Characterisation and Identification of Ectomycorrhizae of Russula (Russulaceae: Basidiomycota) Associated With Shorea Robusta

Abstract

The tropical moist deciduous forests of India are largely dominated by the dipterocarp tree Shorea robusta (also known as sal). Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi form symbiotic association with sal trees and play an important role in the stability of the sal forests. A study was carried out to determine the occurrence and distribution of ECM fungi in tropical sal forests at the Shiwalik mountain range, northwest India. The genus Russula was the dominant fungi. In this paper the morphoanatomical details of mycorrhizal roots of S. robusta associated with three Russula species, namely, R. cremeoavallanea, R. romagnesiana and R. nigricans were investigated for the first time. The ECM colonised roots were distinguished by differences in the shape and colour of mycorrhizal system, surface texture, shape and size of cystidia, cell shape of mantle, as well as the differing chemical reactions. ECM roots of sal associated with R. cremeoavallanea were mostly greyish brown and have almost plectenchymatous outer mantle layers having subcylindrical to awl-shaped cystidia. Ectomycorrhizal roots of R. romagnesiana were reddish brown with silvery patches, and have purely plectenchymatous outer mantle layers having obpyriform to obclavate cystidia. Russula nigricans-associated ectomycorrhizal roots have greyish brown to black mycorrhizal system and have almost pseudoparenchymatous dark brown mantle with capitate cystidial elements.

Ecology and Diversity of Ectomycorrhiza in moist Tropical Forest of Sunsari District, Eastern Nepal

“…The present results show that most of the tree species were colonized with a member of Russulaceae which is in agreement with the results reported elsewhere (Sharma et al, 2009;Kumar & Atri, 2019). The species Hemileccinum hortonii (Fig.…”

Characterisation and identification of ectomycorrhizae formed by the species of Asproinocybe (Tricholomataceae) and Inocybe (Inocybaceae) with the roots of the tropical sal tree Shorea robusta (Dipterocarpaceae)

“…Kuntze var. volemus, were also confirmed as EcM associates of sal roots by observing the direct hyphal connection between sal roots and mushrooms besides examining the morpho-anatomical details of these roots (Kumar, Atri, 2016, 2019, 2020a. In fact, EcM fungi are poorly studied in tropical sal forests as compared to other forests in India (Riviére et al, 2007;Tapwal et al, 2013).…”

“…Of the total EcM descriptions published so far, only 16 descriptions are available for different species of Shorea in family Dipterocarpaceae (Agerer, Rambold, 2004Roman et al, 2005;Rinaldi et al, 2008). Out of these, as many as 8 descriptions are of S. robusta (Kumar, Atri, 2016, 2019, 2020a. Hence, with the present study the number of EcM descriptions for Dipterocarpaceae has gone up to 18 and for S. robusta up to 10.…”

“…ex Fr. (Natarajan et al, 2005;Tapwal et al, 2013;Kumar, Atri, 2016, 2019, 2020a. As far as study of EcM association of sal with these fungi is concerned, not much work is available in this regard (Alexander, Selosse, 2009;Kumar, Atri, 2018, 2019, 2020a.…”

Are Gasteromycetes Silent Helpers in Habitat Conservation?

“…To further understand the habitat structure, an abundance plot was constructed showing a tendency where Russula littoralis maintained ranked of abundance via both seasons. Russula is a highly diverse EM with a critical role in maintaining forest ecosystems and biodiversity (Corrales et al 2016; Kumar and Atri 2019; Nuske et al 2019). Part of the reported flora was Coccoloba diversifolia and C. uvifera (Weaver and Schwagerl 2009a).…”