Diversidad molecular de Ceratobasidiaceae como hongos formadores de micorrizas de orquídeas

Abstract

Abstract: Orchids are dependent on mycorrhizal fungi for the development of their life cycle because they act as carbon and mineral suppliers or as a source of nutrients. Ceratobasidiaceae family is one of the basidiomycete fungal groups recognized as orchid mycorrhizal fungi; however, little is known about their identity and specificity in different orchid species. In this study, phylogenetic analysis of the ITS2 region from the nrDNA of Ceratobasidiaceae fungi detected in five epiphytic orchids species in southern Ecuador, were performed. Phylogenetic tree showed, 14 OTUs identified as members of Ceratobasidiaceae however, it was not possible to describe these at species level. Ceratobasidium genus and Thanatephorus cucumeris species (teleomorph of Rhizoctonia solani) were the most recurrent taxa in the OTUs identified. These results suggest that five Ceratobasidium OTUs could be orchids mycorrhizas associated with the epiphytic species studied.