Article
Plant Sciences
Juan Chen, Yanjing Tang, Annegret Kohler, Annie Lebreton, Yongmei Xing, Dongyu Zhou, Yang Li, Francis M. Martin, Shunxing Guo
Summary: This study conducted a comparative transcriptomic analysis of symbiotic and asymbiotic germination of orchid seeds, revealing upregulation of key genes in symbiotic germination stages, particularly in the protocorm and seedling stages. Differentially expressed CAZymes in symbiotic fungal mycelium were speculated to play roles in reducing plant immune response, successful colonization by fungi, or recognition of mycorrhizal fungi during orchid seed symbiotic germination.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Kazutomo Yokoya, Alison S. Jacob, Lawrence W. Zettler, Jonathan P. Kendon, Manoj Menon, Jake Bell, Landy Rajaovelona, Viswambharan Sarasan
Summary: The study evaluated the fungal diversity of 11 species of Cynorkis in Madagascar, finding a negative correlation between the species and NO3-N and P levels in the soil. Most species were found in soils with low NO3-N and P contents.
Article
Plant Sciences
Noushka Reiter, Richard Dimon, Arild Arifin, Celeste Linde
Summary: Orchids depend on mycorrhizal fungi for germination, and this study found that different species and ages of Tulasnella fungi affect the germination of Thelymitra adorata. Younger cultures showed higher germination rates, and T. subasymmetrica was able to germinate T. adorata, potentially expanding its conservation options.
Article
Mycology
Arild R. Arifin, Ryan D. Phillips, Alyssa M. Weinstein, Celeste C. Linde
Summary: While many Australian terrestrial orchids have specialized mycorrhizal associations, the Cryptostylis genus has been found to associate with a variety of fungal species. The main fungal associations for the sampled Cryptostylis species were Tulasnellaceae, with occasional detection of ectomycorrhizal, ericoid and saprotrophic fungi. Each Australian Cryptostylis species was associated with multiple Tulasnella OTUs, except for one species where only one Tulasnella OTU was detected. The Asiatic Cryptostylis species showed associations with Tulasnella OTUs belonging to the same lineage as the Australian species. Different Cryptostylis species at the same site were found to associate with different Tulasnella fungi, indicating a preference for specific fungal OTUs in different environmental conditions.
Article
Plant Sciences
Noushka Reiter, Mike Wicks, Gail Pollard, Graham Brown, Myles Menz, Bjorn Bohman
Summary: Critical for conserving endangered orchids is identifying their pollinators and their distribution. We identified the pollinator(s), mechanisms of attraction, and the presence of pollinators at different sites for Caladenia xanthochila. The pollinator for C. xanthochila was a species of thynnine wasp, Phymatothynnus aff. nitidus. Hand pollinations revealed that pollination was pollen limited and significantly related to rainfall. Potential translocation sites for C. xanthochila were limited, with some lacking the pollinator. Additionally, evidence for cryptic species of pollinators was found, highlighting the importance of accurate identification.
Article
Horticulture
Jiayi Zhao, Zhenjian Li, Siyu Wang, Fu Yang, Lubin Li, Lei Liu
Summary: This study investigated the compatibility and promotion effects of 14 Tulasnella strains with the early growth stage of Dendrobium crepidatum, an orchid species with high value in China. The strains were classified into three clades, and strain T12 in Clade A had a significantly higher effect on the plant biomass and morphology of D. crepidatum. Strain T13 in Clade C had a significantly lower effect compared to the other strains. Morphological principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis confirmed the phylogenetic relationships of the strains. The findings of this study are important for strain identification, conservation of D. crepidatum resources, and commercial utilization of mycorrhizal technology.
Article
Horticulture
Qianyu Yang, Lijun Xu, Wei Xia, Lixiong Liang, Xiao Bai, Lubin Li, Lu Xu, Lei Liu
Summary: In this study, orchid seeds were found to establish a relationship with orchid mycorrhizal fungi for germination, with Tulasnella calospora (Tca) showing significant seed germination-promoting effects on Cymbidium mannii and Epidendrum radicans. Different concentrations of oatmeal agar (OA) medium influenced the symbiosis and compatibility of the fungi with the orchids, highlighting the importance of mycorrhizal technology for the propagation and conservation of endangered orchid species.
