Mycorrhizas in Aquatic Plants

Abstract

In contrast to widespread occurrence of arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) in terrestrial plants, aquatic plants are considered to be relatively less mycorrhizal. It is mainly because the benefits of mycorrhizal association to plants under aquatic conditions are expected to be relatively lesser. It is, however, hard to accept these generalised perceptions, partly because only a few studies have been hitherto carried out on mycorrhizal symbioses of aquatic plants, thereby leaving huge information gaps and paucity of quantitative data in this area of research. The cost–benefit analysis of mycorrhizal associations with aquatic plants has been relatively much less explored mainly because of more challenging methodological issues. The present chapter begins with a brief outline of aquatic habitats, followed by an overview of the studies conducted so far on mycorrhizal association of aquatic plant species with the main objective to identify key knowledge gaps in this area of research. Finally, the important questions that merit attention by future researchers to get better insights into mycorrhizal symbioses in aquatic habitats are highlighted, and a conceptual framework to address these questions is also provided (Fig. 8.1).