Premium
Cryopreservation of spores of vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi *
Author(s) -
DOUDS DAVID D.,
SCHENCK N. C.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1990.tb00498.x
Subject(s) - spore , glomus , germination , biology , cryoprotectant , botany , cryopreservation , mycorrhiza , sucrose , trehalose , incubation , conidium , horticulture , bacteria , symbiosis , food science , biochemistry , embryo , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology
summary Storage of spores of vesicular‐arbuscular (VA) mycorrhizal fungi in soil at 5 °C is a common way of preserving these fungi. This method was satisfactory for Glomus intraradix Schenck & Smith but not for Gigaspora margarita Becker & Hall, Glomus mosseae (Nicol. & Gerd.) Gerdemann & Trappe, and Acaulospora longula Spain & Schenck. Preservation of spores at −60 to −70 °C was examined. Cryoprotectants such as DMSO, glycerol, mannitol, and sucrose were ineffective using the freeze‐damage sensitive species G. margarita. Incubation for 47 h in 0.75 to 1.0 M trehalose conferred a measure of freeze damage protection to the spores such that germination rates of previously frozen spores of G. margarita were one tenth to one sixth of controls. The best method of cryoprotection and cryopreservation was found to be slow drying of pot culture soil and freezing the spores in situ. This procedure was satisfactory for the five genera of VA mycorrhizal fungi evaluated.