STORAGE OF FIELD-COLLECTED ROOT-SOIL MIXTURES, SPORES, AND MYCORRHIZAE OF ARBUSULAR FUNGI

The root-rhizosphere soil mixtures collected were air dried and stored in plastic bags in a refrigerator at 4oC until processing.

Intact spores of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are stored in formaldehyde or on microscope slides in a drop of glycerin or lactic acid that dry with time. When needed for studies, a drop of fresh glycerin or lactic acid is added.

Spores crushed in polyvinyl alcohol-lactic acid-glycerol (PVLG) and PVLG+Melzer’s reagent on microscope slides and dried in an incubator at 65oC are stored in plastic boxes as permanent vouchers.

Stained mycorrhizae are preserved in drops of PVLG on microscope slides and are stored in plastic boxes.

Additionally, unstained and stained mycorrhizal roots are preserved in ethanol.