title: Symbiotic seed germination and protocorm development of Aa achalensis Schltr., a terrestrial orchid endemic from Argentina.
abstract: Aa achalensis is an endangered terrestrial orchid endemic from Argentina. In vitro symbiotic seed germination was evaluated for its propagation. Five different fungal strains were isolated from this species: two Rhizoctonia-like related to Thanatephorus cucumeris and three ascomicetaceous fungi belonging to Phialophora graminicola and one to an uncultured Pezizaceae. All five isolates promoted seed germination being one T. cucumeris strain the most effective. After 16 weeks of growth, 30% of A. achalensis protocorms developed until seedlings with two/four leaves in this treatment. These findings open an opportunity to the knowledge and preservation of this species.
authors.affiliation: Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica, CRILAR- CONICET, Entre Ríos y Mendoza, 5301, Anillaco, La Rioja, Argentina, sebafrac@yahoo.com.ar.
authors.forename: Fracchia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sebastián
authors.forename: Silvani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vanesa
authors.forename: Flachsland
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Eduardo
authors.forename: Terada
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Graciela
authors.forename: Sede
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Silvana
mesh_terms: D001118:Argentina; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D018525:Germination / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D029595:Orchidaceae / Q000382:microbiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000382:microbiology; D012639:Seeds / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer