Description for Tulasnella calospora UAMH
9824
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.
Tulasnella calospora UAMH 9824 was isolated from
a primary lateral root of Spiranthes brevilabris
in Levy County, Florida, USA. This species has been nicknamed, the
“Super fungus” because of its ability to germinate
seeds from a variety of orchid species from a variety of geographic
locations. This generalist behavior has benefited researchers
growing orchids in vitro and will be helpful to compare to
more specialist orchid fungal genomes.
