Mycorrhizal preference promotes habitat invasion by a native Australian orchid: Microtis media.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Mycorrhizal specialization has been shown to limit recruitment capacity in orchids, but an increasing number of orchids are being documented as invasive or weed-like. The reasons for this proliferation were examined by investigating mycorrhizal fungi and edaphic correlates of Microtis media, an Australian terrestrial orchid that is an aggressive ecosystem and horticultural weed.

Methods

Molecular identification of fungi cultivated from M. media pelotons, symbiotic in vitro M. media seed germination assays, ex situ fungal baiting of M. media and co-occurring orchid taxa (Caladenia arenicola, Pterostylis sanguinea and Diuris magnifica) and soil physical and chemical analyses were undertaken.

Key results

It was found that: (1) M. media associates with

SUBMITTER: De Long JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3579446 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature