Record ID No. |
2147 |
Author(s) |
Yuan Z. L., Chen Y. C., Yang Y. , 2009 |
Affiliation |
Chinese Acad Forestry, Res Inst Subtrop Forestry, Fuyang, PEOPLES R CHINA |
Title |
Diverse non-mycorrhizal fungal endophytes inhabiting an epiphytic, medicinal orchid (Dendrobium nobile): estimation and characterization |
Source. Vol.(no):Page |
World Journal of Microbiology & Biotechnology. 25(2): 295-303p. |
Categories |
Mycorrhiza General |
Subjects |
Biochemistry |
Sub-subjects |
Miscellaneous |
Country |
China, Asia |
Abstracts |
Although the terrestrial and temperate orchids-fungal biology have been largely explored, knowledge of tropical epiphytic orchids-fungus relationships, especially on the ecological roles imparted by non-mycorrhizal fungal endophytes, is less known. Exploitation of the endophytic fungal mycobiota residing in epiphytic orchid plants may be of great importance to further elucidate the fungal ecology in this special habitat as well as developing new approaches for orchid conversations. The composition of fungal endophytes associated with leaves, stems and roots of an epiphytic orchid (Dendrobium nobile), a famous Chinese traditional medicinal plant, was investigated. Microscopic imaging, culture-dependant method and molecular
phylogeny were used to estimate their entity and diversity. Totally, there were 172 isolates, at least 14 fungal genera and 33 different morphospecies recovered from 288 samples. Ascomycetes, coelomycetes and
hyphomycetes were three major fungal groups. There were higher overall colonization and isolation rates of
endophytic fungi from leaves than from other tissues. Guignardia mangiferae was the dominant fungal species
within leaves; while the endophytic Xylariaceae were frequently observed in all plant tissues; Colletotrichum,
Phomopsis and Fusarium were also frequently observed. Phylogenetic analysis based on ITS gene revealed the high diversity of Xylariacea fungi and relatively diverse of non-Xylariacea fungi. Some potentially promising
beneficial fungi such as Clonostachys rosea and Trichoderma chlorosporum were found in roots. This is the first
report concerning above-ground and below-ground endophytic fungi community of an epiphytic medicinal orchid,
suggesting the ubiquitous distribution of non-mycorrhizal fungal endophytes in orchid plants together with heterogeneity and tissue specificity of the endophyte assemblage. Possible physiological functions played by
these fungal endophytes and their potential applications are also discussed briefly. |