Article
Plant Sciences
Rondy J. Malik, James D. Bever
Summary: The study found that mycorrhizae can increase Asclepias biomass, while enriched CO2 decreases biomass. Mycorrhizae may alter root morphology, particularly with more pronounced effects in tap-root systems.
Article
Agronomy
Zbigniew Jarosz, Zenia Michalojc, Karolina Pitura, Katarzyna Dzida, Michal Koter
Summary: The study revealed that mycorrhization positively impacted the nutritional status of large-flowered azaleas, especially in the second and third years of cultivation.
Article
Ecology
Jennifer R. Balacco, Bhagyashree P. Vaidya, Diane F. Hagmann, Nina M. Goodey, Jennifer Adams Krumins
Summary: This study evaluated the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in facilitating plant production in post-industrial soils. The findings showed that AMF inoculation increased plant biomass and root/shoot ratio, improving plant growth in contaminated soils.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tao Wang, Xiaolu Cao, Xiaojing Wang, Miao Chi, Lubin Li, Na Yao
Summary: This study systematically explored optimal reference genes for gene expression studies during the colonization of orchid seeds by the mycorrhizal fungus Tulasnella, finding that EF2, UBC, and PP2A genes showed the potential to be suitable for RT-qPCR normalization with stable expression levels.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Alex C. Johnson, Thomas H. Pendergast, Srinivasa Chaluvadi, Jeffrey L. Bennetzen, Katrien M. Devos
Summary: This study investigated the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis on miRNA expression in switchgrass. Through miRNA analysis and degradome sequencing, it was found that both upland and lowland genotypes, as well as upland-lowland hybrids, responded to mycorrhizal symbiosis and targets of miRNAs involved in symbiosis were identified. Copper miRNA downregulation was common amongst the different genotypes, and superoxide dismutases and laccases were among the identified targets.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Li-Min Huang, Hsin Huang, Yu-Chen Chuang, Wen-Huei Chen, Chun-Neng Wang, Hong-Hwa Chen
Summary: Terpenoids are important compounds in plants with functions of attracting pollinators, defense, and insecticidal properties. The evolution of terpene synthases (TPSs) in Orchidaceae, one of the largest and most diverse families of flowering plants, shows a diversification pattern with increased duplicated copies in derived orchid species.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Sobhi F. F. Lamlom, Ahsan Irshad, Walid F. A. Mosa
Summary: Microorganisms and organic compounds can be used as alternatives to insecticides and mineral fertilizers. There is limited information available on the combined application of these bio-stimulants, which have the potential for simultaneous action. A two-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of organic and biofertilizers on wheat growth, yield, and biochemical attributes. The results showed that the combination of mycorrhizae and azotobacter with foliar-applied humic acid significantly affected wheat growth and yield.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marta Kolanowska, Dariusz L. Szlachetko, Slawomir Nowak
Summary: This taxonomic synopsis focuses on the orchid genus Pterichis in Ecuador, describing the characteristics of all national representatives and illustrating their floral segments. The study reveals that multiple species of Pterichis can co-occur in the same area within a 25 x 25 km range, with seven Ecuadorian Pterichis being endemic.
Article
Plant Sciences
Noushka Reiter, Myles H. M. Menz
Summary: The study found that optimizing microsite selection can significantly improve the survival and recruitment rate of translocated rare plants, thereby improving long-term population persistence and the utilization of conservation funding.
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Tobias Hayashi, Noushka Reiter, Ryan D. Phillips, Rod Peakall
Summary: This study investigates the pollination process of the Australian orchid Pterostylis cycnocephala and identifies an undescribed Bradysia sp. male fungus gnat as its main pollinator, which displays sexual behavior on the flowers. The study shows that floral odor is primarily responsible for long-range attraction, while floral morphology is necessary to induce the copulatory behavior required for pollination.
BOTANICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Mycology
Arild R. Arifin, Noushka H. Reiter, Tom W. May, Celeste C. Linde
Summary: This study described five new species of Tulasnella associated with commonly occurring and endangered Australian orchids, using molecular phylogenetic analyses and morphological characteristics. The new species were primarily identified using five loci, and Tulasnella subasymmetrica is a newly introduced species.
