizal association of sago, Metroxylon sagu Rottboll was conducted. Root samples of sago palms were collected from Kota Samarahan, Sarawak. The root samples were cleaned thoroughly with Teepol detergent solution and cleared of pigments with 10% potassium hydroxide and alkaline hydrogen peroxide. Staining of the processed root samples was done using acid fuchsin and submerging the root samples in lactic acid and glycerol leached excess staining. Slides of the root samples were prepared and directly observed under the microscope. Two characteristic structures of mycorrhiza, the appressorium and the vesicles were observed. The appressorium found at the cell-to-cell contact between two symbionts was detected in one sample, while the vesicles, described as thickwalled structures ranging in shape from oval to spherical were consistently detected in all root samples. However, the arbuscules were not observed. Vesicles were taxonomically found in the order of the Giomales of Zygomycetes suggesting that the sago mycorrhizal fungi could be categorized in this order and of the vesicular- arbuscular mycorrhizal type.
Two other fungi with long strand of hyaline hyphae and brown septate profusely branched hyphae were also observed in the root samples. These fungi were also observed in the roots of swamp rice grass, Leersia hexandra L. that grew in the vicinity of the sago palms.