Researchers on a Japanese island found that orchids living on tree bark and those growing in soil rely on different fungal partners, yet some key fungi are shared between both habitats — suggesting these fungi helped orchids make the evolutionary leap from ground to canopy.
1
Epiphytic (tree-dwelling) orchids and terrestrial (ground-dwelling) orchids host distinct mycorrhizal fungal communities, and the bark and soil substrates they grow in also differ in fungal composition.
2
Overall fungal richness was lower in bark than in soil, but the diversity of rhizoctonia fungi — the main group orchids rely on — was similarly high in both habitats.
3
Some rhizoctonia fungi were found in both epiphytic and terrestrial orchids and were confirmed to form successful partnerships with orchids from both habitats in laboratory culture, suggesting they acted as a bridge enabling canopy colonization.
mail
Weekly plant science — one email, Saturdays.
Check your inbox to confirm — link expires in 24 hours.
Something went wrong — please try again.
Too many signup attempts from your network. Try again in an hour, or email hello@plant.news.
