Serendipita sp. 400
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.
Serendipita sp. 400 was isolated from roots of mature
Florida Butterfly Orchid, Encyclia tampensis in
2014, that grew naturally at Korrie’s Pond in the Florida
Panther National Wildlife Refuge (FPNWR). This strain and all other
Serendipita isolated from the FPNWR appear identical in
pure culture. None of the Serendipita fungi from FPNWR
have facilitated seed germination in previous attempts. Young
colonies on potato dextrose agar (PDA) have are deep pink in color
turning dull orange with age.
