In vitro cultivation of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal association is essential for most of the vascular plants for their growth and survival. The obligate biotrophic nature of AM fungi makes this association intricate. Several attempts have been made for cultivation and mass inoculum production of this plant beneficial symbiosis. The use of root organ culture (ROC) technique has proved to be particularly successful. This technique has greatly influenced our understanding on various aspects of AM symbiosis. This article provides an update on the developments made in the AM fungal inoculum production and the range of AM fungal species being cultivated using ROC. The method by which ROC of AM fungi have been cultivated is described along with the culture media used, choice of transformed host root to study the interaction, selection and sterilization of different AM fungal propagules and the use of continuous cultures to preserve the colonizing potential of the produced AM fungal inoculum. The morphological features of AM fungal cultures developed under conditions and how these have improved our understanding on this symbiosis are also discussed. Some of the potential uses and limitations of this system are also highlighted.