Orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF) are critical for seed germination and maintaining natural populations of orchids, yet the degree of specificity of most orchids to their mycorrhizal associates remains unknown. Many orchids are at risk of extinction, whether generalists or specialists, but orchid species of narrow fungal specificity are arguably under increased threat due to their requirement for specific fungal symbionts. This study characterises the fungi associated with Aerangis ellisii, a lithophytic orchid from a site in the Central Highlands of Madagascar. Culturable OMF isolated from spontaneous protocorms of this species from the wild were used for seed germination. In vitro germination and seedling development of A. ellisii were achieved with fungi derived from A. ellisii and an isolate from a different Aerangis species 30 km away. The significance of these findings and their importance to conservation strategies for this species and other Aerangis spp. is discussed. These results have important implications for the conservation of A. ellisii populations in Madagascar.

中文翻译：

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从马达加斯加特有兰花Aerangis ellisii（BS Williams）Schltr的野生原球茎中回收菌根真菌。及其在体外种子萌发中的用途。

兰花菌根真菌（OMF）对于种子发芽和维持兰花的自然种群至关重要，但是大多数兰花对其菌根同伴的特异性程度仍然未知。许多兰花，无论通才还是专家，都有灭绝的危险，但是由于需要特定的真菌共生体，因此具有狭窄真菌特异性的兰花物种面临的威胁越来越大。这项研究的特点是与马达加斯加中央高地某地的石生兰花Aerangis ellisii有关的真菌。从野生该物种的自发原球茎中分离出的可培养的OMF用于种子发芽。得自A. ellisii的真菌的体外发芽和幼苗发育ellisii和来自30公里外的其他Aerangis物种的分离物。这些发现的意义及其对于该物种和其他Aerangis物种的保护策略的重要性。讨论。这些结果对马达加斯加的ellisii种群的保护具有重要意义。