Ceratobasidium sp.
394
Orchid seeds require organic carbon acquired from mycorrhizal
fungi to germinate and develop. To better understand the genome
evolution of fungi that participate in the orchid mycorrhizal
symbiosis, we are sequencing a variety of fungal species that have
been demonstrated to germinate orchid seeds. Analyses of these
genomes will reveal patterns that may explain their ability to
interact with orchids.
Ceratobasidium sp. 394 was isolated from the roots of the
charismatic Ghost orchid species, Dendrophylax lindenii,
from a site in the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge,
Florida, USA. This isolate facilitates D. lindenii seed
germination in vitro which will be helpful for
conservation efforts of this endangered orchid species (Hoang et
al., 2016). In addition to 394, Ceratobasidium sp. 379 was
isolated from the same population of orchids and did not facilitate
seedling germination. It will be helpful to compare the genomes of
these two fungal isolates to determine if any genomic differences
can help account for their different germination abilities.
References:
- Hoang et al. (2016) Comparative seed germination and seedling development of the ghost orchid, Dendrophylax lindenii (Orchidaceae), and molecular identification of its mycorrhizal fungus from South Florida. Ann Bot 119(3):379-393 doi:10.1093/aob/mcw220