Half-closed Arbuscular Mycorrhizal - Plant (HAM-P)

Step 3 : Root colonization and spores production

Photo Courtesy of CESAMM

This system, developed by Voets et al. (2005), consists of a Petri plate where the roots and AM fungi develop in a synthetic medium* under in vitro conditions, while the shoot extend outside of it under open-air condition.

* In the proximal compartment, the synthetic medium is solid and support the growth of the roots and AM fungus. In the distal compartment, either solid or liquid medium can be used.

Important remarks: The medium used does not contain any source of carbon (i.e. sucrose) or vitamins. The plant is thus autotrophic. Mono-, bi- or multi-compartmented Petri plates can be used. One or several plants and AM fungi can be cultured within the same experimental system.

Reference:

Voets, L., Dupré de Boulois, H., Renard, L., Strullu, D.G., Declerck, S., 2005. Development of an autotrophic culture system for the in vitro mycorrhization of potato plantlets. FEMS Microbiology Letters 248: 111-118.