Quantification of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi by quantitative polymerase chain reaction

Authors: Sarah Symanczik, Natacha Bodenhausen

Problem: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) root colonization is traditionally measured by microscopy. Roots are first stained and then carefully mounted on a glass slide before examination on the microscope to identify and count fungal structures inside the roots. But microscopy is labor-intensive, and results depend on the observer.

Solution: Methods such as, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) can improve quantification and analysis of AMF. This practice abstract provides a short protocol describing qPCR as a method to quantify AMF in plant roots.

zenodo.org: Quantification of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi by quantitative polymerase chain reaction