Authors : WANKHEDE T.B.
Page Nos : 120-127
Description :
Bryophyte Riccia discolor have lusty green thallus overlapping in dense patches, forming a rosettes commonly found in Melghat forest of Amravati District Maharashtra. Plant grow on moist soil or rocks in exposed situation dominantly during rainy seasons. Thalli found dioecious in green, one or twice forked and lobes oblong. Female plants larger than the male plants up to 15mm long and up to 7mm broad. Male thalli found smaller, 2-8 mm long and 2-5 mm broad with a groove that is narrow at apex and flat. Ventral surface bears simple and tuberculate rhizoids. As bryophytes are confined to specific regions due to their ecological indicator species various remarkable attributes pertains like soil microflora is prevailed. In present investigation, occurrence of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal association was elaborated considering their pioneer role in succession. Various arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal spores reported from the soil around the thallus of this experimental small wonders of nature with probable symbiotic linkage of association.
