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Orchid mycorrhizae are critically important during orchid germination, as an orchid seed has virtually no energy reserve and obtains its carbon from the fungal symbiont. [1] [2] The symbiosis starts with a structure called a protocorm. [3] During the symbiosis, the fungus develops structures called pelotons within the root cortex of the orchid. [4]
Orchid seeds are extremely small and hold scant sustenance. For this reason, in nature they need to associate with a fungus during germination which provides them nutrients required for growth and development. This process is known as "symbiotic germination" and until 1922 was the only known method of seed based propagation of orchids.
Sons describes propagating orchids from seeds as a more complex and tedious process, as orchid seeds lack stored nutrients and rely solely on fungi to germinate.
Seed germination of orchids is very important for the production of hybrids. Through the production of hybrids, orchids can endure genetic diversity. [ 5 ] After numerous comparative findings, it was concluded that symbiotic protocorms developed more promptly over asymbiotic germination methods versus symbiotic approaches.
However, a greater understanding of orchids in general has shown that this association is only needed to germinate orchid seeds and is not required once plants begin making true leaves. C. acaule is considered endangered in Illinois and Tennessee, Vulnerable in New York, and Unusual in Georgia. [19]
Only a handful of orchid species have seed that can germinate without mycorrhiza, namely the species within the genus Disa with hydrochorous seeds. [22] [23] Disa uniflora seedling on a sphagnum leaf, on a thumbtack. As the chance for a seed to meet a suitable fungus is very small, only a minute fraction of all the seeds released grow into ...