Record ID No. |
1796 |
Author(s) |
Waterman, R.J., Bidartondo, M.I , 2008 |
Affiliation |
University of London Imperial College of Science & Technology, London, ENGLAND |
Title |
Deception above, deception below: linking pollination and mycorrhizal biology of orchids |
Source. Vol.(no):Page |
Journal of Experimental Botany.59(5):1085-1096p. |
Categories |
Mycorrhiza General |
Subjects |
Biochemistry |
Sub-subjects |
Miscellaneous |
Organism |
n.a. |
Country |
ENGLAND |
Abstracts |
Several key characteristics of the species-rich orchid family are due to its
symbiotic relationships with pollinators and mycorrhizal fungi. The majority of species are
insect pollinated and show strong adaptations for outcrossing, such as pollination by food- and
sexual-deception, and all orchids are reliant on mycorrhizal fungi for successful seedling
establishment. Recent studies of orchid pollination biology have shed light on the barriers to
reproductive isolation important to diversification in different groups of deceptive orchids.
Molecular identification of orchid mycorrhizal fungi has revealed high fungal specificity in
orchids that obtain organic nutrients from fungi as adults. Both pollinator and fungal
specificity have been proposed as drivers of orchid diversification. Recent findings in orchid
pollination and mycorrhizal biology are reviewed and it is shown that both associations are
likely to affect orchid distribution and population structure. Integrating studies of these
symbioses will shed light on the unparalleled diversification of the orchid family. |