2024 Vol. 30 No.2 PP 246-252
https://doi.org/10.33451/florafauna.v30i2pp246-252
Roots invaders: Morphology and Colonization of dark septate endophytes in invasive plants of tropical dry deciduous forest of Chhattisgarh, India
Sakshi Gautam, Ithi Gupta, Rajendra Mehta and *Bhaskar Chaurasia
1 *ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research,
LUCKNOW (UP) INDIA 226 001
..
Department of Rural Technology and Social Development,
Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University),
KONI-495009, BILASPUR (CHHATTISGARH) INDIA
Email- b.ch.myco@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
This is the first-ever report on the occurrence of DSE in the Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest of Central India, Chhattisgarh.
This study delves into the current status of root invaders (DSE) in ten invasive plants of the Tropical Forest of Central India,
collected from four different study sites i.e. Belgahna Forest, Bilaspur Forest, Kota Forest and Ratanpur Forest. The present
study emphasizes the association of DSE colonization in invasive plants under Tropical climatic conditions. More than 80% of
roots of Senna tora was found to be colonized with the DSE, while no structure of DSE was found associated with the roots of
Alternanthera sessilis in all four study sites. Different types of structures i.e. microsclerotium, hyaline hyphae, melanized hyphae,
and septate mycelium were observed in the roots of all invasive plants studied except A. sessilis. The occurrence of DSE in
invasive plants of Tropical Forest may be one of the major causes that helps them in growth and survival in extreme environmental
climatic conditions. Isolation, identification, and inoculation of these DSE may be helpful for the development of healthy nursery
stock for the plantation in extreme environments where no regular irrigation facility is available.
KEY WORDS : Dark Septate Endophytes, DSE, Hyphae, Invasive plants, Microsclerotia, Tropical Forest.