naoki
Well-Known Member
This is a bit technical, so most people probably don't care. But I thought that it could be interesting for some people interested in biology of Cypripedium.
Here is an interesting MS thesis:
https://www.researchgate.net/profil...osynthesis/links/53e21f730cf24f90ff65bbef.pdf
I haven't read it in detail (so I might be wrong in details), but it shows unexpected results. In more fertile sites, the roots are more infected by mycorrhizae. The fungi can help water acquisition, so C. candidum can do more photosynthesis. However, the plants don't get the benefit (fungi seem to steal it), and more fungi seems to influence the performance of plant negatively. In other words, Cyps in the nutrient poor site do better because they don't get infected by mycorrhizae.
The relationships between orchids and mycorrhizae are crazier and crazier as I learn more about it. I used to think that orchids seem to have an upper-hand over fungi on this "synergistic" relationship, but not in this case.
Here is the summary version (it is not so clear about the message, though)
http://my.chicagobotanic.org/science_conservation/making-a-splash-with-orchids/
Here is an interesting MS thesis:
https://www.researchgate.net/profil...osynthesis/links/53e21f730cf24f90ff65bbef.pdf
I haven't read it in detail (so I might be wrong in details), but it shows unexpected results. In more fertile sites, the roots are more infected by mycorrhizae. The fungi can help water acquisition, so C. candidum can do more photosynthesis. However, the plants don't get the benefit (fungi seem to steal it), and more fungi seems to influence the performance of plant negatively. In other words, Cyps in the nutrient poor site do better because they don't get infected by mycorrhizae.
The relationships between orchids and mycorrhizae are crazier and crazier as I learn more about it. I used to think that orchids seem to have an upper-hand over fungi on this "synergistic" relationship, but not in this case.
Here is the summary version (it is not so clear about the message, though)
http://my.chicagobotanic.org/science_conservation/making-a-splash-with-orchids/