An improved procedure for root surface disinfection suitable for observations of proliferation of intraradical hyphae of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus fistulosum

A disinfection procedure for mycorrhizal root segment surface was improved using neomycin and polymyxin B besides sodium hypochlorite, streptomycin and penicillin G, to obtain clean material for observation of proliferation of hyphae of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The procedure of surface disinfection is more efficient, in terms of incidence of contamination, compared to the original procedure involving only sodium hypochlorite, streptomycin and penicillin G. A further decrease of visually detectable contamination can be achieved using bacteriostatic concentrations of rolitetracycline which cause a decrease of hyphal growth of the AM fungus Glomus Fistulosum. The technique was used in experiment studying the uptake of U-C-14-glucose by proliferating hyphae. An active uptake of glucose occurred even in the presence of all four antibiotics at concentrations of 500 mg/L.