Back in 1996 we started experimenting with low-tech hardy orchid seed sowing methods, sowing the seed directly onto a compost mix inoculated with a suitable mycorrhizal fungus, which both germinate the microscopic orchid seed as well as offer a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship. However, this method still involves keeping mycorrhiza fungi in sterile conditions to maintain a clean culture for inoculation of the soil.
We have isolated many mycorrhizal fungal strains over the last 30 years with the aim of increasing the number of fungal strains in captivity, which will germinate hardy orchid seed.
I Isolated fungi ref: A36 back in 1995-6. This was done as part of an experiment following the publication of Terrestrial Orchids from seed to mycotrophic plant by Hanne N. Rasmussen back in 1995. I took root samples from both Ophrys apifera and Orchis mascula, sterilised these in dilute bleach and cut them into disc’s placing them on FIM (fungal isolating media). As hyphae stated to grow from the root discs, I cut these out and re-plated them onto fresh Petri dishes with FIM. I started the numbering with A1 and ran through to over 50. The A36 was isolated from Orchis mascula and has subsequently been found to be a ceratobasidium species of mycorrhiza. I tested germination viability of all the isolates with a number of species and found that the fungi did not germinate the host plant but was however capable of germinating other species of orchids. This led me to believe that the relationship between the mycorrhiza and the host plant is fluid once germination occurs and the mature host plant can host many forms / species of mycorrhiza.
A36 germinates the following Hardy Orchid species:
• Dactylorhiza
• Anacamptis (but not A. pyramidalis)
• Platanthera
• Goodyera
• Spiranthes
• Serapias
• Gymnadenia