Record ID No. |
1982 |
Author(s) |
GuraTsujita Y., Yukawa T , 2008 |
Affiliation |
National Museum Natural & Science, Tsukuba Bot Garden, 4-1-1 Amakubo, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 3050005, JAPAN |
Title |
High mycorrhizal specificity in a widespread mycoheterotrophic plant, Eulophia zollingeri (Orchidaceae) |
Source. Vol.(no):Page |
American Journal of Botany.95(1):93-97p. |
Categories |
Mycorrhiza General |
Subjects |
Biochemistry |
Sub-subjects |
Miscellaneous |
Organism |
n.a. |
Country |
JAPAN, Asia |
Abstracts |
Because mycoheterotrophic plants fully depend on their mycorrhizal partner for
their carbon Supply, the major limiting factor for the geographic distribution of these plants
may be the presence of their mycorrhizal partner. Although this factor may seem to be a
disadvantage for increasing geographic distribution, widespread mycoheterotrophic species
nonetheless exist. The mechanism causing the wide distribution of some mycoheterotrophic species
is, however, seldom discussed. We identified the mycorrhizal partner of a widespread
mycoheterotrophic orchid, Eulophia zollingeri, using 12 individuals from seven populations in
Japan, Myanmar, and Taiwan by DNA-based methods. All fungal ITS sequences from the roots closely
related to those of Psathyrella candolleana (Coprinaceae) from GenBank accessions and herbarium
specimens. These results indicate that E. Zollingeri is exclusively associated with the P
candolleana species group. Further, the molecular data support the wide distribution and
wide-ranging habitat of this fungal partner. Our data provide evidence that a mycoheterotrophic
plant can achieve a wide distribution, even though it has a high mycorrhizal specificity, if its
fungal partner is widely distributed. |