Mycorrhizal Switching and the Role of Fungal Abundance in Seed Germination in a Fully Mycoheterotrophic Orchid, .

Mycorrhizal associations are essential for orchid germination and seedling establishment, and thus may constrain the distribution and abundance of orchids under natural conditions. Previous studies have shown that germination and seedling establishment in several orchids often decline with increasing distance from adult plants, resulting in non-random spatial patterns of seedling establishment. In contrast, individuals of the fully mycoheterotrophic orchid often tend to have random aboveground spatial patterns of distribution within bamboo forests.

Immunolocalization and Changes of Hydroxyproline-Rich Glycoproteins During Symbiotic Germination of .

Hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HRGPs) are abundant cell wall components involved in mycorrhizal symbiosis, but little is known about their function in orchid mycorrhizal association. To gain further insight into the role of HRGPs in orchid symbiosis, the location and function of HRGPs were investigated during symbiotic germination of . The presence of JIM11 epitope in developing protocorms was determined using immunodot blots and immunohistochemical staining procedures.