The Effect of Fatty Acids on Mycelium Growth of Cetraspora pellucida in Asymbiotic Culture

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known to be obligate symbionts with plant roots. However, recent studies have revealed that a few species of AMF demonstrate different growth patterns and even spore production in absence of plant roots when grown on a medium supplemented with fatty acids. This study focused on observing the different growth patterns of Cetraspora pellucida in asymbiotic cultures using media containing fatty acids and a non-fatty acid medium. Three types of media were used: a non-fatty acid medium, a medium containing potassium myristate, and a medium containing three kinds of fatty acids (potassium myristate, potassium palmitate and potassium stearate). There were no significant differences in germination rates and the total length of hyphae across all media. C. pellucida exhibited the same growth patterns in two types of medium containing fatty acids. However, on the non-fatty acids medium C. pellucida developed long, coiled hyphae, while on the fatty acids-supplemented medium developed short, branched hyphae. C. pellucida formed aerial hyphae only in the medium containing fatty acids.