Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #147782
Title: ISOLATED ROOT CAPS, BORDER CELLS, AND MUCILAGE FROM HOST ROOTS STIMULATE HYPHAL BRANCHING OF AN ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGUS

Author
item Nagahashi, Gerald

Submitted to: Mycologia
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/20/2004
Publication Date: 9/21/2004
Citation: Nagahashi, G. 2004. Isolated root caps, border cells, and mucilage from host roots stimulate hyphal branching of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus. Mycologia 108(9) p. 1079-1088.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The results presented here deal with the precolonization role of particulate and viscous fractions isolated from host roots. Root caps and mucilage were rapidly isolated and separated from Ri T-DNA transformed carrot roots (Daucus carota L.) grown in vitro in the presence and absence of phosphorus. In addition, border cells (BC's) and mucilage were removed from aseptically grown corn roots (Zea mays L.). The isolated fractions were tested in an in vitro bioassay using germinated spores of Gigaspora gigantea. All three isolated fractions (root caps, BC's, and mucilage) contained compounds which stimulate branching of the fungus. These results demonstrate why infection of a host root can occur at sites far away from the site of root exudation.