title: Preservation of spores of vesicular-arbuscular endophytes by L-drying.
abstract: The spores of four species of vesicular-arbuscular endophytes were L-dried at 22 degrees C, and their viability was tested after heating at 80 degrees C for up to 40 min. L-drying of spores in the soil in which they developed was a very effective method of preservation of all spore types examined. Slow L-drying of spores separated from soil and supported on glass fiber filters also gave high viability for spores of some species. A scheme for the long-term preservation of vesicular-arbuscular endophyte spores is proposed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia, Nedlands 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Tommerup
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Kidby