Mycorrhizal preference promotes habitat invasion by a native Australian orchid: Microtis media
Background and Aims: Mycorrhizal specialization has been shown to limit recruitment capacity in orchids, but an increasing number of orchids are being documented as invasive or weed-like. The reasons for this proliferation were examined by investigating mycorrhizal fungi and edaphic correlates of Mi...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
2013
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/3066 |
| _version_ | 1848744128658014208 |
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| author | De Long, J. Swarts, N. Dixon, Kingsley Egerton-Warburton, L. |
| author_facet | De Long, J. Swarts, N. Dixon, Kingsley Egerton-Warburton, L. |
| author_sort | De Long, J. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background and Aims: Mycorrhizal specialization has been shown to limit recruitment capacity in orchids, but an increasing number of orchids are being documented as invasive or weed-like. The reasons for this proliferation were examined by investigating mycorrhizal fungi and edaphic correlates of Microtis media, an Australian terrestrial orchid that is an aggressive ecosystem and horticultural weed. Methods: Molecular identification of fungi cultivated from M. media pelotons, symbiotic in vitro M. media seed germination assays, ex situ fungal baiting of M. media and co-occurring orchid taxa (Caladenia arenicola, Pterostylis sanguinea and Diuris magnifica) and soil physical and chemical analyses were undertaken. Key Results: It was found that: (1) M. media associates with a broad taxonomic spectrum of mycobionts including Piriformospora indica, Sebacina vermifera, Tulasnella calospora and Ceratobasidium sp.; (2) germination efficacy of mycorrhizal isolates was greater for fungi isolated from plants in disturbed than in natural habitats; (3) a higher percentage of M. media seeds germinate than D. magnifica, P. sanguinea or C. arenicola seeds when incubated with soil from M. media roots; and (4) M. media–mycorrhizal fungal associations show an unusual breadth of habitat tolerance, especially for soil phosphorus (P) fertility. Conclusions: The findings in M. media support the idea that invasive terrestrial orchids may associate with a diversity of fungi that are widespread and common, enhance seed germination in the host plant but not co-occurring orchid species and tolerate a range of habitats. These traits may provide the weedy orchid with a competitive advantage over co-occurring orchid species. If so, invasive orchids are likely to become more broadly distributed and increasingly colonize novel habitats. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T05:56:33Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-3066 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T05:56:33Z |
| publishDate | 2013 |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-30662017-09-13T14:33:45Z Mycorrhizal preference promotes habitat invasion by a native Australian orchid: Microtis media De Long, J. Swarts, N. Dixon, Kingsley Egerton-Warburton, L. Background and Aims: Mycorrhizal specialization has been shown to limit recruitment capacity in orchids, but an increasing number of orchids are being documented as invasive or weed-like. The reasons for this proliferation were examined by investigating mycorrhizal fungi and edaphic correlates of Microtis media, an Australian terrestrial orchid that is an aggressive ecosystem and horticultural weed. Methods: Molecular identification of fungi cultivated from M. media pelotons, symbiotic in vitro M. media seed germination assays, ex situ fungal baiting of M. media and co-occurring orchid taxa (Caladenia arenicola, Pterostylis sanguinea and Diuris magnifica) and soil physical and chemical analyses were undertaken. Key Results: It was found that: (1) M. media associates with a broad taxonomic spectrum of mycobionts including Piriformospora indica, Sebacina vermifera, Tulasnella calospora and Ceratobasidium sp.; (2) germination efficacy of mycorrhizal isolates was greater for fungi isolated from plants in disturbed than in natural habitats; (3) a higher percentage of M. media seeds germinate than D. magnifica, P. sanguinea or C. arenicola seeds when incubated with soil from M. media roots; and (4) M. media–mycorrhizal fungal associations show an unusual breadth of habitat tolerance, especially for soil phosphorus (P) fertility. Conclusions: The findings in M. media support the idea that invasive terrestrial orchids may associate with a diversity of fungi that are widespread and common, enhance seed germination in the host plant but not co-occurring orchid species and tolerate a range of habitats. These traits may provide the weedy orchid with a competitive advantage over co-occurring orchid species. If so, invasive orchids are likely to become more broadly distributed and increasingly colonize novel habitats. 2013 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/3066 10.1093/aob/mcs294 unknown |
| spellingShingle | De Long, J. Swarts, N. Dixon, Kingsley Egerton-Warburton, L. Mycorrhizal preference promotes habitat invasion by a native Australian orchid: Microtis media |
| title | Mycorrhizal preference promotes habitat invasion by a native Australian orchid: Microtis media |
| title_full | Mycorrhizal preference promotes habitat invasion by a native Australian orchid: Microtis media |
| title_fullStr | Mycorrhizal preference promotes habitat invasion by a native Australian orchid: Microtis media |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mycorrhizal preference promotes habitat invasion by a native Australian orchid: Microtis media |
| title_short | Mycorrhizal preference promotes habitat invasion by a native Australian orchid: Microtis media |
| title_sort | mycorrhizal preference promotes habitat invasion by a native australian orchid: microtis media |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/3066 |