IMMUNODETECTION OF VESICULAR-ARBUSCULAR M YCORRHIZAL FUNGI IN PLANTA

Polyclonal antibodies raised against soluble proteins of spores of Gig aspora rosea showed high specificity with antigens from G. rosea in do t immunoblot (DIBA) and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (E LISA). Light and election microscope immunocytochemistry on root secti ons infected by 5 different endomycorrhizal fungi confirmed the specif icity of the antibodies against G. rosea. Cellular localization of ant igens was vacuolar. Polyclonal antibodies obtained using soluble prote ins as immunogen can therefore be used to identify an endomycorrhizal fungus directly in planta.