C. Grace, D. P. Stribley
Oct 1, 1991
Citations
22
Influential Citations
310
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Fungal Biology
Abstract
Trypan blue is a popular stain for vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi but it is a possible human carcinogen. It is often used in solution in lactophenol, another hazardous chemical. Current safety regulations (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988: COSHH) require that where substances hazardous to health are currently used, safer substances should be substituted as far as possible. We describe a method for routine staining of large numbers of samples of mycorrhizas which uses the less hazardous combination of aniline blue or methyl blue and glycerol.