WET-SIEVING AND DECANTING TECHNIQUES FOR THE EXTRACTION OF SPORES OF VESICULAR-ARBUSCULAR FUNGI

This chapter reviews wet-sieving and techniques for the decanting extraction spores of vesicular-arbuscular fungi. Of the various methods proposed for the recovery of Endogonaceous spores from soil, the wet-sieving and decanting technique is the simplest and most effective. However, using the procedures described spores with a diameter less than 40μm will be lost. Unfortunately these smaller spores often occur in compact soils, such as clays, that quickly block a cellulosic filter. If the presence of these smaller spores is suspected, saving the passed suspension, precipitating the clay particles still in suspension and passing it again through a cellulosic filter under vacuum is done. © 1992 Academic Press Limited