Use of the Indirect Immunofluorescent Technique to Study the Vesicular‐arbuscular Fungus Glomus Epigaeum and Other Glomus Species

Summary An antiserum for spores and hyphae of Glomus epigaeum was developed employing extracted chlamydospore walls as an antigen. The reaction with fungal material was visualized by an indirect immunofluorescent technique. The staining was most intense and uniform on hyphae from root preparations and on the inner spore walls and hyphal attachments from spore preparations. The staining reaction was strongest for G. epigaeum, but G. mosseae and G. deserticola also reacted. The staining reaction appeared to be specific for the genus Glomus, as endomycorrhizal species of Gigaspora, Acaulospora and other soil and root‐inhabiting fungi tested did not react.