Differential Response of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Sporocarps inLong-Term Trap Culturing

摘要

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi belonging to phylum Glomeromycota are recognised biofertilizers, but have limited application in fields in absence of effective methods for their rapid multiplication. Of the several structures produced by AM fungi during their life cycle, sporocarps have received little attention in the context of mass multiplication. In the present study isolated sporocarps belonging to five Glomeromycota species, collected from natural forests of Aravallis in Delhi, India, were used as a source of inoculum for multiplication in long-term trap cultures. The differential response of these sporocarps with reference to their propagation in next generation and in serving as a clean source of spores in long-term trap culturing also helped in clarifying the role played by these structures in the life cycle of AM fungi.