Isolation of vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal spores: a rapid method for the removal of organic detritus from wet-sieved soil samples

1982 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 363-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. N. Kucey ◽  
R. G. L. McCready
Keyword(s):  
Specific Gravity ◽  
Organic Material ◽  
Discontinuous Solution ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Organic Detritus ◽  
Organic Debris ◽  
Vesicular Arbuscular ◽  
Large Soil ◽  
Solution Gradient

A method for recovery of live vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal spores from large soil samples is presented. Spores, hyphal material, and other organic debris are isolated by wet sieving (> 63 μm) and further purified by flotation on 50% glycerol. The organic material is then suspended in Ringer's saline solution and the spores separated from other organic material by centrifuging (10 min at 75 × g) the mixture on a two-layer discontinuous solution gradient consisting of 50% glycerol (specific gravity 1.13 g/cm3) overlaid with 30% glycerol (specific gravity 1.08 g/cm3). The efficiency of recovery is 84 ± 3.4% of the spores present after the initial flotation.

Occurrence of Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Alberta, Canada

1993 ◽  
Vol 48 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 923-929 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Boyetchko ◽  
J. P. Tewari
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Glomus Aggregatum ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Vesicular Arbuscular ◽  
Spore Walls ◽  
Scanning Electron

Abstract Three V A mycorrhizal fungal species were isolated from soils in Alberta, Canada and examined by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis. Mature spores of Glomus aggregatum developed an outer hyaline wall which contained lower levels of calcium than the middle wall. Examination of G. pansihalos spores revealed a lower level of calcium in the outer evanescent wall as compared to the ornamented wall. When spores of Entrophospora infrequens were examined, the wall of the vesicle was found to contain similar levels of calcium as the ornamented wall of the spore. The significance of the results concerning the presence of calcium in mycorrhizal spore walls is discussed, as is the occurrence of the mycorrhizal species.

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