Fungal association and root morphology shift stepwise during ontogenesis of orchid Cremastra appendiculata towards autotrophic nutrition.

ABSTRACT: The chlorophyllous, terrestrial orchid Cremastra appendiculata from East Asia is unique concerning its fungal mycorrhiza partners. The initially mycoheterotrophic protocorms exploit rather specialized non-rhizoctonia saprotrophic Psathyrellaceae. Adult individuals of this orchid species are either linked to Psathyrellaceae being partially mycoheterotrophic or form mycorrhiza with fungi of the ubiquitous saprotrophic rhizoctonia group. This study provides new insights on nutrition mode, subterranean morphology and fungal partners across different life stages of C. appendiculata. We compared different development stages of C. appendiculata to surrounding autotrophic reference plants based on multi-element natural abundance stable isotope analyses (δ¹³C, δ

SUBMITTER: Zahn FE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9167560 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature