Root fungal associations in some non-orchidaceous vascular lithophytes

Abstract

Plant roots in natural ecosystems are colonized by a diverse group of fungi among which the most common and widespread are arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and dark septate endophyte (DSE) fungi. Th ough AM and DSE fungal associations are well reported for terricolous plant species, they are rather poorly known for lithophytic plant species. In this study, we examined AM and DSE fungal association in 72 non-orchidaceous vascular plant species growing as lithophytes in Siruvani Hills, Western Ghats of Tamilnadu, India. Sixty-nine plant species had AM and 58 species had DSE fungal associations. To our knowledge, we report AM fungal association in 42 and DSE fungal association in 53 plant species for the fi rst time. Th ere were signifi cant diff erences in total root length colonization and root length colonized by diff erent AM and DSE fungal structures among plant species. In contrast, the diff erences in AM and DSE fungal colonization among plants in various life-forms and lifecycles were not signifi cant. AM morphology reported for the fi rst time in 56 plant species was dominated by intermediate type AM morphology. A signifi cant negative relationship existed between total root length colonized by AM and DSE fungi. Th ese results clearly suggest that AM and DSE fungal associations are widespread in lithophytes.

Endophytic Colonisation of Solanum lycopersicum and Phaseolus vulgaris by Fungal Endophytes Promotes Seedlings Growth and Hampers the Reproductive Traits, Development, and Survival of the Greenhouse Whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum

“…In this study, the dead insects which were exposed to the endophytically colonised plants did not show any mycosis. Even though the intercellular presence of endophytic fungi through artificial inoculation/colonisation and their systemic effects on herbivorous pests/diseases have been demonstrated by several authors (Hardoim et al, 2008;Yuan et al, 2011;Hiruma et al, 2016;Muthukumar et al, 2016), limited studies have provided evidence of fungal spores/conidia growth on infected cadavers exposed to the endophytically colonised host plants (Garrido-Jurado et al, 2017;Gange et al, 2019). Therefore, the reason for the registered mortality might probably be a result of the bioactive secondary metabolites rather than the fungus itself.…”