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Geographical range and host breadth of Sebacina orchid mycorrhizal fungi associating with Caladenia in south-western Australia

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 21:35 authored by Phillips, RD, Barrett, MD, Dalziell, EL, Dixon, KW, Nigel SwartsNigel Swarts
Specialized mycorrhizal interactions have the potential to limit the geographical range of plant species and contribute to reproductive isolation. We investigated these predictions in Caladenia (Orchidaceae) from south-western Australia, a group known to have specialized mycorrhizal associations with the genus Sebacina s.l. Sequencing of fungal isolates from 47 of the 136 species of Western Australian Caladenia was undertaken to resolve the geographical range and habitat preferences of mycorrhizal fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and their host breadth in Caladenia. Eight different fungal OTUs were used by Caladenia, with the more frequently detected OTUs occurring in a wide range of habitats and geographical regions. Given the comparatively narrow geographical ranges of most Western Australian Caladenia taxa, this suggests that the geographical ranges of fungal OTUs are unlikely to limit the geographical range of Caladenia spp. Extensive sharing of fungal OTUs between closely related orchid species was detected, suggesting that in the main there is little potential for mycorrhizal fungi to contribute to reproductive isolation between Caladenia spp. Our data mostly support previous work suggesting high mycorrhizal specificity in Caladenia, but this may not be the case in all subgenera, highlighting that Caladenia may offer powerful opportunities for investigating the evolution of specialized mycorrhizal associations.

History

Publication title

Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society

Volume

182

Pagination

140-151

ISSN

0024-4074

Department/School

Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA)

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Place of publication

United Kingdom

Rights statement

Copyright 2016 The Linnean Society of London

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Terrestrial biodiversity

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