Ceratobasidium sp. 423 growing in the lab. [Photo credit: Dr. Larry Zettler]

Ceratobasidium sp. 423

Orchid seeds require organic carbon acquired from mycorrhizal fungi to germinate and develop. To better understand the genome evolution of fungi that participate in the orchid mycorrhizal symbiosis, we are sequencing a variety of fungal species that have been demonstrated to germinate orchid seeds. Analyses of these genomes will reveal patterns that may explain their ability to interact with orchids.

Ceratobasidium sp. 423 was isolated from the roots of the orchid Spiranthes vernalis in Madison County, Illinois, USA. This fungus was effective at in vitro seed germination of the same species (S. vernalis) to the leaf-bearing stage in vitro in the Esselman Lab at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.