Optimizing conditions of mycelial inoculum immobilized in Ca-alginate beads: a case study in ectomycorrhizal fungus Astraeus odoratus

Ectomycorrhizal inoculum has emerged as a critical tool for forest restoration, especially under challenging climate change conditions. The inoculation of selective ectomycorrhizal fungi can enhance seedling survival and subsequent growth in the field. This study optimized the liquid media for mycelial growth of Astraeus odoratus strain K1 and the sodium alginate solution composition for enhanced mycelial viability after entrapment. Using Modified Melin-Norkrans as the optimal media for mycelial cultivation and 2% sodium alginate supplemented with Czapek medium, 0.25% activated charcoal, 5% sucrose, and 5% sorbitol in the alginate solution yielded the highest viability of A. odoratus mycelia. Preservation in distilled water and 10% glycerol at 25 °C for 60 days proved to be the most effective storage condition for the alginate beads. Both fresh and preserved alginate beads were tested for colonizing on Hopea odorata Roxb. seedlings, showing successful colonization and ectomycorrhizal root formation, with over 49% colonization. This study fills a crucial gap in biotechnology and ectomycorrhizal inoculum, paving the way for more effective and sustainable forest restoration practices.

Reforestation and Sustainable Management of Pinus merkusii Forest Plantation in Indonesia: A Review

Pinus merkusii Jungh et de Vriese, known as Tusam or Sumatran pine, is the only pine that grows naturally in the south of the Equator with its natural distribution found in Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The Sumatran pine is an economically and ecologically important species in Indonesia that covers three native strains, Aceh, Kerinci, and Tapanuli. The resin tapping of the pine has been practiced for hundreds of years while its timber has long been commercially used for various purposes. Although the pine is known as highland species, its adaptability on a wide spectrum environment makes it suitable for various restoration and rehabilitation purposes both in lowland and highland sites. Its high commercial values have also made the species be massively planted in pine plantations outside their natural distribution in Sumatera (i.e., in Java and Sulawesi island). This paper will review the current condition of Sumatran pine and its potential as a restoration and rehabilitation species and delivering its natural and artificial distribution map in Indonesia. In addition, the paper will also show the genetic variability of the species, determine the current innovative practices in silvicultural aspect both at nursery and plantation scales, describe tree improvement program, including its role in agroforestry practices, pine product both timber and non-timber, and its potential resources in relation with climate change mitigation management.

From field sampling to pneumatic bioreactor mycelia production of the ectomycorrhizal mushroom Laccaria trichodermophora

In order to increase survival rates of greenhouse seedlings destined for restoration and conservation programs, successful mycorrhization of the seedlings is necessary. To reforest forest ecosystems, host trees must be inoculated with ectomycorrhizal fungi and, in order to guarantee a sufficient supply of ectomycorrhizal inoculum, it is necessary to develop technologies for the mass production of ectomycorrhizal fungi mycelia. We selected the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria trichodermophora, due to its ecological traits and feasible mycelia production in asymbiotic conditions. Here, we report the field sampling of genetic resources, as well as the highly productive nutritional media and cultivation parameters in solid cultures. Furthermore, in order to achieve high mycelial production, we used strain screening and evaluated pH, carbon source concentration, and culture conditions of submerged cultures in normal and baffled shake flasks. The higher productivity culture conditions in shake flasks were selected for evaluation in a pneumatic bioreactor, using modified BAF media with a 10 g/L glucose, pH 5.5, 25 °C, and a volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient (K_La) of 36 h^-1. Under those conditions less biomass (12-37 %) was produced in the pneumatic bioreactor compared with the baffled shake flasks. This approach shows that L. trichodermophora can generate a large biomass concentration and constitute the biotechnological foundation of its mycelia mass production.

Maintenance and preservation of ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Short- to long-term preservation of mycorrhizal fungi is essential for their in-depth study and, in the case of culture collections, for safeguarding their biodiversity. Many different maintenance/preservation methods have been developed in the last decades, from soil- and substrate-based maintenance to preservation methods that reduce (e.g., storage under water) or arrest (e.g., cryopreservation) growth and metabolism; all have advantages and disadvantages. In this review, the principal methods developed so far for ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are reported and described given their distinct biology/ecology/evolutionary history. Factors that are the most important for their storage are presented and a protocol proposed which is applicable, although not generalizable, for the long-term preservation at ultra-low temperature of a large panel of these organisms. For ECM fungi, isolates should be grown on membranes or directly in cryovials until the late stationary growth phase. The recommended cryopreservation conditions are: a cryoprotectant of 10% glycerol, applied 1-2 h prior to cryopreservation, a slow cooling rate (1 °C min(-1)) until storage below -130 °C, and fast thawing by direct plunging in a water bath at 35-37 °C. For AMF, propagules (i.e., spores/colonized root pieces) isolated from cultures in the late or stationary phase of growth should be used and incorporated in a carrier (i.e., soil or alginate beads), preferably dried, before cryopreservation. For in vitro-cultured isolates, 0.5 M trehalose should be used as cryoprotectant, while isolates produced in vivo can be preserved in dried soil without cryoprotectant. A fast cryopreservation cooling rate should be used (direct immersion in liquid nitrogen or freezing at temperatures below -130 °C), as well as fast thawing by direct immersion in a water bath at 35 °C.

