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Australian Journal of Botany Australian Journal of Botany Society
Southern hemisphere botanical ecosystems
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Molecular identification of the primary root fungal endophytes of Dipodium hamiltonianum (Orchidaceae)

J. D. W. Dearnaley A B and A. F. Le Brocque A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Biological and Physical Sciences, The University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: dearns@usq.edu.au

Australian Journal of Botany 54(5) 487-491 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT05149
Submitted: 2 September 2005  Accepted: 19 December 2005   Published: 3 August 2006

Abstract

We have identified the primary root fungal endophytes of Dipodium hamiltonianum F.M.Bailey, a species of orchid endangered in Victoria and uncommon in New South Wales and Queensland. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole colonised root portions from four orchid individuals and PCR amplified with ITS1F and ITS4 primers. Cloning and sequencing of the main amplicons produced from the PCR analysis revealed that the primary root fungal endophytes were Gymnomyces and Russula spp., both members of the Russulaceae. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of conservation of the orchid species.


Acknowledgments

We thank the Australian Orchid Foundation for their financial support, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and NSW National Parks and Wildlife service for granting us collection permits and Mr Wayne Harris (Queensland Herbarium), Mr Peter Haselgrove (QPWS), Mr David Jones (CPBR), Dr Martine Maron (USQ), Mr Pat McConnell (USQ), Mr Ian Milinovich and Ms Del Wham for help in locating the orchids. We thank Mr Ian Milinovich for use of his photograph of D. hamiltonianum.


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