"Richard, Marion Thomson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> spaketh thusly:
> Hi all. > I would be very appreciative if I can get help in relation to orchids that > have been germinated asymbiotically and then introducing the mycorrhizal fungi > to the orchid when deflasking the seedlings. > Is anybody aware of any research that has been undertaken or other evidence of > the success or otherwise of these strategies. I think RBG Kew did work with Cyp. calceolus that was germinated aseptically, with the resulting propagules being given a quick dip in a solution with the fungus before being planted outdoors. Margaret Ramsay, head of their microprop unit, would have more information on this. I'm a little unsure which fungus they used; I've heard differing things on the mycos from cypripediums. Domestically (United States), we have Dr. Larry Zettler at Illinois College, who may have additional data, and a recent student of his (Scott Stewart), now grinding away on a PhD at UFL. I don't *think* either of these guys did any work with inoculating seedlings after deflask, but you never know. There's also Jay O'Neill at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center- again, mostly in-vitro stuff. > The orchids I am working with are temperate terrestrial orchids that germinate > readily and grow well in the flask. But need the appropriate fungi for post > flask life. They can be germinated and grown symbiotically but there are > significant challenges in maintaining the correct nutrient balance within the > flasks so that the fungi do not consume the orchid seedlings. I've had only one experience with symbiotic germination of orchids; the asymbiotic route worked just as well, so I use that. However, germination with the fungus was much more rapid. The fungus wasn't even isolated from the same species, but a related one. Anyway- once the seedlings germinated, I moved them to culture vessels filled with sterile media. I didn't take the same amount of care as one would with nutrient agar, but I autoclaved jars with peat, vermiculite, moss, etc., and then added the symbiotically-germinated seedlings. It was a very small experiment, and only one is still alive, probably because of my neglecting a good winter rest period for them. All the same, I think that this type of culture might be of use to others, which is why I mention it. Cheers, -AJHicks Chandler, AZ _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids
