Symbiosis between fungi and the hybrid Cymbidium and its mycorrhizal microstructures

Tissue culture seedlings of the hybrid Cymbidium were inoculated with six different fungal strains, isolated from the roots of different wild terrestrial orchids. About three months later, the average increment of fresh weight of seedlings inoculated with strains CF1, CF3 and CF12 were respectively 130.26%, 345.65% and 153.34% while that of the control was only 88.40%. The differences between the three treatments and the control were statistically significant (α = 0.05), highlighting the treatment with strain CF3 (α = 0.01). In addition, the three strains were obtained by re-isolating. Pelotons, regarded as typical structures of orchid mycorrhiza, were also found in the inoculating roots under a microscope. It seems that the strains of CF1, CF3, and CF12 are associated with the hybrid Cymbidium and supplied the orchid with nutrition. It can be confirmed that the three strains are beneficial for the seedlings of this hybrid.