Technology Description: The invention is a way to preserve beneficial mycorrhizal fungi in long-term storage through freeze drying. The invention makes it possible to practically produce and store fungi for up to one year for use in a soilless medium, facilitating growth of micropropagated ericaceous plants, such as fruit crops, blueberries, cranberries, as well as ornamentals. In nature, roots of these plants infected by mycorrhizal fungi improve mineral and water absorbing abilities. Previous attempts to achieve long-term storage of non-sporulating mycorrhizal fungi have been unsuccessful. The fungi retain the ability to form mycorrhizae when revitalized after long-term storage. The invention can be used in the production and preservation of mycorrhizal fungi from species in the Hymenoscyphus and Oidiodendron family. The fungi can be freeze dried in a soilless peat-based medium, providing a simple, ready-to-use inoculum for ericaceous plants, especially for plants propagated in vitro. Reference: Please refer to USPN 6,146,880, which issued on November 14, 2000. Inventors: Mark C. Starrett Steven R. Shafer Department of Plant and Soil Science Center for Plant Health Science and Technology University of Vermont USDA-APHIS Burlington, Vermont 05405 Raleigh, NC 27606 (802)656-0467; (802) 656-4656--fax (919) 513-2124; (919) 513-1995 -- fax   Frank A. Blazich Larry F. Grand Horticultural Science Department Plant Pathology Department North Carolina State University North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC 27695 Raleigh, NC 27695 (919) 515-1216; (919) 515-1505 --fax (919) 515-2667; (919)515-7716--fax