In Vitro Culture of Mycorrhizas / Soil Biology Bd.4 (PDF)

This is the first book describing in vitro cultivation of root organs. The text describes various biological aspects such as the physiology, biochemistry, biodiversity, and life cycles of fungi, as well as the effects of symbiosis on plant growth and development, including large-scale fungus production for biotechnological use. Detailed protocols allow the immediate application of the method to culture mycorrhizal fungi in vitro.

From the reviews:

"There is no doubt that this book will interest not only mycorrhizologists, but also more generally, researchers working with obligate plant biotropic microorganisms recalcitrant to axenic culture in the absence of host roots. This volume of the Soil Biology series compiles experts’ advice and know-how in the use of in vitro cultivation methods in AM symbiosis research. … this book will be useful to researchers envisaging in vitro system for conservation, production, and studies of mycorrhizal fungi." (Ghislaine Recorbet, Mycorrhiza, 2006)

"Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form an extremely important group of soil fungi. … This book, edited by three well-known experts in the field, gives an overview of the technology and reviews results obtained so far. … This is the book that I would have seen written. … strikes a good balance between optimism about the successes in store for the novel methodology and a critical attitude towards the methodology. The book will certainly be a very welcome addition to libraries … ." (Thomas W. Kuyper, Mycopathologia, Vol. 162, 2006)

"The Editors clearly explain how the obligate nature of AM fungi makes it difficult to study most aspects of their biology, and how the use of root-organ-cultures (ROCs) has opened new opportunities and vistas on several aspects of the AM symbiosis. … The book is very interesting and worth considering as a reference manual … ." (Paola Bonfante, Mycological Research, Vol. 110, 2006)