Fungal Community Composition at the Last Remaining Wild Site of Yellow Early Marsh Orchid ( ssp. ).

The yellow early marsh orchid ( ssp. ) is a critically endangered terrestrial orchid in Britain. Previous attempts to translocate symbiotic seedlings to a site near the last remaining wild site demonstrated some success, with a 10% survival rate despite adverse weather conditions over a two-year period.

Preventing Extinction of a Critically Endangered subsp. in Britain Using Symbiotic Seedlings for Reintroduction.

The yellow early marsh-orchid ( subsp. ) is critically endangered in the UK. Reintroduction of this threatened orchid to former haunts that have been restored is a long-term objective of this study.

Fungal Diversity of Selected Habitat Specific Species (Orchidaceae) in the Central Highlands of Madagascar.

About 90% of species are endemic to the biodiversity hotspot of Madagascar. This terrestrial habitat-specific genus received little study for fungal diversity to support conservation. We evaluated the diversity of culturable fungi of 11 species and soil characteristics from six sites spanning a >40 km radius in and along the region's inselbergs.

Recovery of mycorrhizal fungi from wild collected protocorms of Madagascan endemic orchid Aerangis ellisii (B.S. Williams) Schltr. and their use in seed germination in vitro.

Orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF) are critical for seed germination and maintaining natural populations of orchids, yet the degree of specificity of most orchids to their mycorrhizal associates remains unknown. Many orchids are at risk of extinction, whether generalists or specialists, but orchid species of narrow fungal specificity are arguably under increased threat due to their requirement for specific fungal symbionts. This study characterises the fungi associated with Aerangis ellisii, a lithophytic orchid from a site in the Central Highlands of Madagascar.

Diversity of root-associated culturable fungi of (Orchidaceae) in relation to soil characteristics.

(L.) Rich., Red Helleborine, is a widespread orchid in Europe but known only from three very small populations in England.

Cryopreservation without vitrification suitable for large scale cryopreservation of orchid seeds.

Background: Orchids are under threat from human activities and climate change, with populations limited to small geographic hotspots. This makes them ideal candidates for ex situ conservation. Orchid seeds are desiccation tolerant, but often have poor longevity in seed banks and cryopreservation of orchid protocorms is complex and expensive.

Techniques for the collection, transportation, and isolation of orchid endophytes from afar: a case study from Madagascar.

Background: Tropical orchids need more study with respect to their mycorrhizal associations. For researchers in distant countries who aspire to study these orchids augmenting their conservation, the great distances involved, coupled with limited funds, pose formidable challenges. These challenges are sometimes exacerbated by political unrest, delays in securing permits, unexpected hardships, and the risk that the biological samples collected (e.

Collecting near mature and immature orchid seeds for ex situ conservation: 'in vitro collecting' as a case study.

Background: Lack of phenological information and efficient collecting methods are considered impediments for orchid seed collecting. This leads to opportunistic collecting as part of general seed collecting schedules that may last few weeks especially in remote areas. The study explored the feasibility of collecting near mature and immature seeds to support conservation action plans.

Endophytic fungal diversity of , a crop wild relative of strawberry, along environmental gradients within a small geographical area.

Background: Fungal endophytes are highly diverse ubiquitous asymptomatic microorganisms, some of which appear to be symbiotic. Depending on abiotic conditions and genotype of the plant, the diversity of endophytes may confer fitness benefits to plant communities.

Methods: We studied a crop wild relative (CWR) of strawberry, along environmental gradients with a view to understand the cultivable root-derived endophytic fungi that can be evaluated for promoting growth and tolerating stress in selected plant groups.

Metabolite profiling of Dioscorea (yam) species reveals underutilised biodiversity and renewable sources for high-value compounds.

Yams (Dioscorea spp.) are a multispecies crop with production in over 50 countries generating ~50 MT of edible tubers annually. The long-term storage potential of these tubers is vital for food security in developing countries.

Preliminary findings on identification of mycorrhizal fungi from diverse orchids in the Central Highlands of Madagascar.

The Orchid flora of Madagascar is one of the most diverse with nearly 1000 orchid taxa, of which about 90% are endemic to this biodiversity hotspot. The Itremo Massif in the Central Highlands of Madagascar with a Highland Subtropical climate range encompasses montane grassland, igneous and metamorphic rock outcrops, and gallery and tapia forests. Our study focused on identifying culturable mycorrhizae from epiphytic, lithophytic, and terrestrial orchid taxa to understand their diversity and density in a spatial matrix that is within the protected areas.

Applications of phytochemical and in vitro techniques for reducing over-harvesting of medicinal and pesticidal plants and generating income for the rural poor.

Plants provide medicine and pest control resources for millions of poor people world-wide. Widespread harvesting of medicinal and pesticidal plants puts pressure on natural populations, thus severely compromising their contribution to the income and well-being of traders and consumers. The development of in vitro propagation techniques appropriate for developing countries will provide a robust platform for effective propagation and cultivation of endangered plants.

A genetic appraisal of a new synthetic Nicotiana tabacum (Solanaceae) and the Kostoff synthetic tobacco.

Polyploids have significantly influenced angiosperm evolution. Understanding the genetic consequences of polyploidy is advanced by studies on synthetic allopolyploids that mimic natural species. In Nicotiana, Burk (1973) and Kostoff (1938) generated synthetic tobacco (N.