Growth of Somatic Embryogenesis Planlet of Cacao (Theobrema cacao L.) due to Application of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungi (AMF) and Growth Media20132013

A study was carried out to investigate and explore the growth response of somatic embryogenesis planlet of cacao to the application of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) in different growth medium. The research was conducted at Dusun Pattene, TemmapadduaE village, Marusu district, Maros Regency during June 2010 until March 2011. The experiment was set up in Randomized Block Design (RBD) consisted of two factors namely application of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungi (AMF) as the first factor consisted of four levels: control (no application), 20, 30 and 40 g/polybag and growth medium as the second factor consisted of four different composition of 1:1:0 (control), 1:1:1, 2:1:1 and 3:1:1 for soil, sand and compost, respectively. The result showed that interaction of the mycorrhiza application and the growth medium composition had a significant effect on various growth parameter of the planlet. Application of 20 g/polybag mycorrhiza in growth media composition of 2:1:1, related to mycorrhizal infection of 75%, gave bettler result on the growth parameters such as addition in plant height and leaves number. Better relative growth rate of the planlet was shown by plant treated with combination of 20 g/polybag mycorrhiza and growth mixture composition of 1:1:1. Mycorrhiza dosage of 20 g/polybag also gave better leaf area index of the planlet compared to other treatments