Synergistic Effects of Mycorrhizae and Growth-Promoting Substances on the Success of Grafting and the Quality of Liberica Coffee Seedlings
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25186/.v21i.2491Abstract
Grafting is a vegetative propagation method that is commonly used to produce Liberica coffee seedlings and is popular among coffee growers in Jambi Province, Indonesia. However, coffee grafting is often hampered by the incompatibility of the scion and rootstock or the slow growth of grafted seedlings. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of mycorrhizal inoculation, along with the application of plant growth-promoting substances on the success of grafting and the quality of the seedlings. Six growth-promoting substances (IBA, BAP, coconut water, bean sprout extract, shallot extract, and a control) were applied to grafted seedlings grown in peat soil with or without mycorrhiza. The trial was arranged in a randomized block design with three replications, and ten seedlings were grown in each experimental unit. The highest success rate (93.33%) was achieved when the seedlings were treated with BAP and inoculated with mycorrhizae. The rate of mycorrhizal colonization of coffee roots ranged from 3.33 to 83.33%, with the highest rate associated
with the application of BAP (83.33%) along with mycorrhizal inoculation and the lowest (3.33%) associated with the application of IBA, coconut water, and shallot extract without mycorrhizal inoculation. Our findings suggest that the application of plant growth-promoting substances and mycorrhizal inoculation are critical for improving the graft union and quality of Liberica coffee seedlings grown in peat soil. The application of natural growth-promoting substances such as coconut water, bean sprout extract, and shallot extract also contributed positively to seedling growth. However, their effects were weaker than those of synthetic substances.
Key words: Coffea liberica; plant propagation; plant hormones; arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.
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