Using fungi leavening to lead the growth of mangrove

Invasion of mangrove forest whether doing salt pan, shrimp farm or fishery causing the decrease of mangrove forests impacts the ecosystem widely. At present, more people are aware of this matter so there are mangrove forest restorations such as growing mangrove trees to replace.

Besides, Mr. Sompol Meepuang, student from Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi has been finding ways to increase the growth of mangrove forests faster by using fungus antagonist “Trichoderma ssp.” To lead the growth of mangrove trees.

Mr. Sompol revealed about the study that it is the implementation of Trichoderma ssp. To mix with soft soil in the forms of liquid formula and fungus-direct-to-tree formula, then analyze if this fungus has capability in the growth support of mangrove trees better than those that have not been used. The objective is to take the result to restore the mangrove forests to equalize the ecosystem and be able to reduce global warming.

After inspecting the growing area and examining the fungus antagonist Trichoderma ssp.” in young-mangrove plant-cultivating house with 3 leavening antagonists which are T.viride, T.hazianum, T.hamatum found that either young small or big-leaf mangroves or can grow well with T.viride. The height ratio of small-leaf mangroves equal to 54.60 CM, big ones equal to 79.65 CM, and Aegiceras cornicalatum equal to 55.57 CM.

He said that the formula that he used 2 formulas in the experiment which are fungus antagonist from millet seeds. The easy instructions of it are as follows: 1. put 12 hour long-soaked millet seeds in boiling water then boil till their covers break and drain water out, wait for a while, then contain them into Duran bottles. 2. Steam millet seeds at 121 degree Celsius for 15 minutes and leave till they are cold. 3. Random fungus antagonists fed on PDA food aged 7 days for 3 kinds such as T.hazianum, T.viride and T.hamatum, then put them on the seed surfaces and ripen at room temperature in dark for 7 days for use fungus antagonists from saw dust later on.

For the instructions of fungus antagonist formula from saw dust are as follows:

1. mix saw dust 50 g, lime 1.25 g with 80 mg of water then contain in plastic bags and cap the bottlenecks then close the bottles by papers and bond with plastic band tightly, after that pasteurize them at 121 degree Celsius for 20 minutes then leave them cold. 2. Take antagonist fungus leavening from millet seeds into the leavening bars 10 – 20 seeds per bag in the sterile condition and cap the bags well, then arrange them on a table or shelf cleaned by alcohol 70%. 3. Ripen them at room temperature every 3 day, shake saw dust bars to mix the antagonist fungus that is on top with saw dust in the bags thoroughly. After that, ripen antagonist fungus leavening for 14 days for the experiment of growth efficiency of young plants afterwards. Assist. Prof. Sukarn Rattanalertnusorn is the advisor of this project. Those interested can contact for more information at Tel. 08-9767-8569.

Translated by Mr. Amondech Inkaew