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Dryad

Percentage distribution of plant-fixed carbon in orchid shoots and roots, protocorms, and mycorrhizal fungal mycelium and amount (total and concentration) of carbon transferred to protocorms and mycorrhizal fungal mycelium by green orchids in each experimental microcosm

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May 02, 2024 version files 16.23 KB

Abstract

 The minute 'dust seeds' of some terrestrial orchids preferentially germinate and develop as mycoheterotrophic protocorms near conspecific adult plants. In this paper we tested the hypothesis that mycorrhizal mycelial connections provide a direct pathway for transfer of recent photosynthate from conspecific green orchids to achlorophyllous protocorms. Mycelial networks of Ceratobasidium cornigerum connecting green Dactylorhiza fuchsii plants with developing achlorophyllous protocorms of the same species were established on oatmeal or water agar before the shoots of green plants were exposed to 14CO2. After incubation for 48 hours, the pattern of distribution of fixed carbon was visualised in intact entire autotrophic/protocorm systems using digital autoradiography and quantified in protocorms by liquid scintillation counting. The data presented here represent the percentage distribution of the 14C fixed by the orchids in our experimental systems to plant shoots, roots, protocorms and the mycorrhizal mycelium. We also show the total amount of 14C present in plant shoots and protocorms when grown in each of the three media tested (100% water agar, 100% oatmeal agar, and 50:50 water: oatmeal agar). We also show the amount of carbon (total and concentration) transferred from green orchids to protocorms and mycorrhizal mycelium in each microcosm across the three media treatments.