Inoculant Production of Ectomycorrhizal Fungi by Solid and Submerged Fermentations

Márcio J. Rossi¹*, Agenor Furigo Jr.² and Vetúria L. Oliveira<sup>1

1</sup>Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Caixa Postal 476, 88040-900 Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
²Departamento de Engenharia Química e Engenharia de Alimentos, Centro Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Caixa Postal 476, 88040-900 Florianópolis, SC, Brazil

Article history:
Received July 3, 2006
Accepted April 20, 2007

Key words:
vegetative inoculant, controlled mycorrhization, bioreactors, carriers, immobilization, calcium alginate

Summary:
Ectomycorrhizal fungi are very important for forestry practices. In order to develop controlled mycorrhization practices it is necessary to isolate and select ectomycorrhizal fungi that are able to colonize the intended plant species and that are efficient in promoting its growth under the environmental conditions prevailing in the plantation site. To be suitable for the inoculation of nursery seedlings, these fungi must be able to grow rapidly during large-scale cultivation and maintain high infectivity rates during storage. Even though several decades have passed since the first field-scale mycorrhizal experiments, the routine use of these fungi to inoculate plants is still not very common. The lack of suitable ectomycorrhizal inoculants in the market is one of the main factors contributing to this situation. This review presents and discusses techniques for the production and application of ectomycorrhizal inoculants, as well as the more recent studies aimed at developing reliable industrial production processes.

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