Aeroponic Culture of VAM Fungi

Abstract

Aeroponic culture of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi is a biotechnology that allows both efficient production of VAM inoculum and soil-free investigations of mycorrhizas. Aeroponic culture was first used for the study of the legume-rhizobia interaction by Zobel et al. (1976) and then for VAM fungi by Sylvia and Hubbell (1986). It is a more highly aerated environment than traditional hydroponics and has proven to be an efficient system for growing VAM inoculum without a physical substrate (Hung and Sylvia 1988). In addition, the lack of a physical substrate in aeroponic culture makes it an ideal system for studying the biology of these obligate biotrophs. The major advantages are the lack of physical substrate, control of cultural conditions, and sampling of the mycorrhizas and associated nutrient solution. In this chapter we will discuss the rationale for using aeroponics; the mechanics of the technology; the preparation, application, and storage of VAM inoculum produced using the technology; and the future uses of this biotechnology for the study of VA mycorrhizas.