A review of dipterocarps - Center for International Forestry Research
A review of dipterocarps - Center for International Forestry Research
A review of dipterocarps - Center for International Forestry Research
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Root Symbiosis and Nutrition<br />
where inoculum already exists (Alexander 1989).<br />
However, Smits (personal communication) reported<br />
that <strong>dipterocarps</strong> have been successfully established<br />
on a large-scale in heavily burned secondary <strong>for</strong>est<br />
at Longnah, East Kalimantan.<br />
5. The mycorrhizal fungi should be compared <strong>for</strong> effects<br />
on hosts in different soils under controlled<br />
conditions and <strong>for</strong> adaptability to handling in nursery<br />
inoculation processes and to nursery cultural<br />
practices.<br />
Brundrett et al. (1996) have comprehensively<br />
discussed the differential effect <strong>of</strong> various soil<br />
attributes on mycorrhizal fungal growth which have<br />
implications <strong>for</strong> tree establishment.<br />
6. Host specificity and compatibility <strong>of</strong> selected<br />
ectomycorrhizal fungi should be determined in pot<br />
experiments with selected host species and genera.<br />
7. Ef<strong>for</strong>ts on the selection <strong>of</strong> mycorrhizal fungi <strong>for</strong><br />
inoculation <strong>of</strong> seedlings should be continued. This<br />
should be based on a set <strong>of</strong> criteria which would<br />
include satisfactory vegetative growth or abundant<br />
sporulation <strong>for</strong> production <strong>of</strong> large quantities <strong>of</strong><br />
inoculum, adaptability to inoculation manipulation,<br />
ability to <strong>for</strong>m mycorrhizas with a broad range <strong>of</strong> host<br />
species, and ability to enhance growth <strong>of</strong> the host<br />
tree (Trappe 1977, Marx et al. 1992).<br />
8. Inoculation experiments should be conducted with<br />
identified or known and preferably indigenous<br />
mycorrhizal strains.<br />
This is to ensure that results are repeatable and<br />
verifiable and <strong>for</strong> development into practical application<br />
techniques <strong>for</strong> field use. This is important <strong>for</strong> the<br />
sustained production <strong>of</strong> effective mycorrhizal inoculum.<br />
Current Mycorrhizal <strong>Research</strong> Groups<br />
and Needs<br />
Presently dipterocarp mycorrhizal research is most<br />
actively being pursued in Indonesia and Malaysia and to<br />
a lesser extent in Thailand. Some research has also<br />
recently begun in the Philippines.<br />
Indonesia<br />
Among the Southeast Asian nations, Indonesia has the<br />
most numerous researchers and research institutes<br />
engaged in dipterocarp mycorrhizal research. The main<br />
institutes are BIOTROP and Bogor Agricultural<br />
University in Bogor, Gadjah Mada University in<br />
108<br />
Yogyakarta, Universitas Mulawarman and the<br />
TROPENBOS Project in East Kalimantan which includes<br />
the Association <strong>of</strong> Forest Concession Holders. A variety<br />
<strong>of</strong> topics are being investigated but most <strong>of</strong> the results<br />
are published in local Indonesian journals in Bahasa<br />
Indonesia (see Supriyanto et al. 1993a) and <strong>of</strong>ten are<br />
very brief with details <strong>of</strong> experiments missing. This<br />
situation is slowly changing with the emergence <strong>of</strong><br />
collaborative projects funded by <strong>for</strong>eign agencies such<br />
as the European Economic Community (EEC), Overseas<br />
Development Authority <strong>of</strong> the U.K. (ODA), the Dutch<br />
TROPENBOS and the Japanese government, and as more<br />
international symposia on mycorrhizas are organised.<br />
However, there appears to be some lack <strong>of</strong> coordination<br />
and communication between the various research groups,<br />
with each group appearing to work in isolation. It has<br />
also been pointed out that many <strong>of</strong> these groups conduct<br />
research in nurseries or in small experimental<br />
dipterocarp plantations outside the area <strong>of</strong> their natural<br />
occurrence (Smits 1992). Consequently not all the<br />
results may be <strong>of</strong> equal importance <strong>for</strong> an understanding<br />
<strong>of</strong> the functioning <strong>of</strong> dipterocarp mycorrhizas under<br />
natural conditions. Comprehensive reports <strong>of</strong> the status<br />
<strong>of</strong> mycorrhizal research in Indonesia are given in Hadi<br />
et al. (1991) and Supriyanto et al. (1993a).<br />
Malaysia<br />
In Malaysia dipterocarp mycorrhizal research is<br />
presently only being conducted at the Forest <strong>Research</strong><br />
Institute Malaysia (FRIM). Considerable progress has<br />
been made towards the understanding <strong>of</strong> the biology and<br />
ecology <strong>of</strong> some dipterocarp mycorrhizas, and<br />
techniques are being developed and improved <strong>for</strong><br />
controlled inoculation <strong>of</strong> dipterocarp planting material.<br />
The research has largely benefited from collaboration<br />
with researchers from Europe under a joint FRIM-<br />
Commission <strong>of</strong> the European Communities collaborative<br />
project. The survey and identification <strong>of</strong> mycorrhizal<br />
fungi are actively being pursued under another<br />
collaborative project with the Royal Botanic Garden,<br />
Edinburgh, funded by the ODA. Results have been<br />
published in several international journals.<br />
Thailand<br />
There are two institutes conducting dipterocarp<br />
mycorrhizal research in Thailand, these being the Faculty<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>Forestry</strong> at Kasetsart University and the Royal Thai<br />
Forest Department. Most <strong>of</strong> the research has