Habitational abiotic environmental factors alter Arbuscular mycorrhizal composition, species richness and diversity index in Abroma augusta L. (Malvaceae) rhizosphere

Abstract

The scarce occurrence along with over-exploitation of Abroma augusta vis-à-vis its usage by practitioners of traditional medicinal system has augmented its importance among researchers and conservation biologists. The present study was an attempt to examine the alterations induced by abiotic environmental (i.e. climatic, biotic and physiographic) factors related to the plant habitat on the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungal partners of the target plant. Rhizospheric soils collected from 24 study sites of eight natural locations under six habitats from the Brahmaputra valley, Assam, India were assessed for AM populations. Through this study, a total of 22 AM fungal species under three genera (i.e. Glomus, Gigaspora and Acaulospora) were isolated. Riverine habitat augments AM spore density (155±1.19) while fallows are characterized by maximum colonization by hyphae (80±0.45) and arbuscules (10±0.18). It is evident that increase in soil temperature and electrical conductivity, exhibited declining effect on the percent root colonization, AM spore numbers per 50 g of soil as well as AM ecological indices. The association between rhizospheric fungal biota including endomycorrhizae and abiotic soil properties can be exclusively advocated for a broader utilization as an ecological indicator for the conservation of target plant species which is discussed in this research paper.

Trichoderma harzianumRifai: A Beneficial Fungus for Growth and Development ofAbroma augustaL. Seedlings with Other Microbial Bio-Inoculants

“…This plant species is present in Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland states of north eastern Himalayas. The plant species is declining in number due to exploitation and lack of awareness and also facing severe threat due to biotic pressure [3]. According to one of report [4], there are only 2000 medicinal plants known in Brahmaputra valley and Assam hills in North East India in which important ones are A. augusta, Smilax glabra, Aquilaria malaccensis and Hydnocarpus kurzii.…”

The Morphological and Anatomical Studies of The Aerial Parts of Abroma augusta L. from Semarang

“…This plant is also found in Muaro Jambi District, Mendalo Darat Village, and the community has used it is to treat the inflammation of the joints and fractures (Latief et al, 2020). As a medicinal plant, it is important for conservation as has been studied by Parkash & Saikia (2015) who examined the association between some abiotic soil properties and rhizospheric fungal biota as an ecological indicator for the conservation of A. augusta L.…”