Symbiotic vs. asymbiotic seed germination in epiphytic orchids

We compared seedling growth of the epiphytic orchid, Tolumnia variegata in agar media with and without inoculated mycorrhizal fungi. Symbiotic germination produced more-developed embryos than asymbiotic germination. Differences were highly significant, although some isolates of Rhizoctonia-like fungi were parasitic on seeds. Control seeds in a cellulose medium without Rhizoctonia-like fungi did not germinate. Seeds of Epidendrum ramosum, Lepanthes rupestris and Psychilis monensis showed no significant differences between asymbiotic and symbiotic germination using mycorrhizal fungi isolated from T. variegata roots, suggesting high mycorrhizal specificity. Our data suggest that the relationship between epiphytic orchids and the mycorrhizal fungi is more specific than previously thought. The use of the right fungal strain may enhance germination performance. Orchid growers may achieve better results in the propagation of some epiphytic orchids using symbiotic germination.

• Autores: Otero Ospina, Joel Tupac; Bayman, Paul
• Tipo de recurso: Article of journal
• Fecha de publicación: 2009
• Institución: Universidad Nacional de Colombia
• Repositorio: Universidad Nacional de Colombia
• Idioma: spa
• OAI Identifier: oai:repositorio.unal.edu.co:unal/48075
• Acceso en línea: https://repositorio.unal.edu.co/handle/unal/48075; http://bdigital.unal.edu.co/41432/
• Palabra clave: Tolumnia variegata; Epidendrum ramosum; Lepanthes rupestres; Psychilis monensis. Orchidaceae; germinación; hongos micorrízicos; germination; mycorrhizal fungi; Tolumnia variegata; Epidendrum ramosum; Lepanthes rupestris and Psychilis monensi; Orchidaceae; germination; mycorrhizal fungi
• Rights: openAccess
• License: Atribución-NoComercial 4.0 Internacional