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Mycoheterotrophic growth of Cephalanthera falcata (Orchidaceae) in tripartite symbioses with Thelephoraceae fungi and Quercus serrata (Fagaceae) in pot culture condition

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Abstract

Mixotrophy, obtaining carbon by mycoheterotrophy and photosynthesis, has been suggested in Cephalanthera species (Orchidaceae) by analyses on stable isotopes of carbon. In this study, we examined the growth of Cephalanthera falcata in pot cultured tripartite symbioses with Thelephoraceae fungi and Quercus serrata. Mycorrhizal fungi were isolated from roots of C. falcata in natural habitats. Two fungal isolates identified as Thelephoraceae were cultured and inoculated to fine roots of non-mycorrhizal seedlings of Q. serrata (Fagaceae). After the ectomycorrhizal formation, non-mycorrhizal seedlings of C. falcata were co-planted. The pots with tripartite symbioses were cultured in greenhouse for 30 months, and growth of C. falcata seedlings was examined. Fresh weight of C. falcata seedlings was significantly increased by the tripartite symbioses even in those with no shoot, thus providing further evidence for the mycoheterotrophic nature of this orchid. The achievement of seedling culture in tripartite symbioses would be valuable for conserving many forest orchids and for conducting experiments to understand their physiology and ecology.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a R and D fund from The General Environmental Technos Co. Ltd. and the Global COE Program “Advanced utilization of fungus/mushroom resources for sustainable society in harmony with nature” from the ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Botanic Garden and Museum, Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Kita 3, Nishi 8, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0003, Japan

    Takahiro Yagame

  2. Fungus/Mushroom Resource and Research Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-Minami, Tottori, 680-8553, Japan

    Masahide Yamato

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  1. Takahiro Yagame
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  2. Masahide Yamato
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Correspondence to Takahiro Yagame.

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Yagame, T., Yamato, M. Mycoheterotrophic growth of Cephalanthera falcata (Orchidaceae) in tripartite symbioses with Thelephoraceae fungi and Quercus serrata (Fagaceae) in pot culture condition. J Plant Res 126, 215–222 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-012-0521-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-012-0521-7

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