Index >> Mycorrhizae >> Arbuscular Mycorrhiza

The taxonomy of AM fungi is in a state of flux and purely based on spore morphology five genera of AM fungi are recognized-Glomus, Gigaspora, Acaulospora, Sclerocystis and Endogone, the latter restricted to plants that form ecto or no mycorrhiza. These fungi are obligate symbionts and have not been isolated in pure culture and can be maintained only on live plants inoculated with spores of a species and collecting the pieces of roots with soil for experimental purposes. The root biomass heavily infected by a specific AM fungus serves as the inoculum for subsequent experimental plants. Specificity between the two partners of this symbiosis has not been well established and cross-inoculations with the any other susceptible hosts are fairly easy.