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Preparation of Samples for Characterization of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

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Part of the Methods in Molecular Biology book series (MIMB, volume 2232)

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are an important element of the plant microbiome as they establish an endosymbiotic relationship with the roots of most plant species. This association enhances access to nutrients and water for plants, and provides the fungus with plant-derived organic carbon. In this chapter, I describe a range of methods to work with AMF including: soil sampling; isolation of AMF propagules (spores, sporocarps, roots, and mycelium) by a wet sieving and centrifugation in a sucrose solution; trap (from field soil with AMF spores) and one-species pot cultures (from AMF spores divided into morphotypes); staining of mycorrhizae in plant roots; and production of diagnostic slides. These methods are widely used in taxonomic and ecological studies to characterize the morphology of AMF.

Key words

Pot cultures Staining mycorrhizae Soil sampling Wet sieving Sucrose centrifugation Diagnostic slides AMF taxonomy 
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© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2021

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.ERIBiotecMed and Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of ValenciaBurjassotSpain

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