Dendrobium Plants Research Articles

Mycorrhizal fungi of Vanilla: diversity, specificity and effects on seed germination and plant growth

Mycorrhizal fungi are essential for the germination of orchid seeds. However, the specificity of orchids for their mycorrhizal fungi and the effects of the fungi on orchid growth are controversial. Mycorrhizal fungi have been studied in some temperate and tropical, epiphytic orchids, but the symbionts of tropical, terrestrial orchids are still unknown. Here we study diversity, specificity and function of mycorrhizal fungi in Vanilla, a pantropical genus that is both terrestrial and epiphytic. Mycorrhizal roots were collected from four Vanilla species in Puerto Rico, Costa Rica and Cuba. Cultured and uncultured mycorrhizal fungi were identified by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer region of nuclear rDNA (nrITS) and part of the mitochondrial ribosomal large subunit (mtLSU), and by counting number of nuclei in hyphae. Vanilla spp. were associated with a wide range of mycorrhizal fungi: Ceratobasidium, Thanatephorus and Tulasnella. Related fungi were found in different species of Vanilla, although at different relative frequencies. Ceratobasidium was more common in roots in soil and Tulasnella was more common in roots on tree bark, but several clades of fungi included strains from both substrates. Relative frequencies of genera of mycorrhizal fungi differed significantly between cultured fungi and those detected by direct amplification. Ceratobasidium and Tulasnella were tested for effects on seed germination of Vanilla and effects on growth of Vanilla and Dendrobium plants. We found significant differences among fungi in effects on seed germination and plant growth. Effects of mycorrhizal fungi on Vanilla and Dendrobium were similar: a clade of Ceratobasidium had a consistently positive effect on plant growth and seed germination. This clade has potential use in germination and propagation of orchids. Results confirmed that a single orchid species can be associated with several mycorrhizal fungi with different functional consequences for the plant.

Mycorrhizal fungi of Vanilla: diversity, specificity and effects on seed germination and plant growth

Mycorrhizal fungi are essential for the germination of orchid seeds. However, the specificity of orchids for their mycorrhizal fungi and the effects of the fungi on orchid growth are controversial. Mycorrhizal fungi have been studied in some temperate and tropical, epiphytic orchids, but the symbionts of tropical, terrestrial orchids are still unknown. Here we study diversity, specificity and function of mycorrhizal fungi in Vanilla, a pantropical genus that is both terrestrial and epiphytic. Mycorrhizal roots were collected from four Vanilla species in Puerto Rico, Costa Rica and Cuba. Cultured and uncultured mycorrhizal fungi were identified by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer region of nuclear rDNA (nrITS) and part of the mitochondrial ribosomal large subunit (mtLSU), and by counting number of nuclei in hyphae. Vanilla spp. were associated with a wide range of mycorrhizal fungi: Ceratobasidium, Thanatephorus and Tulasnella. Related fungi were found in different species of Vanilla, although at different relative frequencies. Ceratobasidium was more common in roots in soil and Tulasnella was more common in roots on tree bark, but several clades of fungi included strains from both substrates. Relative frequencies of genera of mycorrhizal fungi differed significantly between cultured fungi and those detected by direct amplification. Ceratobasidium and Tulasnella were tested for effects on seed germination of Vanilla and effects on growth of Vanilla and Dendrobium plants. We found significant differences among fungi in effects on seed germination and plant growth. Effects of mycorrhizal fungi on Vanilla and Dendrobium were similar: a clade of Ceratobasidium had a consistently positive effect on plant growth and seed germination. This clade has potential use in germination and propagation of orchids. Results confirmed that a single orchid species can be associated with several mycorrhizal fungi with different functional consequences for the plant.

