AN IMPROVED PROCEDURE FOR ROOT SURFACE DISINFECTION SUITABLE FOR OBSERVATIONS OF PROLIFERATION OF INTRARADICAL HYPHAE OF ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGUS GLOMUS-FISTULOSUM

A disinfection procedure for mycorrhizal root segment surface was impr oved using neomycin and polymyxin B besides sodium hypochlorite, strep tomycin and penicillin G, to obtain clean material for observation of proliferation of hyphae of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The proc edure of surface disinfection is more efficient, in terms of incidence of contamination, compared to the original procedure involving only s odium hypochlorite, streptomycin and penicillin G. A further decrease of visually detectable contamination can be achieved using bacteriosta tic concentrations of rolitetracycline which cause a decrease of hypha l growth of the AM fungus Glomus Fistulosum. The technique was used in experiment studying the uptake of U-C-14-glucose by proliferating hyp hae. An active uptake of glucose occurred even in the presence of all four antibiotics at concentrations of 500 mg/L.