The micorryzal fungi ceratobasidium sp. and sebacina vermifera promote seed germination and seedling development of the terrestrial orchid epidendrum secundum jacq

The interaction between seeds and mycorrhizal fungi in germination and developmental processes is complex and far from being understood. The efficiency assessment of mycorrhizal fungi at “in vitro” seed germination of orchids will improve protocols for conservation and horticultural purposes. Applying a culture-dependent approach, we isolated 45 endophytic fungi, from roots of 12 orchid species, growing at two altitudinal levels in the Ecuadorian mountains. From them, 26 Rhizoctonia-like axenical isolates were studied by nuclear ribosomal rDNA sequences analysis, searching for mycorrhizal fungi . Ceratobasidium sp. and Sebacina vermifera were identified and tested for promoting germination and seedling development of Epidendrum secundum Jacq., an endangered medicinal orchid. Symbiotic cultures were stablished in Oat Meal Agar (OMA), and seeds development was compared between Murashige & …