Microorganisms (May 2024)

<i>Coriolopsis strumosa</i> as an Orchid Endophytic Fungus and Its Spatial Distribution in <i>Epidendrum</i> sp. (Orchidaceae)

  • Na Yao,
  • Tao Wang,
  • Jingwan Jiang,
  • Yuqian Yang,
  • Xiaolu Cao

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12061054
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 6
p. 1054

Abstract

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Coriolopsis spp. are wood-decaying fungi that inhabit forests. They are mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical areas. Strain Epi910 was isolated from the asymbiotically germinated protocorm of Epidendrum sp. and identified as Coriolopsis strumosa. Symbiotic germination and high-throughput sequencing of the endophytic fungal communities of different parts were performed to characterize the function and spatial distribution of the Epi910 isolate. Under symbiotic germination, Epi910 promoted seed germination and seedling formation as an endophytic native fungus of Epidendrum sp. Endophytic fungal communities from seven different parts of Epidendrum sp. were characterized. In total, 645 OTUs were identified; 30 OTUs were shared among all seven parts. The internal transcribed spacer sequence of Epi910 was identical to that of a dominant shared OTU (OTU6). The relative abundance of OTU6 in the seven parts was identified as follows: capsule pericarp > seed > root > asymbiotically germinated protocorm > epiphytic root > ovary > rachis. Our results suggest that the isolate belonging to Coriolopsis strumosa could promote the germination of Epidendrum sp. There may, therefore, be endophytic fungi other than common orchid mycorrhizal fungi with the ability to enhance germination in orchids.

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