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Isolation and Identification of Rhizospheric and Endophytic Fungi Associated with Habenaria brachyphylla (Lindl.) Aitch.: An Endemic and Rare Orchid of the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India

Author: Aboli Avhad, Neeta Patil and Rajendra Zunjarrao

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Abstract

Orchidaceae is one of the largest families among the flowering plants extensively distributed in the Eastern Himalaya, Eastern part of Western Himalaya, and Western Ghats. A Terrestrial orchid is an enormous group among the orchidaceous family which needs to be conserved as they are on the verge of being threatened. The fungal partner associated with the roots of terrestrial orchids plays an important role in the germination of seeds and in providing nutrients to orchids. Therefore, this study aims to isolate and identify the fungi associated with Habenaria brachyphylla (Lindl.) Aitch from the Western Ghats of Maharashtra can lead to the development of efficient conservation strategies for this endemic and rare orchid. In our present study, the fungal isolates of endophytic and rhizospheric regions were isolated and identified. All the isolates found belonged to the phylum Ascomycota. Amongst which Aspergillus sydowii was found in the root peloton however other species such as Acremonium spp., Clonostachys spp., Fusarium spp., Penicillium spp., Talaromyces spp., showed the association with the rhizospheric region.

Keywords

Terrestrial orchid, Habenaria, Soil fungi, Peloton, Molecular identification

Conclusion

In this study, the isolation and molecular identification of rhizospheric and endophytic fungal isolates of Habenaria brachyphylla (Lindl.) Aitch. from the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India was studied. The results showed that the rhizospheric and endophytic fungi of H. brachyphylla were non-mycorrhizal and all belonged to the phylum Ascomycota.

References

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How to cite this article

Aboli Avhad, Neeta Patil and Rajendra Zunjarrao (2023). Isolation and Identification of Rhizospheric and Endophytic Fungi associated with Habenaria brachyphylla (Lindl.) Aitch.: An Endemic and Rare Orchid of the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(5): 1535-1542.