Root organ culture (ROC) system: in vitro culture systems

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This root organ culture (ROC) system, developed by St-Arnaud et al. (1996), consists of a Petri plate where the root organs and AM fungi develop in a synthetic medium* under in vitro conditions.

* In the root compartment, the synthetic medium is solid and supports the growth of the root organs and AM fungus. In the hyphal compartment, dedicated to the growth of the extraradical mycelium, solid or liquid medium can be used.

Important Remarks: The medium in the root compartment contains sucrose and vitamins to sustain the growth of the roots. The medium in the hyphal compartment does not contain any source of carbon (i.e. sucrose) or vitamins. Mono-, bi- or multi-compartmented Petri plates can be used. One or several root organs and AM fungi can be cultured within the same experimental system.

Reference:

St-Arnaud M, Hamel C, Vimard B, Caron M, Fortin JA (1996) Enhanced hyphal growth and spore production of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus G. intraradices in an in vitro system in the absence of host roots. Mycological Research 100: 328–332.

Declerck S, Fortin JA, Strullu D-G (2005) In vitro Culture of Mycorrhizas. Springer-Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg. doi: 10.1007/b138925.