mycoheterotrophy – mycolab.ai

Fungal symbiont Mycena complements impaired nitrogen utilization in Gastrodia elata and supplies indole-3-acetic acid to facilitate its seed germination

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A special type of orchid called Gastrodia elata cannot survive on its own because it has lost the ability to produce its own food and certain plant growth hormones. Instead, it relies completely on a fungal partner called Mycena to provide nitrogen nutrients and auxin (a growth hormone). This study reveals exactly how Mycena does this by analyzing their genes and how they communicate, showing that the fungus acts as a nutritional life-support system for the orchid seed’s germination.

Stage-Specific Lipidomes of Gastrodia elata Extracellular Vesicles Modulate Fungal Symbiosis

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Researchers studied how a special orchid called Gastrodia elata communicates with its fungal partner Armillaria. They found that tiny fat-like packages called extracellular vesicles carry specific molecules that help the orchid and fungus work together. These special molecules, including compounds like 7,8-dehydroastaxanthin, are most abundant when the orchid is actively absorbing nutrients from the fungus.

Integrated peloton and fruiting body isotope data shed light on mycoheterotrophic interactions in Gastrodia pubilabiata (Orchidaceae)

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This study examined how a special orchid called Gastrodia pubilabiata obtains nutrients from fungi by comparing the chemical signatures of fungal cells found inside the orchid’s roots with those of mushroom fruiting bodies. The researchers found that the fungal cells inside the roots had nearly identical chemical signatures to the mushroom fruiting bodies, confirming that scientists can accurately study this relationship by analyzing extracted fungal cells. This finding helps validate a scientific method that has been increasingly used to understand how orchids feed on fungi without performing photosynthesis.

Integrated peloton and fruiting body isotope data shed light on mycoheterotrophic interactions in Gastrodia pubilabiata (Orchidaceae)

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Some orchids don’t photosynthesize and instead get their nutrients directly from fungi they associate with. This study examined an unusual orchid species whose roots grow in direct contact with mushroom fruiting bodies. By analyzing the chemical signatures of different parts of this system, researchers confirmed that examining fungal threads extracted from orchid roots accurately reflects the fungal partner’s composition, validating a method that helps scientists study these fascinating plant-fungus partnerships when mushrooms cannot be easily found.

Research Keyword: mycoheterotrophy

Fungal symbiont Mycena complements impaired nitrogen utilization in Gastrodia elata and supplies indole-3-acetic acid to facilitate its seed germination

Stage-Specific Lipidomes of Gastrodia elata Extracellular Vesicles Modulate Fungal Symbiosis

Integrated peloton and fruiting body isotope data shed light on mycoheterotrophic interactions in Gastrodia pubilabiata (Orchidaceae)

Integrated peloton and fruiting body isotope data shed light on mycoheterotrophic interactions in Gastrodia pubilabiata (Orchidaceae)