Ri-plasmid transformed root cultures were pioneered by Mugnier and Mosse (1987). The full potential of this culture method has been developed by Yve Piche and colleagues in Canada (Becard and Piche 1989, 1990; Chabot et al. 1992), Wu in Taiwan, and Declerck and colleagues in Belgium. Most of these researchers are part of the organization GINCO and their take on the benefits and disadvantages of this method are documented on their website. Alternatively, click here for the PDF file of the website pages.

The two most widely used species in this system are Glomus intraradices and Gigaspora margarita (Gi. rosea in the axenic cultures we have examined), but the species list is expanding at a good pace.

REFERENCES

Mugnier, J. and B. Mosse. 1987. Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal infection in transformed root-inducing T-DNA roots grown axenically. Phytopathology 77:1045-1050.

Becard, G. and Y. Piche. 1989. New aspects of the acquisition of biotrophic status by a vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Gigaspora margarita. New Phytologist 112: 77-83.

Becard, G. and Y. Piche. 1990. Physiological factors determining vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal formation in host and non-host Ri T-DNA transformed roots. Canadian Journal of Botany 68: 1260-1264.

Chabot, S., G. Becard, and Y. Piche. 1992. Life cycle of Glomus intraradix in root organ culture. Mycologia 84: 315-321.