Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate fungi (DSF) are symbionts that are associated with the roots of plants, including epiphytic lycophytes and ferns. Paris-type mycorrhiza and glomoid structures are the most common forms of colonization in these plants. This work aimed to evaluate the occurrence of these symbionts in the roots of epiphytic lycophytes and ferns as well as the diversity of AMF spores recovered from substrate associated with the roots of eleven species. Roots of Asplenium gastonis, Campyloneurum aglaolepis, C. nitidum, Niphidium crassifolium, Pecluma pectinatiformis, Phlegmariurus mandiocanus, Pleopeltis hirsutissima, P. pleopeltifolia andSelaginella microphyllahad hyphae and vesicles typical of AMF colonization, but not arbuscules.Campyloneurum nitidum, Pecluma pectinatiformis, Phlegmariurus mandiocanus, Pleopeltis pleopeltifolia and Selaginella microphyllahad melanized hyphae and microsclerotia typical of DSF. All species colonized by DSF were also colonized by AMF. Seventeen spore morphotypes of AMF were identified, of which six were acaulosporoid and eleven glomoid. Glomus aff. formosanum andAcaulospora aff. lacunosa were the most abundant and frequent species. Epiphytic lycophytes and ferns host concurrently AMF and DSF but colonization is scanty in their roots. For the first time, acaulosporoid spores and intraradical vesicles are reported for this group of plants.

Highlights

  • In the forest, the light gradient is vertically stratified and some epiphytic species are exposed to high radiation while others grow in almost complete shade (Graham & Andrade 2004)

  • Studies evaluating the presence of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate fungi (DSF) in epiphytic pteridophytes in South America were already made in Argentina (Fernández et al 2010; Lugo et al 2018), but in Brazil, despite the high biodiversity and cases of endemism in the most biomes, including Atlantic Forest (Freitas et al 2016), it is a not reality

  • Colonization by AMF and DSF was verified in the selected plants (Fig. 1), with the first group of fungi occurring in a greater number of species than the second

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Summary

Introduction

In the forest, the light gradient is vertically stratified and some epiphytic species are exposed to high radiation while others grow in almost complete shade (Graham & Andrade 2004). Arbuscular mycorrhizae occur in roots of angiosperms and gymnosperms, as well as some bryophytes, lycophytes and ferns (Souza et al 2010), and are recognized as being responsible for the conquest of land (Remy et al 1994; Taylor et al 1995). In this type of association, more than one species of fungus can colonize the roots, and a single species of mycorrhizal fungi can colonize more than one plant species, separately or simultaneously (Chilvers et al 1987; Wagg et al 2008).

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