Susceptibility of green leaves and green flower petals of CAM orchid Dendrobium cv. Burana Jade to high irradiance under natural tropical conditions

Photosynthetic rates of green leaves (GL) and green flower petals (GFP) of the CAM plant Dendrobium cv. Burana Jade and their sensitivities to different growth irradiances were studied in shade-grown plants over a period of 4 weeks. Maximal photosynthetic O2 evolution rates and CAM acidities [dawn/dusk fluctuations in titratable acidity] were higher in leaves exposed to intermediate sunlight [a maximal photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 500-600 µmol m-2 s-1] than in leaves grown under full sunlight (a maximal PPFD of 1 000-1 200 µmol m-2 s-1) and shade (a maximal PPFD of 200-250 µmol m-2 s-1). However, these two parameters of GFP were highest in plants grown under the shade and lowest in full sun-grown plants. Both GL and GFP of plants exposed to full sunlight had lower predawn Fv/Fm [dark adapted ratio of variable to maximal fluorescence (the maximal photosystem 2 yield without actinic irradiation)] than those of shade-grown plants. When exposed to intermediate sunlight, however, there were no significant changes in predawn Fv/Fm in GL whereas a significant decrease in predawn Fv/Fm was found in GFP of the same plant. GFP exposed to full sunlight exhibited a greater decrease in predawn Fv/Fm compared to those exposed to intermediate sunlight. The patterns of changes in total chlorophyll (Chl) content of GL and GFP were similar to those of Fv/Fm. Although midday Fv/Fm fluctuated with prevailing irradiance, changes of midday Fv/Fm after exposure to different growth irradiances were similar to those of predawn Fv/Fm in both GL and GFP. The decreases in predawn and midday Fv/Fm were much more pronounced in GFP than in GL under full sunlight, indicating greater sensitivity in GFP to high irradiance (HI). In the laboratory, electron transport rate and photochemical and non-photochemical quenching of Chl fluorescence were also determined under different irradiances. All results indicated that GFP are more susceptible to HI than GL. Although the GFP of Dendrobium cv. Burana Jade require a lower amount of radiant energy for photosynthesis and this plant is usually grown in the shade, is not necessarily a shade plant.

A simple and convenient approach for isolating RNA from highly viscous plant tissue rich in polysaccharides

RNA isolation is a prerequisite to the study of gene expression of herbaceous plant Dendrobium nobile under an environmental stress. However, RNA isolation is difficult in the plant of genus Dendrobium, which is relatively viscous, due to being rich in polysaccharides. The common protocols for RNA isolation are tedious and usually result in poor yields when applied to D. nobile. Here, we describe a simple and convenient method for high quality total RNA extraction from D. nobile. Main procedures are as follows: smashing plant tissue and cell wall by means of pre-cooled citrate homogenization, cleaving cell membrane by using guanidine hydrochloride lysis buffer, removing proteins, polyphenols and polysaccharides by acidic phenol/chloroform. It is particularly useful for processing large numbers of plant samples. The whole process can be completed within 2.5 h. The extracted RNA is suitable for applications such as RT-PCR, Northern analysis and screening of differential expression genes.

Current approaches for the authentication of medicinal Dendrobium species and its products

Dendrobium Sw., a member of the family Orchidaceae, includes approximately 1100 species distributed in different parts of the world. In China, the genus is represented by 76 species and two varieties, of which D. loddigesii, D. fimbriatum, D. chrysanthum, D. officinale (=D. candidum) and D. nobile are listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia as the source material for Herba Dendrobii (Shihu). Because of increased demand and high price, Herba Dendrobii is often adulterated in the trade by other related species. Many Dendrobium species are over-collected from the wild and are listed under endangered taxa in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Therefore, a reliable authentication method is needed to regulate the trade and help conserve the species from unscrupulous collections. This review describes the present status of using medicinal Dendrobium in China, current approaches to authenticate medicinal Dendrobium plants and Herba Dendrobii, and the efforts under way towards the development of DNA microarrays to facilitate differentiation/identification of genuine material in complex Chinese medicinal formulations.

