A Petri dish technique for the aseptic synthesis of ectomycorrhizae

An improved technique was developed for the aseptic synthesis of ectomycorrhizae in Petri dishes. Within 2 weeks after inoculation of a first-order lateral, ectomycorrhizae were formed on Larix laricina and Pinus banksiana with Hebeloma cylindrosporum, Laccaria bicolor, and Pisolithus tinctorius. The technique should be useful for addressing physiological and biochemical questions concerning microbial interactions with roots of whole plants.