Morphogenesis Changes in Protocorm Development during Symbiotic Seed Germination of Dendrobium chrysotoxum (Orchidaceae) with Its Mycobiont, Tulasnella sp.

Abstract

The endangered epiphytic orchid, Dendrobium chrysotoxum, is known for its ornamental and medicinal uses. However, knowledge of this orchid’s symbiotic seed germination, protocorm anatomy, and developmental morphology is completely unknown. In this study, we investigated the process of protocorm development of D. chrysotoxum during symbiotic germination using anatomical technologies and scanning electron microscopy. There are six development stages that were morphologically and anatomically defined during symbiotic seed germination. The embryo transformed into a protocorm at stage two, and a protrusion developed from the top of the protocorm at stage three and elongated to form the cotyledon at stage four. The stem apical meristem (SAM) was initiated at stage three and well developed at stage four. The first leaf and the root appeared at stages five and six, respectively. The hyphae entered through the micropylar end of the seed at stage one and then invaded the protocorm through rhizoids when rhizoids formed. Invading fungal hyphae colonized the inner cortex at the base of protocorms, formed pelotons, and were digested by host cells later. We conclude that protocorm development is programmed by the embryo, which determines the structure and function of the protocorm. The two developmental zones in a polarized D. chrysotoxum embryo include the smaller cells zone, which forms the cotyledon and a shoot apical meristem at the apical end, and the larger cells zone, which forms the mycorrhiza to house the symbiont at the basal end. These results will provide important insights for further research on the mechanisms underlying orchid-fungi symbiosis and enhance the understanding of orchid evolution.

Isolasi dan Identifikasi Cendawan Endofit Akar Anggrek Epifit dan Hemiepifit

“…Peloton berfungsi sebagai situs pertukaran nutrisi antara cendawan dengan anggrek. Anggrek mendapatkan karbohidrat, glutamin, asam glutamat, asam aspartat dan asam nikotinat (Gao et al 2023). Cendawan berperan dalam penyerapan dan transfer nutrisi serta berkontribusi dalam ketersediaan unsur hara bagi tanaman inang melalui aktivitas dekomposisi bahan organik (Santos & Silva 2023).…”

Interspecific hybridization of Dendrobium mirbelianum x D. nindii or D. discolor, in vitro seed germination, seedling growth and plantlet acclimatization

“…The representative appearance of protocorms of the hybrid seeds of D. nindii x D. mirbelianum (P2×P1) in all media is presented in Figure 3. Green color often becomes an indicator of living cells in juvenile plants, including in protocorms, due to the abundance of chloroplast organelles, while brown is the opposite condition (Gao et al 2023).…”