Article
Mycology
Arild R. Arifin, Ryan D. Phillips, Alyssa M. Weinstein, Celeste C. Linde
Summary: While many Australian terrestrial orchids have specialized mycorrhizal associations, the Cryptostylis genus has been found to associate with a variety of fungal species. The main fungal associations for the sampled Cryptostylis species were Tulasnellaceae, with occasional detection of ectomycorrhizal, ericoid and saprotrophic fungi. Each Australian Cryptostylis species was associated with multiple Tulasnella OTUs, except for one species where only one Tulasnella OTU was detected. The Asiatic Cryptostylis species showed associations with Tulasnella OTUs belonging to the same lineage as the Australian species. Different Cryptostylis species at the same site were found to associate with different Tulasnella fungi, indicating a preference for specific fungal OTUs in different environmental conditions.
Article
Ecology
Arild R. Arifin, Ryan D. Phillips, Celeste C. Linde
Summary: The study investigates the evolutionary relationships between representatives of the Drakaeinae orchid subtribe and their mycorrhizal fungi. The results show significant congruence in the topology of their phylogenetic trees, suggesting a pattern of phylogenetic niche conservatism rather than coevolution. These findings may apply to a wide range of orchid lineages.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Minette Havenga, Francois Halleen, Annabella Baloyi, Michael Bester, Celeste C. Linde, Lizel Mostert
Summary: This study investigated the genetic diversity and recombination potential of eight populations of the grapevine pathogen Phaeoacremonium minimum in South Africa. The results showed that the pathogen primarily spreads through asexual reproduction, but there is also potential for multiple introductions of different genotypes over time. Additionally, infected rootstock mother blocks could contribute to the spread of more genotypes to newly established vineyards, highlighting the importance of monitoring the health status of rootstock mother blocks and implementing appropriate management strategies.
Article
Plant Sciences
Marc Freestone, Celeste Linde, Nigel Swarts, Noushka Reiter
Summary: This study aimed to develop asymbiotic germination and replate media for Prasophyllum and investigate the potential enhancement of seedling survival through the addition of mycorrhizal fungus in potting media. Testing 81 asymbiotic germination medium combinations, low concentrations of minerals, auxins, and cytokinins were found to be necessary for germination of P. frenchii. The best-performing media included W9.5 with 5% coconut water. In replate media, W9 with 5% banana was the most effective. However, seedling survival was only 1.7% two years after transferral to potting media in the nursery, regardless of the presence or absence of mycorrhizal fungus.
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
James D. Ackerman, Ryan D. Phillips, Raymond L. Tremblay, Adam Karremans, Noushka Reiter, Craig Peter, Diego Bogarin, Oscar A. Perez-Escobar, Hong Liu
Summary: Orchidaceae exhibit diverse pollination strategies, but how they vary globally is not well understood. To address this, a global database of orchid reproductive biology was established, containing information on > 2900 species. Most orchid species are pollinator dependent and self-compatible. Rewards attract pollinators in 54% of the species, while 46% use deceit. Although the database provides valuable knowledge, significant gaps in understanding orchid reproductive biology exist in tropical regions and fly-pollinated species.
BOTANICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ryan D. Phillips, Bjorn Bohman, Rod Peakall, Noushka Reiter
Summary: This study discovers a new type of sexual deception in orchids, where pollination occurs during feeding behavior at the labellum, offering important insights into pollination strategy shifts. Similar pollination strategies were found in other Caladenia species, suggesting a widespread occurrence across the genus and providing clues about transitional strategies during the evolution of sexual deception.
Article
Plant Sciences
Noushka Reiter, Richard Dimon, Arild Arifin, Celeste Linde
Summary: Orchids depend on mycorrhizal fungi for germination, and this study found that different species and ages of Tulasnella fungi affect the germination of Thelymitra adorata. Younger cultures showed higher germination rates, and T. subasymmetrica was able to germinate T. adorata, potentially expanding its conservation options.
Article
Microbiology
Marc Freestone, Celeste Linde, Nigel Swarts, Noushka Reiter
Summary: Understanding the nutrient requirements of orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF) is crucial for the conservation of threatened orchids and their symbiotic relationships. This study investigated how different nutrient media and fungal isolates affected the germination of Prasophyllum frenchii. The results showed that both the media and fungal isolates had a significant influence on germination percentage. Additionally, there was variation in aerial hyphal growth behavior among different OMF isolates. These findings highlight the importance of fungal diversity within the same operational taxonomic unit (OTU) and have implications for ecological research and conservation.