Axenic culture and encapsulation of the intraradical forms of Glomus spp

In recent years there have been many attempts to cultivate in vitro vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi which are obligate symbionts. Resting spores extracted from soils are often used as inoculum. Mycorrhizal root pieces are also used for inoculation but the role of intra-radical structures has not been clearly established. On agar medium vegetative mycelium was regenerated from individual intra-radical vesicles and from hyphae extracted by enzymatic maceration. After cell penetration, the mycelium probably accumulates substances which allow growth of VAM fungi in pure culture. When associated with tomato roots, this mycelium forms typical mycorrhizae. Encapsulation stabilized the biological properties of mycorrhizal roots and isolated vesicles. The immobilization also preserved the infectivity of the intra-radical hyphae and vesicles. After 25 years of exclusive utilization of resting spores as starting material for axenic and dual cultures of VAM fungi, it appears that intra-radical vesicles may be preferable propagules.

Preservation at ultra-low temperature of in vitro cultured arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi via encapsulation-drying

At present, over 300 species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been identified, most of which being stored in international collections. Their maintenance is mostly achieved in greenhouse via continuous culture on trap plants or in vitro in association with excised root organs. Both methods are work-intensive and for the former present the risk of unwanted contaminations. The in vitro root organ culture of AMF has become an alternative preventing contamination. Nevertheless, the risk for somaclonal variation during the sub-cultivation process cannot be excluded. A method for the long-term conservation that guarantees the stability of the biological material is thus highly demanded to preserve the microorganisms and their genetic stability. Here, 12 AMF isolates cultured in vitro in association with excised carrot roots were encapsulated in alginate beads and subsequently cryopreserved. Several protocols were tested taking into consideration culture age, alginate bead pre-drying, and rate of decrease in temperature. The viability of the AMF isolates was estimated by the percentage of potentially infective beads (%PIB) that measure the % of beads that contain at least one germinated propagule. Thermal behaviour of alginate beads was analysed by a differential thermal calorimeter before and after drying to estimate the frozen and unfrozen water during the cryopreservation process. It was shown that the spore damage was directly related to ice formation during cryopreservation. The encapsulation and culture age were also determinant parameters for the successful cryopreservation. Irrespective of the AMF isolate, the optimal procedure for cryopreservation comprised five steps: (1) the encapsulation of propagules (i.e. spores and mycorrhizal root pieces) isolated from 5m old cultures, (2) the incubation overnight in trehalose (0.5M), (3) the drying during 48h at 27°C, (4) the cryopreservation in the freezer at -130°C following a two-step decrease in temperature: a fast decrease (∼12°Cmin(-1)) from room temperature (+20°C) to -110°C followed by a slow decrease in temperature (∼1°Cmin(-1)) from -110°C to -130°C, and (5) the direct thawing in a water bath (+35°C). The % PIB was above 70 % for all the isolates and even above 95% for 11 out of the 12 isolates after several months of storage at ultra-low temperature. All the isolates kept their capacity to associate to an excised carrot root in vitro and to reproduce the fungal life cycle with the production of several hundreds to thousands of spores after 2m. This method opens the door for the long-term maintenance at ultra-low temperature of AMF isolates within international repositories.

Long-term viability and infectivity of intraradical forms of Glomus intraradices vesicles encapsulated in alginate beads

Intraradical vesicles of Glomus intraradices were isolated, entrapped in alginate beads, and stored at 4 degrees C for periods from 2-74 months. The beads were used to inoculate leeks grown under standard conditions for 6 wk, then development of root colonization by G. intraradices was recorded. Colonization of leeks was high (mean > 50% in length) and did not vary markedly until five years of storage. After six years of storage, the inoculum proved infective and viable.

Cultivation techniques for the production of ectomycorrhizal fungi

Ectomycorrhizal fungi have a valuable role to play in current agricultural practices. In order to produce inocula for use in laboratory, nursery and field trials it is first necessary to isolate the organism, grow it in axenic culture and produce sufficient quantities of the fungus. The methods currently employed to cultivate this group of fungi are considered.