Matching symbiotic associations of an endangered orchid to habitat to improve conservation outcomes.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

An understanding of mycorrhizal variation, orchid seed germination temperature and the effect of co-occurring plant species could be critical for optimizing conservation translocations of endangered plants with specialized mycorrhizal associations.

Methods

Focusing on the orchid Thelymitra epipactoides, we isolated mycorrhizal fungi from ten plants within each of three sites; Shallow Sands Woodland (SSW), Damp Heathland (DH) and Coastal Heathland Scrub (CHS). Twenty-seven fungal isolates were tested for symbiotic germination under three 24 h temperature cycles: 12 °C for 16 h-16 °C for 8 h, 16 °C for 16 h-24 °C for 8 h or 27 °C constant. Fungi were sequenced using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), nuclear large subunit 1 (nLSU1), nLSU2 and mitochondr

SUBMITTER: Reiter N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6266109 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature