Record ID No. |
1025 |
Author(s) |
Sujan, Singh , 2005 |
Affiliation |
TERI, Darbari Seth Block, IHC Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110 003, India. |
Title |
Fungal chitin and its use for estimation of mycorrhizal infection |
Source. Vol.(no):Page |
Mycorrhiza-News. 17(3): 2-9p. |
Categories |
Mycorrhiza General |
Subjects |
Mycorrhizal Synthesis |
Host |
Plants |
Organism |
AMF, EcM(Basidiomycetes, Ascomycetes ) |
Country |
India, Asia |
Abstracts |
Fungal cell walls are characterized by the presence of chitin, cellulose, or both. The arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi are generally placed in the family of Zygomycetes as this family is characterized by the presence of chitin in cell walls. Ectomycorrhizal fungi belonging to Basidiomycetes and Ascomycetes are also known to have chitin in their cell walls. The presence of chitin can thus be used as an indicator of infection of mycorrhizal fungi in plant roots. An assessment of the total and living biomass of the mycorrhizal fungi in plant roots is necessary to evaluate the degree of mycorrhization and effectiveness of mycorrhizal fungi in plants. Ergosterol, a fungal wall component, has been successfully used for assessment of living biomass of mycorrhizal fungi in mycorrhizal roots. The ergosterol estimation, however, does not indicate the fungal biomass, which has become inactive, senescent, or dead. Chitin estimation, however, indicates both living and dead/senescent fungal biomass, and it can thus be used to estimate the total biomass of the mycorrhizal fungi in mycorrhizal roots. |