Identification Of Fungi from the Rhizosphere of Bamboo Plants (Bambusa Vulgaris) In Gorontalo City and Bone Bolango Regency

The rhizosphere is a soil zone surrounding plant roots that exhibits high microbial activity, including soil fungi that play important roles in ecosystem dynamics and plant health. Bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris) has an extensive and dense root system that potentially supports diverse rhizospheric fungi with various ecological functions. This study aimed to identify fungi associated with the rhizosphere of bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris) in Gorontalo City and Bone Bolango Regency. The research was conducted by collecting rhizospheric soil samples from two locations with different environmental characteristics, followed by fungal isolation using culture methods on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium. Fungal identification was carried out based on macroscopic morphological characteristics of the colonies, including colony color and surface texture. The results showed that the bamboo rhizosphere at both locations contained fungi belonging to three main genera, namely Trichoderma, Penicillium, and Fusarium. Bone Bolango Regency exhibited a higher number of fungal isolates compared to Gorontalo City, particularly from the genus Trichoderma. Differences in the type and number of fungal isolates between the two locations were presumably influenced by local environmental factors such as soil pH, moisture, and microhabitat characteristics. This study provides preliminary information on the diversity of bamboo rhizospheric fungi in Gorontalo City and Bone Bolango Regency and is expected to serve as a basis for further studies focusing on more detailed species identification and the potential utilization of rhizospheric fungi in sustainable soil and plant management.