Collaborative Research: Orchid-Fungal Interactions-A System for Testing Hypotheses about the Ecological Role and Distribution of Mycorrhizal Fungi in Affecting Plant Distribution

所有的陆生兰花都需要共生真菌，称为真菌，只有当这些真菌存在时才能存活。它们与各种各样的真菌相互作用-有些兰花是极端的专家，而另一些则是可以容纳许多不同真菌的多面手。拟议的研究使用共生真菌菌根协会作为一个模型系统，调查的作用，共生真菌和化学成分的基板在调节兰花宿主植物的分布和生长。为了确定共生真菌是否调节兰花的分布，提出了一系列的实验室和田间实验中，兰花种子，真菌的合作伙伴，凋落物基质和非生物因素（光，水）进行操作。为了确定基质质量如何影响兰花的生长，将在不同的基质、水和光照条件下确定兰花幼苗的碳源。这项研究将有助于了解植物-菌根相互作用的基本知识，以及在不同胁迫（基质质量、光照、水分）条件下养分（碳）获取的性质。这项研究的结果将大大有利于保护工作。参与该项目的所有三个机构都将包括研究的本科生，史密森学会的实习生活动将用于吸引学生参与研究。

All terrestrial orchids require symbiotic fungi called mycorrhizae and can persist only when these fungi are present. They interact with a wide range of fungi - some orchids are extreme specialists, while others are generalists that can host many different fungi. The proposed study uses orchid-mycorrhizal associations as a model system to investigate the roles of symbiotic fungi and of the chemical composition of the substrate in regulating the distribution and growth of orchid host plants. To determine whether symbiotic fungi regulate the distribution of orchids, a series of laboratory and field experiments is proposed in which orchid seeds, fungal partners, litter substrates and abiotic factors (light, water) are manipulated. To determine how substrate quality affects orchid growth, carbon sources for seedling orchids will be determined under varying substrate, water and light regimes. This study will contribute fundamental knowledge about orchid-mycorrhizal interactions and about the nature of nutrient (carbon) acquisition under different stress (substrate quality, light, water) regimes. Results from this study research will substantially benefit conservation efforts. All three of the institutions involved in the project will include undergraduate students in research, and intern activities at the Smithsonian Institution that focus on minority institutions will be used to solicit student participation in the study.