Epipremnum aureum (Araceae) roots associated simultaneously with Glomeromycotina, Mucoromycotina and Ascomycota fungi

Abstract

Only a small number of aroids are examined for their symbiosis with Glomeromycota arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and the ascomycetous dark septate endophytic (DSE) fungi. Therefore we examined the aerial and terrestrial adventitious roots of Epipremnum aureum (money plant) for different type of fungal association and the soils for AM spores. The aerial roots of E. aureum were free from fungal structures, whereas the terrestrial roots were colonized by AM, fine root endophyte (FRE), and DSE fungi. The major portion of the terrestrial roots was colonized by FRE fungi followed by AM and DSE fungi. The colonization pattern was a complex of Arum-Paris and intermediate AM types. Spores of Acaulospora, Funneliformis, Rhizophagus, and Sclerocystis were isolated from the root zone soils. The results show that E. aureum associate with a wide range of endophytic fungi and FRE symbiosis is reported for the first time in aroids.