Surface-sterilization of Glomus mosseae sporocarps for studying endomycorrhization in vitro

The effects of sterilization time, sterilizing agents (ethanol, Chloramine T, calcium hypochlorite) and antibiotics (streptomycin and gentamycin) on G lomus mosseae (BEG 12) sporocarp germination and contamination were evaluat ed. Incubation for 10 s in 96% ethanol, followed by 10 min in a solution of 2% Chloramine T, 0.02% streptomycin, 0.01% gentamycin and Tween 20, and th en 6 min in 6% calcium hypochlorite greatly reduced fungal and bacterial co ntamination from sporocarps and caused little change in germination rate in water agar medium.