VIABILITY AND INFECTIVITY OF CERATOBASIDIUM SP. ENCAPSULATED IN ALGINATE BEADS UNDER DIFFERENT STORAGE CONDITIONS

Mycorrhizal fungi are important partners of orchids because they establish close symbiotic relationships with this group of plants, and its preservation is also important for the successful conservation of orchids. In the present study, the conservation of Ceratobasidium sp., a fungal symbiont, using encapsulation in alginate beads was tested over different times, temperatures of storage and dehydrated conditions. Osmotically dehydrated and air-dried beads were stored at room temperature (20 ± 2 °C), 4 °C, −20 °C and −80 °C. The fungal growth was verified after 4, 8, 26 and 96 weeks. A second test was carried out to evaluate the encapsulations of fungi as a form of inoculation in Trichoceros antennifer orchid to promote symbiosis and plants development. The results show that the encapsulation of Ceratobasidium in alginate beads is a viable strategy for its conservation, the beads are of easy manipulation and promote plant growth when inoculated in plant substrate. These results may be adopted as part of effective conservation strategies for mycorrhizal fungi and orchids.