1887

Abstract

Alternative methods for arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal colonized root staining have recently gained more attention for the reduction of hazard exposure to the user. Sheaffer blue ink has been employed for such an identification and quantification, having shown an increased degree of image clarity. However, sourcing Sheaffer blue ink is becoming problematic, leading to the need to find alternative inks that are readily available. Parker ink is a well-known brand, providing comparable colour options to Sheaffer. Two Parker inks, blue and washable blue, were employed alongside Sheaffer blue for comparative AM fungal colonized root staining. From quantified AM fungal vesicles and arbuscles, along with the degree of stained image clarity under microscopy, none of the inks utilized for this comparison produce a significantly (=0.97) different AM fungal quantification or change in image clarity. Therefore, the results of the present communication suggest that Parker blue and washable blue inks are alternative ink stains for the viewing and quantification of AM fungi in host cortical root tissues.

  • This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journal/acmi/10.1099/acmi.0.000618.v4
2023-08-31
2024-05-04
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/deliver/fulltext/acmi/5/8/acmi000618.v4.html?itemId=/content/journal/acmi/10.1099/acmi.0.000618.v4&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah

References

  1. Kiheri H, Heinonsalo J, Timonen S. Staining and microscopy of mycorrhizal fungal colonization in preserved ericoid plant roots. JBR 2017; 7:231–237 [View Article]
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Moukarzel R, Ridgway HJ, Guerin-Laguette A, Jones EE. An improved clearing and staining protocol for evaluation of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonisation in darkly pigmented woody roots. NZPP 2020; 73:33–39 [View Article]
    [Google Scholar]
  3. Vierheilig H, Coughlan AP, Wyss U, Piche Y. Ink and vinegar, a simple staining technique for arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungi. Appl Environ Microbiol 1998; 64:5004–5007 [View Article] [PubMed]
    [Google Scholar]
  4. Wilkes TI, Warner DJ, Edmonds-Brown V, Davies KG, Denholm I. A comparison of methodologies for the staining and quantification of intracellular components of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the root cortex of two varieties of winter wheat. Access Microbiol 2020; 2:acmi000083 [View Article] [PubMed]
    [Google Scholar]
  5. Kowal J, Arrigoni E, Serra J, Bidartondo M. Prevalence and phenology of fine root endophyte colonization across populations of Lycopodiella inundata. Mycorrhiza 2020; 30:577–587 [View Article] [PubMed]
    [Google Scholar]
  6. Hewitt RE, Day NJ, DeVan MR, Taylor DL. Wildfire impacts on root‐associated fungi and predicted plant–soil feedbacks in the boreal forest: research progress and recommendations. Functional Ecology 2023; 37:2110–2125 [View Article]
    [Google Scholar]
  7. Yon Y, Perez L, Carmona A, Perez Y, Garcia L et al. Alternative staining technique to determine mycorrhizal colonization. Cultivos Tropicales 2015; 36: [View Article]
    [Google Scholar]
  8. Wilkes TI. A Comparison of Tillage Techniques on Selected Soil Microbes within the Rhizosphere of Wheat. PhD Thesis UK: University of Hertfordshire; 2021
    [Google Scholar]
  9. Brundrett MC. Auditing data resolves systemic errors in databases and confirms mycorrhizal trait consistency for most genera and families of flowering plants. Mycorrhiza 2021; 31:671–683 [View Article] [PubMed]
    [Google Scholar]
  10. Wilkes TI, Warner DJ. An evaluation for the medium-term storage and viability of root cortex tissues stained with blue ink in the assessment of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Access Microbiol 2021; 3:000292 [View Article] [PubMed]
    [Google Scholar]
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journal/acmi/10.1099/acmi.0.000618.v4
Loading
/content/journal/acmi/10.1099/acmi.0.000618.v4
Loading

Data & Media loading...

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error