Preservation of Spores of Vesicular-Arbuscular Endophytes by L-Drying

The spores of four species of vesicular-arbuscular endophytes were L-dried at 22 degrees C, and their viability was tested after heating at 80 degrees C for up to 40 min. L-drying of spores in the soil in which they developed was a very effective method of preservation of all spore types examined. Slow L-drying of spores separated from soil and supported on glass fiber filters also gave high viability for spores of some species. A scheme for the long-term preservation of vesicular-arbuscular endophyte spores is proposed.