Abstract. It is known that plant invasions are of major concern as they result in loss of biodiversity and alterations in ecosystem processes and functions. Although numerous mechanisms have been postulated to find out the reasons behind plant invasiveness, the actual and precise mechanism is still obscure. Soil microbes are considered as one of the important determinants of plant growth and establishment. Plant invasion leads to changes in the composition and structure of soil microorganisms. Most of the earlier studies have focused on the aboveground mechanisms of plant invasion. Recently the belowground mechanisms for plant invasion are being investigated. In this review, we focus on the various hypotheses related to soil microbes in either enhancing or suppressing plant invasions. The interactions between soil microbes with native and non-native plant species, the role of the plant-soil feedback system in the invasion and its impact, the function of mycorrhizal and bacterial symbiosis in plant species invasion and the role of soil biota and changes brought about in soil nutrient cycling and soil enzymes due to plant invasion are also discussed.

The anatomical description of the vegetative parts (leaf, leaf sheath, stem and root) and mycorrhizal morphology of Schoenorchis nivea (Lindl.) Schltr., belonging to the subfamily Epidendroideae of Orchidaceae was investigated. Leaves were amphistomatic covered by 10-12 μm thick cuticle, stomata paracytic with small and irregular substomatal chambers. Mesophyll homogenous, composed of thin-walled chlorenchymatous cells. Banded water-storage cells abundant in the mesophyll and the largest vascular bundle occurred at the centre of the leaf. The leaf sheath has both adaxial and abaxial epidermis covered with cuticle, homogenous mesophyll, water-storage cells, raphides and vascular bundles. The stem is surrounded by a uniseriate epidermis, cortex consisting of thick-walled fibers and collateral vascular bundles scattered in the ground tissue. Cortical proliferation was evident in S. nivea stem. Root hairs present in root regions were in contact with the substratum. Root hairs frequently branched at their tips. Root possess 2-3 layered velamen, ∩-thickened exodermal cells, O-thickened uniseriate endodermis, and cortex of thin-walled parenchymatous cells containing raphides and water-storage cells. Cover cells present. Xylem arches are 9-11, with vascular tissues embedded in sclerenchymatous cells. Pith composed of thick-walled sclerenchymatous cells with intercellular space. The stomatal characteristics in leaf, the size of water-storage cells and vascular bundles exhibited significant variation in different plant parts. Intact and degenerating pelotons of orchid mycorrhizal fungi were observed in the root cortical cells. The observations of the present study clearly indicate that S. nivea possesses several anatomical adaptations to thrive in epiphytic habitats.

The present study aims to assess the impact of soil types (Alfisol and Vertisol) on mycorrhizal dependency and nutrient acquisition in ten genotypes of finger millet (

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Gloriosa superba L. is of great economic importance due to its high medicinal value.Nevertheless, there is a need to reexamine species delimitation in the Gloriosa taxa as most of the species have been synonymised as G. superba. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to investigate the vegetative anatomical traits of G. superba.The leaf, scale leaf, tendril, stem, tuber, and roots of G. superba were freehand sectioned and stained with various staining solutions to record the anatomical structures.The cellular dimensions of each plant part were measured. The present study revealed the presence of intercostal and costal regions in the leaf epidermis, anomocytic stomata on abaxial surface, uniseriate epidermis covered by cuticle, undifferentiated mesophyll, and a bundle sheath surrounding vascular bundles in a leaf. Unlike the leaf, the scale leaf contains air chambers in the mesophyll region and bundle sheath is absent. The tendril had uniseriate cuticularized epidermis followed by few layers of cells developing wall thickenings, and collateral vascular bundles. The mature stem is differentiated from the young stem by the presence of bi-layered epidermis, the absence of stomata on the stem surface, and chlorenchymatous hypodermis. Air passage containing epidermis covered by thin cuticle is recorded in the stem. Starch grains are present in the tuber ground tissue. Velamen is reported for the first time in G. superba root. Scalariform perforation end plate present in root metaxylem. Roots of G. superba are colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal and dark septate endophytic fungi. Therefore, these anatomical traits could aid in the identification of G. superba. Research Highlights• Anatomy of vegetative parts of Gloriosa superba was studied.• Air-passage enveloped by uniseriate epidermis present in stem.• Bundle sheath surrounds vascular bundles of leaf and stem.• Cells of rhizome ground tissue contain abundant starch grains.• Velamen tissue is reported for the first time in roots.