INHERITANCE OF PANSY-LIP IN DENDROBIUM

A peloric form of the labellum or lip of Dendrobium appeared in a hybrid registered by D'Bush Nursery of Australia as Dendrobium D'Bush Pansy in 1988. Unlike the typical lip of Dendrobium, the lip of D'Bush Pansy is similar to the two lateral sepals, and the flat petals and sepals resemble those of the pansy, hence the name D'Bush Pansy. A few seedlings of D'Bush Pansy were obtained from Australia through Bangkok Flowers in 1989. D'Bush Pansy crossed to several Dendrobium plants with normal lip produced offspring with normal lip, indicating that pansy-lip is recessive to normal-lip. Three F1 offspring backcrossed to the pansy-lip parent produced 1:1 ratios, and one F2 progeny segregated into 3 normal-lip: 1 pansy-lip. Thus, pansylip is controlled by a single recessive gene pair.

Postharvest Control of Thrips with Pyrethroids on Dendrobium, 1993

Abstract Postharvest insecticidal treatments were evaluated from Jun through Jul 1993 at the University of Hawaii, Waiakea Experiment Station in Hilo, HI. Flowers used in this study were randomly harvested from a commercial dendrobium farm in Kailua-Kona, HI. Dendrobium plants were well established growing in 0.5 inch crushed basalt rock under 30% polypropylene shade using standard cultural practices. Treatments consisted of 4 replicates with 5 inflorescences per replicate. In study 1. inflorescences were dipped floral end first into 5 gal buckets containing the insecticide solutions (25.7°C). Inflorescences were submerged for 3 minutes, and gently agitated 10 times at immersion, at 1.5 minutes, and again before removal for a total of 30 times. Control flowers were dipped in water following the same procedure as described. After dipping, inflorescences were held in buckets and allowed to air dry. In study 2, the double dip o1 Mavrik consisted of immersing inflorescences (27.3°C) as described above, followed by a 2 h waiting period and a second 3 min insecticide immersion. A 2.5 m? chamber was used to fumigate inflorescence with floragas (2 h exposure at 31.5°C). Control flowers for the floragas were held in an identical untreated chamber. Twenty-four hours after treatment, blossoms were removed from the inflorescence, counted, and placed in Berlese funnels heated with a 60 watt incandescent light bulb. Thrips were collected in a 8:2:1:1 solution of ethanol, distilled H20, acetic acid and glycerin and the number of nymphs and adults counted. Thrips counts were adjusted to the number of thrips per blossom. Data were subjected to ANOVA.

Denfigenin, a diosgenin derivative from Dendrobium fimbriatum

A new diosgenin derivative designated denfigenin has been isolated from the petrol extract of the whole plant Dendrobium fimbriatum, along with diosgenin and defuscin ( n-triacontyl p-coumarate). Denfigenin was shown to be (25 R)-22α- O-spirost-5-ene-3β,16α,17α-triol mainly based on 1H and 13C NMR spectral studies. Its molecular conformation has also been discussed.

Effects of fire regimen on two species of epiphytic orchids in tropical savannas of the Northern Territory

AbstractThe effect of four fire regimens (early dry season annual, late dry season annual, early dry season biennial, unburnt) on the numbers of epiphytic orchids in a savanna community in Kakadu National Park was investigated. These fire regimens had been maintained on I ha plots for 16 years. Two species of epiphytic orchid were present — Cymbidium canaliculatum and Dendrobium affine. The numbers of Cymbidium plants were insufficient to enable statistical analysis, but plants were present in the unburnt, early annual and early biennial fire treatments. Dendrobium occurred in substantial numbers irrespective of fire treatment, but the extent of colonization of all available host trees was greater in the unburnt than the burnt treatments.The lower numbers of Dendrobium plants in burnt treatments was due to a lower proportion of potential host trees being colonized and a lower number of orchids on each colonized tree. The proportion of small trees colonized was markedly lower in burnt treatments. Frequent fires late in the dry season may prevent recruitment of the main host species. Eucalyptus tectifica. The survival of orchids despite frequent fires depended on the availability of relatively protected sites for colonization and the ability of the orchids to withstand some fire damage.