Mycorrhizal Compatibility and Germination-Promoting Activity of <i>Tulasnella</i> Species in Two Species of Orchid (<i>Cymbidium mannii</i> and <i>Epidendrum radicans</i>)
Qianyu Yang,
Lijun Xu,
Wei Xia,
Lixiong Liang,
Xiao Bai,
Lubin Li,
Lu Xu,
Lei Liu
Affiliations
Qianyu Yang
State Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Silviculture of the State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
Lijun Xu
State Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Silviculture of the State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
Wei Xia
Hunan Mid-Subtropical Quality Plant Breeding and Utilization Engineering Technology Research Center, College of Horticulture, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
Lixiong Liang
State Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Silviculture of the State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
Xiao Bai
State Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Silviculture of the State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
Lubin Li
State Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Silviculture of the State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
Lu Xu
Hunan Mid-Subtropical Quality Plant Breeding and Utilization Engineering Technology Research Center, College of Horticulture, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
Lei Liu
State Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Silviculture of the State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
In nature, Orchidaceae seeds establish a relationship with orchid mycorrhizal fungi to obtain essential nutrients for germination. The orchids, Cymbidium mannii and Epidendrum radicans, have significant ornamental and economic value. We isolated and cultured mycorrhizal fungi from C. mannii, E. radicans, and C. goeringii roots. Three strains of fungi, Tulasnella calospora (Tca), T. asymmetrica (Tas), and T. bifrons (Tbi), were identified using ITS-rDNA sequencing. Their mycorrhizal compatibility, germination-promoting effects, and symbiosis with the seeds of C. mannii and E. radicans were studied in vitro using various concentrations of oatmeal agar (OA) medium. Tca exhibited significant seed-germination-promoting effects on C. mannii (92.1%) and E. radicans (84.7%) on 2.0 and 4.0 g/L OA, respectively. For Tbi and Tas, the highest germination percentages were observed on 4.0 g/L OA in E. radicans (73.60% and 76.49%, respectively). Seed germination in C. mannii was enhanced by high oatmeal concentrations (8.0 and 12.0 g/L) during symbiosis with Tas, whereas Tbi had no effect regardless of OA concentration. Tca exhibited high compatibility with C. mannii and E. radicans, and the oatmeal concentration of the medium affected this compatibility. The findings of this study will aid in the propagation of endangered orchid species for conservation and commercial purposes using mycorrhizal technology.
