Aqueous biphasic system to extract arbuscular mycorrhizal spores from soils

The aqueous biphasic system (ABS) method using PEG and ammonium sulphate improved the recovery of spores from tropical soils as compared with the sucrose gradient method. The ABS was not affected by low temperatures. The optimal recovery of spores was achieved when 100% PEG and 50% ammonium sulphate concentration and PEG8000 instead of PEG4000 were used. Under these conditions an optimal interface formation which facilitates the localization and recovery of spores was obtained. Both phases of the ABS are aqueous and did not affect either the viability of spores or the level of root colonization reached by these spores. Soil composition did not affect the number of spores obtained by the ABS method either.