title: Preliminary findings on identification of mycorrhizal fungi from diverse orchids in the Central Highlands of Madagascar.
abstract: The Orchid flora of Madagascar is one of the most diverse with nearly 1000 orchid taxa, of which about 90% are endemic to this biodiversity hotspot. The Itremo Massif in the Central Highlands of Madagascar with a Highland Subtropical climate range encompasses montane grassland, igneous and metamorphic rock outcrops, and gallery and tapia forests. Our study focused on identifying culturable mycorrhizae from epiphytic, lithophytic, and terrestrial orchid taxa to understand their diversity and density in a spatial matrix that is within the protected areas. We have collected both juvenile and mature roots from 41 orchid taxa for isolating their orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF), and to culture, identify, and store in liquid nitrogen for future studies. Twelve operational taxonomic units (OTUs), of three known orchid mycorrhizal genera, were recognized by analysis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of 85 isolates, and, by comparing with GenBank database entries, each OTU was shown to have closely related fungi that were also found as orchid associates. Orchid and fungal diversity were greater in gallery forests and open grasslands, which is very significant for future studies and orchid conservation. As far as we know, this is the first ever report of detailed identification of mycorrhizal fungi from Madagascar. This study will help start to develop a programme for identifying fungal symbionts from this unique biodiversity hotspot, which is undergoing rapid ecosystem damage and species loss. The diversity of culturable fungal associates, their density, and distribution within the Itremo orchid hotspot areas will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB, UK.
authors.forename: Kazutomo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yokoya
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Illinois College, 1101 West College Avenue, Jacksonville, IL, 62650, USA.
authors.forename: Lawrence W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Zettler
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB, UK.
authors.forename: Jonathan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kendon
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB, UK.|Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
authors.forename: Martin I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Bidartondo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Illinois College, 1101 West College Avenue, Jacksonville, IL, 62650, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Stice
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Illinois College, 1101 West College Avenue, Jacksonville, IL, 62650, USA.
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Skarha
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Illinois College, 1101 West College Avenue, Jacksonville, IL, 62650, USA.
authors.forename: Laura L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Corey
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Illinois College, 1101 West College Avenue, Jacksonville, IL, 62650, USA.
authors.forename: Audrey C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB, UK. v.sarasan@kew.org.
authors.forename: Viswambharan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sarasan
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D065948:Grassland; D008270:Madagascar; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D029595:Orchidaceae / Q000382:microbiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000382:microbiology; D012232:Rhizoctonia / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013559:Symbiosis
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal
keywords: Ceratobasidium; Fungal symbiont; In vitro; Orchidaceae; Rhizoctonia; Sebacina; Tulasnella