Mycorrhizal forming fungi isolated from roots of the orchid Rodriguezia granadensis (LINDL.) RCHB. F.

Abstract

Rodriguezia granadensis (Lindl.) Rchb. f. is an epiphytic orchid that grows on trees in areas with little intervention. For seed germination and the initial stages of development, it forms symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi, which provide the necessary nutrients. In the municipality of Fusagasugá, this species grows in natural conditions and, due to the beauty of its flowers is a promissory specie to commercial production, but there is little information about the microorganisms associated with this plant; therefore, the purpose of this work was to identify, at the genus level, the fungi associated with the roots of R. granadensis in Betania farm. Root samples were taken, noting the phorophyte where the plants grew. In the laboratory, they were divided into three sections: proximal, middle, and distal, and made cross-sections to identify hyphal curls. Additionally, explants were put in potato dextrose agar, Sabouraud agar, and Ko and Hora media. The genus Rhizoctonia was identified, with a frequency of 95 %. It was found that 70 % of the sampled plants grew on guava trees and 30 % on citrus. The results indicate that R. granadensis may have interactions with fungi of Rhizoctonia genus.