Vegetos
(An International Journal of Plant Research & Biotechnology)
(eISSN: 2229-4473)
Physicochemical soil properties and arbuscular mycorrhizal associations in Marsilea populations of Kota, Rajasthan, India
*Article not assigned to an issue yet
Research Articles | Published: 07 August, 2026
First Page: 0
Last Page: 0
Views: 14
Keywords: Hadauti plateau, n Marsilea cf. coromandelinan , Arbuscular mycorrhiza, Endemic fern, Conservation, Soil properties
Abstract
The fern genus Marsilea in the Hadauti Plateau is represented mainly by two species. Marsilea minuta is widely distributed in aquatic habitats throughout the year, whereas Marsilea cf. coromandelina is restricted to a small population near Borawas village (Kota) and occurs seasonally, indicating its rarity and dependence on specific environmental conditions. This study investigated the soil physicochemical properties and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) associations of M. cf. coromandelina populations in the Hadauti region. Morphological variation was observed in petiole length, leaflet size, leaflet margin, and sporocarp characteristics. Soil properties varied among sites, with pH ranging from 6.43 to 8.10, electrical conductivity from 0.45 to 0.58 dS m⁻1, and differences in organic carbon, nutrient availability, and water-holding capacity. The Borawas population, characterized by relatively low phosphorus and higher electrical conductivity, exhibited distinct morphological traits, suggesting the influence of edaphic factors on population differentiation. Root analysis revealed 50–60% AM fungal colonization, with hyphae and vesicles present in cortical tissues and fungal penetration occurring through appressoria followed by intercellular and intracellular hyphal spread. These findings indicate that AM symbiosis may enhance nutrient acquisition and ecological adaptation, contributing to the persistence of this rare fern. This study provides the first report of AM associations in M. cf. coromandelina from the Hadauti Plateau and establishes a baseline for future ecological and conservation research.
References
Anderson JM, Ingram JSI (1993) Soil biology and fertility: a handbook of methods, 2nd ed. CAB International, Wallingford
Cappuccino JG, Sherman N (2014) Microbiology: a laboratory manual. Pearson Education
Chen Q, Song Y, An Y, Lu Y, Zhong G (2024) Soil microorganisms: their role in enhancing crop nutrition and health. Diversity 16(12):734. https://doi.org/10.3390/d16120734
Colpaert JV, Van Tichelen KK, Van Assche JA, Van Laere A (1999) Short-term phosphorus uptake rates in mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal roots of intact Pinus sylvestris seedlings. New Phytol 143(3):589–597. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1469-8137.1999.00471.x
Dasgupta D, Brahmaprakash GP (2021) Soil microbes are shaped by soil physico-chemical properties: a brief review of existing literature. Int J Plant Soil Sci 33(1):59–71. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijpss/2021/v33i130409
Diagne N, Ngom M, Djighaly PI, Fall D, Hocher V, Svistoonoff S (2020) Roles of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on plant growth and performance: importance in biotic and abiotic stressed regulation. Diversity 12(10):370. https://doi.org/10.3390/d12100370
Evelin H, Kapoor R, Giri B (2009) Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in alleviation of salt stress: a review. Ann Bot 104(7):1263–1280. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcp251
Fernandez NV, Messuti MI, Fontenla SB (2013) Occurrence of arbuscular mycorrhizas and dark septate endophytes in pteridophytes from a Patagonian rainforest, Argentina. J Basic Microbiol 53(6):498–508. https://doi.org/10.1002/jobm.201100613
Ighalo JO, Ohoro CR, Ojukwu VE, Oniye M, Shaikh WA, Biswas JK, Seth CS, Malli Mohan GB, Chandran SA, Rangabhashiyam S (2025) Biochar for ameliorating soil fertility and microbial diversity: from production to action of the black gold. iScience 28(1):111524. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.111524
Jackson ML (1967) Soil chemical analysis. Prentice Hall of India Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi
Jackson ML (1973) Soil chemical analysis: advanced course. Prentice Hall of India Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi
Jayasanka Senavirathna MDH, Wijesinghe NA, Lui Z, Fujino T (2020) Effects of short-term exposure to different salinity levels on Myriophyllum spicatum and Ceratophyllum demersum and suitability of biomarkers to evaluate macrophyte responses to salinity stress. Ann Limnol - Int J Lim 56:23. https://doi.org/10.1051/limn/2020021
Johnson DM (1986) Systematics of the new world species of Marsilea (Marsileaceae). Syst Bot Monogr 11:1–87. https://doi.org/10.2307/25027626
Keen BA, Raczkowski H (1921) Relation between the clay content and certain physical properties of a soil. J Agric Sci 11(4):441–449. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021859600004469
Kessler M, Jonas R, Strasberg D, Lehnert M (2010) Mycorrhizal colonizations of ferns and lycophytes on the island of La Réunion in relation to nutrient availability. Basic Appl Ecol 11(4):329–336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2010.01.002
