Mychorrhizae of Tiger orchids (Grammatophyllum spp.) and symbiotic germination of seed of Grammatophyllum stapeliiflorum (Teijsm. & Mann.) S. S. Smith.

Grammatophyllum seeds are minute and lack endosperm. As their other orchid’s counterpart, the seeds are dependent on mychorrhizal fungi for seed germination in nature. The abilities to uptake nutrients from substrate were assisted by preferable fungal symbionts. Seed of Grammatophyllum stapeliiflorum were used to determine the specificity of its fungus relationship using fungal isolated from roots of G. speciosum, G. stapeliiflorum and G. scriptum. A total of 31 isolates of different species of fungus was isolated from the host plants. All isolates were inoculated on G. stapeliiflorum seed on Oat Meal Agar (OMA) for symbiotic germination test. The result obtained from the test demonstrated that seed germination rates were best when co-cultured with Curvularia sp. isolated from G. speciosum; an increment in 40.1% when compared to the seeds’ original size (width 0.127mm). The seed also can germinate in variable degrees when inoculated with fungus isolated from different species. The germination experiments showed that G. stapeliiflorum is a generalist in its association with fungal symbionts.

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