For each single species culture, the alginate beads
contained a mean of 50±5 propagules, except forGigaspora
sp. MUCL 52331 (each bead contained 5±1 propagules). The
encapsulated propagules were maintained for 1 month at
−130 °C. Non-cryopreserved dried beads containing propagules were used as controls and tested at the time the preserved AMF were frozen potentially infective beads (%PIB), i.e., the percentage of beads
containing at least one germinated propagule (Declerck et al.
1996). For each single species culture and treatment, root
colonization and spore production were checked under a stereomicroscope after 8 weeks.