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Citation for Study 11307

About Citation title: "Mediterranean meadow photosynthetic orchids feature partial myco-eterotrophy and specific mycorrhizal associations".
About Study name: "Mediterranean meadow photosynthetic orchids feature partial myco-eterotrophy and specific mycorrhizal associations".
About This study is part of submission 11297 (Status: Published).

Citation

Girlanda M., Segreto R., Cafasso D., Liebel H.T., Rodda M., Ercole E., Cozzolino S., Gebauer G., & Perotto S. 2011. Mediterranean meadow photosynthetic orchids feature partial myco-eterotrophy and specific mycorrhizal associations. American Journal of Botany, .

Authors

  • Girlanda M.
  • Segreto R.
  • Cafasso D.
  • Liebel H.T.
  • Rodda M.
  • Ercole E. (submitter) Phone 00390116705316
  • Cozzolino S.
  • Gebauer G.
  • Perotto S.

Abstract

Premise of the study: Specificity in mycorrhizal symbioses may sharply increase in specialized situations. Non photosynthetic orchids generally engage in highly specific interactions with their mycobionts, which provide the plant with organic carbon. By contrast, fully photosynthetic orchids in sunny, meadow habitats have been considered to lack mycorrhizal specificity. However, molecular investigation in such orchids was so far mostly restricted to Australian species, and little is known about the geographically- and phylogenetically-unrelated Mediterranean orchids. Methods: We have used both culture-dependent and culture-independent analysis of fungal ITS sequences to assess mycorrhizal specificity in four widespread Mediterranean green meadow orchids (Ophrys fuciflora, Anacamptis laxiflora, Orchis purpurea and Serapias vomeracea). We also investigated the autotrophic status of these plants by analysis of stable isotope (13C and 15N) natural abundance. Key results: Phylogenetic and multivariate comparison indicated for O. purpurea and O. fuciflora a lower diversity of mycobionts that were mostly specific to the two orchid species. All four orchid species were significantly enriched in 15N compared with non-orchid reference plants; O. purpurea showed the highest N gain from fungi, and was the only species also showing a significant C gain. Conclusions: As other orchids, Mediterranean meadow species may prefer specific fungal partners in natural conditions. The species showing the most distinct fungal spectrum (O. purpurea) was also partly dependant on the fungal partner(s) for organic carbon, suggesting that specific requirements of the symbiosis (e.g. carbon supply to the plant) may increase mycorrhizal specificity.

Keywords

Ceratobasidium; fungal diversity; mycoheterotrophy; Orchidaceae; orchid mycorrhiza; Sebacina; Tulasnella

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About this resource

  • Canonical resource URI: http://purl.org/phylo/treebase/phylows/study/TB2:S11307
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