Epipremnum aureum (Araceae) roots associated simultaneously with Glomeromycotina, Mucoromycotina and Ascomycota fungi

Abstract

Only a small number of aroids are examined for their symbiosis with glomeromycotean arbuscular mycorrhizal (GAM) fungi and the ascomycetous dark septate endophytic (DSE) fungi. Therefore we examined the aerial and terrestrial adventitious roots of Epipremnum aureum for the endophytic association and the soils for GAM spores. The aerial roots of E. aureum were free from fungal structures, whereas the terrestrial roots were colonized by GAM, fine root endophyte (FRE), and DSE fungi. The major portion of the terrestrial roots was colonized by FRE fungi followed by GAM and DSE fungi. The colonization pattern was a complex of Arum-Paris and intermediate types. Spores of Acaulospora, Funneliformis, Rhizophagus, Rhizophagus and Sclerocystis were isolated from the root zone soils. The results show that E. aureum can establish symbiosis with a wide range of endophytic fungi and FRE symbiosis is reported for the first time in aroids.

Endorrhizal fungal symbiosis in aroids of the Western Ghats, southern India

“…Also, in this study, P. stratiotes had dual colonization of DSE along with AM despite the latter being significantly higher. The occurrence of DSE symbiosis in Epipremnum aureum is consistent with the few investigations that have found DSE fungi colonizing roots of this aroid (Rains et al, 2003;Thangavelu and Tamilselvi, 2010;Muthukumar and Karthik, 2021). Lingfei et al (2005) suggested the percentage colonization of AM in plant roots was significantly influenced by the environmental factors, including P concentration in the soil, and precipitation.…”

“…Although the benefit of FRE symbiosis to plants is not well resolved like that for AM association, available evidence indicate that FRE fungi like AM fungi can aid plants in their nutrient acquisition (Hoysted et al, 2021;Howard et al, 2022). Nevertheless, the FRE symbiosis in aroids is not well reported as those for AM fungi (Muthukumar and Karthik, 2021).…”