Khade S, Rodrigues B (2001) Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with some pteridophytes from western Ghat region Goa. Trop Ecol 43(2):251–256
Khan Y, Shah S, Li D, Yang F (2025) Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-mediated abiotic stress tolerance: emerging roles in nutrient exchange, antioxidant defence, and hormonal crosstalk. Plant Stress 18:101068. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stress.2025.101068
Kumari P, Bhatia M, Giri P, Uniyal PL (2024) Mycorrhizal association and its relation with pteridophytes. Front Microbiol 15:1406891. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1406891
Latef AAHA, Miransari M (2014) The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in alleviation of salt stress. In: Miransari M (ed) Use of microbes for the alleviation of soil stresses. Springer, New York, pp 23–28
Lindsay WL, Norvel WA (1978) Development of a DTPA test for zinc, iron, manganese and copper. Soil Sci Soc Am J 4:421–428. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1978.03615995004200030009x
Lugo MA, Negritto MA, Crespo EM, Iriarte HJ, Núñez S, Espinosa LF, Pagano MC (2024) Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as a salt bioaccumulation mechanism for the establishment of a neotropical halophytic fern in saline soils. Microorganisms 12(12):2587. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12122587
Olsen SR, Cole CV, Watanabe FS, Dean LA (1954) Estimating of available phosphorus in soil by extraction with sodium bicarbonate. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
Phillips JM, Hayman DS (1970) Improved procedures for clearing roots and staining parasitic and vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for rapid assessment of infection. Trans Br Mycol Soc 55:158–161. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0007-1536(70)80110-3
Pressel S, Bidartondo MI, Field KJ, Rimington WR, Duckett JG (2016) Pteridophyte fungal associations: current knowledge and future perspectives. J Syst Evol 54(6):666–678. https://doi.org/10.1111/jse.12227
Seerangan K, Thangavelu M (2014) Arbuscular mycorrhizal and dark septate endophyte fungal associations in South Indian aquatic and wetland macrophytes. J Botany. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/173125
Sharma P, Bhardwaj N (2014) Assessment of genetic diversity among Marsilea populations of Hadoti Plateau as revealed by RAPD markers. Int J Pure Appl Biosci 2(2):254–261
Sharma P, Bhardwaj N (2015) Studies on Marsilea coromandelina complex population from Borawas village of Kota, Rajasthan, India. Indian Fern J 32:154–165
Sharma P, Bhardwaj N (2017) Comparative reproductive performance of the two Marsilea species of Hadauti region, Rajasthan, India. Indian Fern J 34:63–72
Sharma P, Bhardwaj N, Supriya (2019) Comparative anatomical study of Marsilea populations growing in selected localities of Kota district, Rajasthan. Inter Arch App Sci Technol. 10:47–52. https://doi.org/10.15515/iaast.0976-4828.10.1.4752
Sharma P, Bhardwaj N (2012). In-vitro studies of Marsilea populations of Hadauti Plateau. In: Proceedings of national conference on biodiversity depletion: causes, consequences and solutions. University grants commission, department of botany, M.L.V. Government College, Bhilwara, Rajasthan, India, pp 113–116.
Shi ZY, Zhang LY, Li XL, Feng G, Tian CY, Christie P (2007) Diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with desert ephemerals in plant communities of Junggar Basin, northwest China. Appl Soil Ecol 35:10–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2006.06.002
Smith SE, Read DJ (2008) The symbionts forming arbuscular mycorrhizas. Mycorrhizal symbiosis, 3rd ed. Academic Press, London
Soti PG, Jayachandran K, Koptur S, Volin JC (2015) Effect of soil pH on growth, nutrient uptake, and mycorrhizal colonization in exotic invasive Lygodium microphyllum. Plant Ecol 216:989–998. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-015-0484-6
Subbiah BV, Asija GL (1956) A rapid procedure of the determination of available nitrogen in soil. Curr Sci 25:259–260
Van der Heijden MGA, Martin FM, Selosse MA, Sanders IR (2015) Mycorrhizal ecology and evolution: the past, the present, and the future. New Phytol 205(4):1406–1423. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.13288
Walkey A, Black IA (1934) An examination of the Degtjareff method for determining soil organic matter and a proposed modification of the, chromic acid titration method. Soil Sci 37:29–38. https://doi.org/10.1097/00010694-193401000-00003
Wang K, Zhao Z (2006) Occurrence of arbuscular mycorrhizas and dark septate endophytes in hydrophytes from lakes and streams in southwest China. Int Rev Hydrobiol 91:29–37. https://doi.org/10.1002/iroh.200510827
Wang G, Jin Z, George TS, Feng G, Zhang L (2023) Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhance plant phosphorus uptake through stimulating hyphosphere soil microbiome functional profiles for phosphorus turnover. New Phytol 238(6):2578–2593. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.18772
Wang Q, Liu M, Wang Z, Li J, Liu K, Huang D (2024) The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in plant abiotic stress. Front Microbiol 14:1323881. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1323881
Author Information
Department of Botany, Government College, University of Kota, Kota, India