INFECTION OF HAIRY ROOTS OF STRAWBERRY (FRAGARIA X ANANASSA-DUCH) WITH ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGUS

Hairy root cultures of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) were ind uced with the Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain A4. Cultures were mainta ined on B50 medium but could also grow on a minimal medium, which did not inhibit the growth of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The growth and nutrient uptake were characterized in shake flasks and in a bioreacto r. Spores of the native Finnish arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus f istulosum V128 were used to infect strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duc h. 'Senga Sengana') hairy roots in vitro. During cultivation, vegetati ve spore formation was observed. At the end of the cultivation, hyphae and arbuscules were observed in the stained roots,