Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi as a Salt Bioaccumulation Mechanism for the Establishment of a Neotropical Halophytic Fern in Saline Soils

<i>Acrostichum aureum</i> is a halophytic pantropical invasive fern growing in mangroves and swamps. Its association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has been reported in Asia. AMF and their symbiosis (AM) commonly colonise the absorption organs of terrestrial plants worldwide. Fu...

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Main Authors: Mónica A. Lugo, María A. Negritto, Esteban M. Crespo, Hebe J. Iriarte, Samuel Núñez, Luisa F. Espinosa, Marcela C. Pagano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Microorganisms
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/12/2587
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author Mónica A. Lugo
María A. Negritto
Esteban M. Crespo
Hebe J. Iriarte
Samuel Núñez
Luisa F. Espinosa
Marcela C. Pagano
author_facet Mónica A. Lugo
María A. Negritto
Esteban M. Crespo
Hebe J. Iriarte
Samuel Núñez
Luisa F. Espinosa
Marcela C. Pagano
author_sort Mónica A. Lugo
collection DOAJ
description <i>Acrostichum aureum</i> is a halophytic pantropical invasive fern growing in mangroves and swamps. Its association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has been reported in Asia. AMF and their symbiosis (AM) commonly colonise the absorption organs of terrestrial plants worldwide. Furthermore, AMF/AM are well known for their capacity to bioaccumulate toxic elements and to alleviate biotic and abiotic stress (e.g., salinity stress) in their hosts. However, the mechanisms underlying AMF involvement in the halophytism of <i>A. aureum</i> and the structures where NaCl accumulates remain unknown. This study shows that <i>A. aureum</i> forms AM in margins of natural thermal ponds in Neotropical wetlands. All mature sporophytes were colonised by AMF, with high percentages for root length (ca. 57%), arbuscules (23), and hyphae (25) and low values for vesicles (2%). In <i>A. aureum</i>–AMF symbiosis, NaCl accumulated in AMF vesicles, and CaSO<sub>4</sub> precipitated in colonised roots. Therefore, AM can contribute to the halophytic nature of this fern, allowing it to thrive in saline and thermal environments by capturing NaCl from fern tissues, compartmentalising it inside its vesicles, and precipitating CaSO<sub>4</sub>.
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spelling doaj-art-7f42543f6bdf4ace9ce5bda5addb31e02024-12-27T14:41:38ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072024-12-011212258710.3390/microorganisms12122587Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi as a Salt Bioaccumulation Mechanism for the Establishment of a Neotropical Halophytic Fern in Saline SoilsMónica A. Lugo0María A. Negritto1Esteban M. Crespo2Hebe J. Iriarte3Samuel Núñez4Luisa F. Espinosa5Marcela C. Pagano6Laboratorio de Micología, Diversidad e Interacciones Fúngicas (MICODIF), Área Ecología, Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis (UNSL), Ejército de los Andes 950, Bloque I, 2do Piso, Box 4, San Luis 5700, ArgentinaGrupo de Investigación en Manejo y Conservación de Fauna, Flora y Ecosistemas Estratégicos Neotropicales MIKU, Universidad del Magdalena, Calle 29H3 No. 22-01, Sector San Pedro Alejandrino, Santa Marta 470004, ColombiaLaboratorio de Micología, Diversidad e Interacciones Fúngicas (MICODIF), Área Ecología, Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis (UNSL), Ejército de los Andes 950, Bloque I, 2do Piso, Box 4, San Luis 5700, ArgentinaLaboratorio de Micología, Diversidad e Interacciones Fúngicas (MICODIF), Área Ecología, Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis (UNSL), Ejército de los Andes 950, Bloque I, 2do Piso, Box 4, San Luis 5700, ArgentinaGrupo de Investigación en Manejo y Conservación de Fauna, Flora y Ecosistemas Estratégicos Neotropicales MIKU, Universidad del Magdalena, Calle 29H3 No. 22-01, Sector San Pedro Alejandrino, Santa Marta 470004, ColombiaLaboratorio de Calidad Ambiental Marina (LABCAM) del Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (INVEMAR), Santa Marta 470006, ColombiaUniversidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil<i>Acrostichum aureum</i> is a halophytic pantropical invasive fern growing in mangroves and swamps. Its association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has been reported in Asia. AMF and their symbiosis (AM) commonly colonise the absorption organs of terrestrial plants worldwide. Furthermore, AMF/AM are well known for their capacity to bioaccumulate toxic elements and to alleviate biotic and abiotic stress (e.g., salinity stress) in their hosts. However, the mechanisms underlying AMF involvement in the halophytism of <i>A. aureum</i> and the structures where NaCl accumulates remain unknown. This study shows that <i>A. aureum</i> forms AM in margins of natural thermal ponds in Neotropical wetlands. All mature sporophytes were colonised by AMF, with high percentages for root length (ca. 57%), arbuscules (23), and hyphae (25) and low values for vesicles (2%). In <i>A. aureum</i>–AMF symbiosis, NaCl accumulated in AMF vesicles, and CaSO<sub>4</sub> precipitated in colonised roots. Therefore, AM can contribute to the halophytic nature of this fern, allowing it to thrive in saline and thermal environments by capturing NaCl from fern tissues, compartmentalising it inside its vesicles, and precipitating CaSO<sub>4</sub>.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/12/2587thermal pondshalophytic fernarbuscular mycorrhizae<i>Glomus</i>Glomeromycotacoastal environments
spellingShingle Mónica A. Lugo
María A. Negritto
Esteban M. Crespo
Hebe J. Iriarte
Samuel Núñez
Luisa F. Espinosa
Marcela C. Pagano
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi as a Salt Bioaccumulation Mechanism for the Establishment of a Neotropical Halophytic Fern in Saline Soils
Microorganisms
thermal ponds
halophytic fern
arbuscular mycorrhizae
<i>Glomus</i>
Glomeromycota
coastal environments
title Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi as a Salt Bioaccumulation Mechanism for the Establishment of a Neotropical Halophytic Fern in Saline Soils
title_full Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi as a Salt Bioaccumulation Mechanism for the Establishment of a Neotropical Halophytic Fern in Saline Soils
title_fullStr Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi as a Salt Bioaccumulation Mechanism for the Establishment of a Neotropical Halophytic Fern in Saline Soils
title_full_unstemmed Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi as a Salt Bioaccumulation Mechanism for the Establishment of a Neotropical Halophytic Fern in Saline Soils
title_short Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi as a Salt Bioaccumulation Mechanism for the Establishment of a Neotropical Halophytic Fern in Saline Soils
title_sort arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as a salt bioaccumulation mechanism for the establishment of a neotropical halophytic fern in saline soils
topic thermal ponds
halophytic fern
arbuscular mycorrhizae
<i>Glomus</i>
Glomeromycota
coastal environments
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/12/2587
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