Mycorrhizal association and its relation with pteridophytes

Area of Science:

• * Symbiotic associations
• * Plant-fungal interactions
• * Terrestrial plant evolution

Background:

• * Mycorrhizal association is an ancient symbiosis crucial for early land plant colonization.
• * Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi provide plants with essential nutrients (phosphate, nitrogen, zinc) and improve stress tolerance.
• * Over 80% of terrestrial plants form AM associations, which are vital for plant growth and survival.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To review the existing literature on arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) associations in pteridophytes.
• * To highlight the significance of AM fungi in the evolution and ecological success of early land plants.
• * To emphasize the limited research on fungal-pteridophyte associations and the need for further investigation.

Main Methods:

• * Comprehensive literature review of scientific databases.
• * Analysis of molecular and fossil studies on plant-fungi associations.
• * Synthesis of data on AM association in pteridophytes.

Main Results:

• * AM associations are widespread and ancient, dating back to the Ordovician-Devonian periods.
• * Pteridophytes, as early land plants, significantly benefit from AM symbiosis for growth and adaptation.
• * AM fungi played a key role in facilitating the terrestrialization of early land plants.

Conclusions:

• * AM associations are fundamental to plant evolution and terrestrial ecosystems.
• * Pteridophytes' adaptation and diversification are strongly linked to AM fungi.
• * Further research on pteridophyte-AM fungal interactions is essential for understanding plant-fungal co-evolution.