RESEARCH AND APPLICATION OF ORCHID MYCORRHIZA IN TAIWAN

Author:	D.C.N. Chang
Keywords:	Rhizoctonia, Anoectochilus, Haemaria, Dendrobium, Doritaenopsis, Paphiopedilum, Phalaenopsis
Abstract: Orchid mycorrhizal research was conducted on various orchid genera, such as Anoectochilus formosanus, Haemaria discolor var. dawsoniana, Dendrobium, Doritaenopsis, Paphiopedilum and Phalaenopsis, which were inoculated with mainly one of three Rhizoctonia spp. of orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF) isolated in Taiwan. Results showed that germination and transplanting survival rate, vegetative and reproductive growths were highly enhanced by the inoculation of OMF. Activities of acid and alkaline phosphatases and superoxide dismutase, contents of polysaccharides, polyphenols, flavonoids, ascorbic acid and phosphate were markedly higher in the mycorrhizal tissues of A. formosanus. OMF inoculation resulted in Phalaenopsis having more flowers and increased flower size. OMF-inoculated orchids were observed to have less disease infection. The infection by the beneficial Rhizoctonia spp. was tolypophagy in all of the inoculated orchids. The growth of Bletilla formosana, Oncidium Gower Ramsey, Dendrobium amethystoglossum, Dendrobium tosaense, Dendrobium Chao Praya Garnet, and Dendrobium Snow Flake seedlings was enhanced by Rhizoctonia spp. and other OMF as reported by others in Taiwan.
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