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Symbiotic seed germination and protocorm development of Aa achalensis Schltr., a terrestrial orchid endemic from Argentina

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Abstract

Aa achalensis is an endangered terrestrial orchid endemic from Argentina. In vitro symbiotic seed germination was evaluated for its propagation. Five different fungal strains were isolated from this species: two Rhizoctonia-like related to Thanatephorus cucumeris and three ascomicetaceous fungi belonging to Phialophora graminicola and one to an uncultured Pezizaceae. All five isolates promoted seed germination being one T. cucumeris strain the most effective. After 16 weeks of growth, 30 % of A. achalensis protocorms developed until seedlings with two/four leaves in this treatment. These findings open an opportunity to the knowledge and preservation of this species.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Martín Avila for the A. achalensis inflorescence photography. This research was financed by the Concejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica, CRILAR- CONICET, Entre Ríos y Mendoza, 5301, Anillaco, La Rioja, Argentina

    Fracchia Sebastián

  2. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Ciudad Universitaria, 4to piso Pabellón 2, 1428, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Silvani Vanesa

  3. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (CONICET—Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias (UNNE—Universidad Nacional del Nordeste), CC 209, 3400, Corrientes, Argentina

    Flachsland Eduardo & Terada Graciela

  4. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion, Labardén 200, San Isidro, B1642HYD, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Sede Silvana

Authors
  1. Fracchia Sebastián
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  2. Silvani Vanesa
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  3. Flachsland Eduardo
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  4. Terada Graciela
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  5. Sede Silvana
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Correspondence to Fracchia Sebastián.

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Sebastián, F., Vanesa, S., Eduardo, F. et al. Symbiotic seed germination and protocorm development of Aa achalensis Schltr., a terrestrial orchid endemic from Argentina. Mycorrhiza 24, 35–43 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00572-013-0510-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00572-013-0510-2

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