title: Age-dependent mycorrhizal specificity in an invasive orchid, Oeceoclades maculata.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Oeceoclades maculata is a naturalized, invasive, terrestrial orchid in Puerto Rico and elsewhere in the neotropics. We asked whether its success might be partly explained by its mycorrhizal associations, hypothesizing a relationship with many fungal partners or with one widely distributed partner.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oeceoclades maculata roots were collected throughout Puerto Rico, and the degree of mycorrhizal colonization was measured. For identification of fungi, the ITS region was sequenced from pure cultures and directly from roots. Representative fungi were used for symbiotic seed germination experiments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Colonization of O. maculata roots was very variable. The most common fungus identified by BLAST searches was Psathyrella cf. candolleana, but typical orchid mycorrhizal fungi (Ceratobasidium and Tulasnella) were also found, as were a range of saprotrophs. Seeds germinated in vitro only in the presence of Psathyrella.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results are surprising in two respects. First, O. maculata appears to be highly specific for fungi during seed germination, but unusually promiscuous as adult plants. Second, mycorrhizal associations with Psathyrella and with other saprotrophic fungi have been previously reported, but only from mycoheterotrophic (i.e., nonphotosynthetic) orchids, not from green orchids like Oeceoclades. This combination may partly explain the success of Oeceoclades.
authors: Departamento de Biología, Universidad de Puerto Rico-Río Piedras bayman.upr@gmail.com.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Bayman
authors: Departamento de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana-Cali, Colombia.
authors: Ana T
authors: AT
authors: Mosquera-Espinosa
authors: Departamento de Biología, Universidad de Puerto Rico-Río Piedras.
authors: Carla M
authors: CM
authors: Saladini-Aponte
authors: Departamento de Biología, Universidad de Puerto Rico-Río Piedras.
authors: Nilbeth C
authors: NC
authors: Hurtado-Guevara
authors: Departamento de Biología, Universidad de Puerto Rico-Río Piedras.|Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad de Puerto Rico-Carolina.
authors: Naida L
authors: NL
authors: Viera-Ruiz
mesh_terms: D000363:Agaricales / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D001487:Basidiomycota / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D018525:Germination; D058865:Introduced Species; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D029595:Orchidaceae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology; D011647:Puerto Rico; D012639:Seeds / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013559:Symbiosis
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal
keywords: Ceratobasidium; Oeceoclades; Orchidaceae; Psathyrella; invasive plants; mycorrhiza; orchid; specificity