title: Developmental processes of achlorophyllous orchid, Epipogium roseum: from seed germination to flowering under symbiotic cultivation with mycorrhizal fungus.
abstract: We have achieved the symbiotic cultivation of an apparently achlorophyllous orchid, Epipogium roseum Lindl., with a mycorrhizal fungus isolated from an underground organ of this orchid. Although the seed germination rate was extremely low, subsequent growth from protocorm to flowering was induced in a medium containing volcanic soils and sawdust. Stolons elongated from each protocorm, and rhizomes were formed at certain intervals on the stolons. Some of the rhizomes developed into a coralloid form, and tubers were formed from the coralloid rhizomes. The coralloid rhizomes degenerated concurrently with maturation of the tubers. Six months after seed sowing, around 80 tubers were produced from a single protocorm. An inflorescence appeared from each of the large tubers, and the process to flowering was observed in one of these. Consequently, the developmental processes from seed to flowering in E. roseum was clearly revealed in this study.
authors.affiliation: Division of Advanced Bio-Resources Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan. yagame@ran-museum.jp
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yagame
authors.forename: Masahide
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamato
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mii
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwase
mesh_terms: D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism*; D035264:Flowers / Q000502:physiology*; D018525:Germination / Q000502:physiology*; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000502:physiology*; D029595:Orchidaceae / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000382:microbiology; D009929:Organ Size; D035281:Plant Tubers / Q000254:growth & development; D027343:Rhizome / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development; D012639:Seeds / Q000502:physiology*; D013559:Symbiosis
chemical_list: D002734:Chlorophyll