Fungus-assisted reintroduction and long-term survival of two Mexican terrestrial orchids in the natural habitat

Abstract

Preservation of genetic diversity of orchids for con- servation and restoration purposes is now a feasible practice after the ecological studies of seed bank dynamics made by several investigators (Batty et al. 2001, Whigham et al. 2006). However, few studies have demonstrated the reliability of reintroduction of several species into their natural habitat and less, managing symbiotic fungus (Ramsay and Dixon 2003, Zettler et al. 2003).

Mycorrhizal status of Guarianthe skinneri (Orchidaceae) in urban trees in Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico

“…Mycorrhizae that performs symbiosis with orchids belong to the anamorphic artificial polyphyletic group Rhizoctonia (López-Chávez et al, 2016), which Ceratorhiza, Moniliopsis, Epulorhiza are recognized as their mainly anamorphic (asexual) genera and whose teleomorphic (sexual) form Ceratobasidium, Thanatephorus, Tulasnella and Sebacina are identified through molecular tools by the absence of sexual structures (Nontachaiyapoom et al, 2010;Shimura et al, 2009). The identification of fungi associated in already established orchids is fundamental for the conservation, and ecological restoration of endangered or threatened species (Etanke et al, 2021;Ortega-Larrocea and Rangel-Villafranco, 2015;Suryantini et al, 2015;Zettler et al, 2000). It has been documented that host-mycorrhizal fungus specificity may be determined under natural conditions by forest species (Martins et al, 2020).…”

EFECTO DE N6-BENCILADENINA Y FOTOPERIODO EN LA FLORACIÓN DE PROTOCORMOS in vitro DE Bletia urbana (ORCHIDACEAE)

“…Esta especie se distribuye en el Estado de México, Oaxaca, Puebla y Morelos (CONABIO, 2021); sin embargo, en la Reserva Ecológica del Pedregal de San Ángel (REPSA, CDMX) se encuentra la mayor población, aunque ésta no sobrepasa los 20 individuos, por lo que B. urbana está en grave riesgo de desaparecer, debido principalmente al constante crecimiento urbano (Palacio y Guilbaud, 2015). Desde la década de los 1980s, B. urbana ha sido reconocida internacionalmente como modelo de numerosos estudios in vitro enfocados en la micropropagación, germinación asimbiótica y simbiótica, y la eco-restauración, cuyos resultados han ayudado a generar estrategias de conservación in situ para esta y Villafranco, 2007).…”

Characterization of mycorrhizal fungi of the genus <em>Tulasnella (Tulasnellaceae, Basidiomycota)</em> in the genus of orchids <em>Bletia</em> from Barranca del Cupatitzio Natural Reserve, Mexico

“…2014). However, the investigation aimed to mycorrhizal fungi in orchids is uncommon in Mexico (Ortega-Larrocea & Rangel-Villafranco 2007;Ortega-Larrocea 2008;Ortega-Larrocea & González 2008), and little is known about the ecological and phenological aspects, the management for conservation or the reintroduction purposes. Moreover, there are few studies about the identity of the fungal partner or the specificity on endemic orchid species associations in Mexican forests (Ortega-Larrocea & Rangel-Villafranco 2007).…”

“…includes about 40 species of terrestrial orchids, some of them with a wide distribution range from Mexico to Central America, while others with a more restricted distribution, mostly endemics to Mexico (Sosa 1992). It also includes some species in danger of extinction (Ortega-Larrocea & Rangel-Villafranco 2007), and other that, according with the Official Mexican Norm-NOM-059-ECOL-2010, cf. SEMARNAT (2010)-, could be endangered if adequate actions are not taken.…”