VIABILITY OF VAM SPORES FROM WHEAT FIELDS IN SOIL BASE CULTURE UNDER STORAGE

Axenic soil base VAM cultures of 6 different Glomus spp., viz., Glomus fasiculatum, G. macrocarpum, G. monosporum, G. mosseac, G. radiatum a nd G. warcupii extracted from the soil of wheat field and stored separ ately in pots at 5 and 10 (+/-1)degrees C or kept under natural condit ions showed a gradual loss in viability in 2 years. Loss in viability of spores was significantly higher (p<0.001) when the axenic culture o f Glomus spp., were stored under natural condition with temperature ra nging from 10-25 degrees C during winter and 22-38 degrees C during su mmer season. G. macrocarpum retained highest viability (p<0.001) after 2 years.