Abstract
Seven isolates of orchid-associated bacteria (OAB) belonging to five species were tested for their effect on mycorrhiza-assisted germination of the terrestrial orchid Pterostylis vittata. Hormone standards were also tested to evaluate their potential roles in the germination and development of the orchid. Strains of Pseudomonas putida, Xanthomonas maltophilia and Bacillus cereus promoted symbiotic germination, whereas certain strains of P. putida and an Arthrobacter species reduced it. Symbiotic germination was enhanced by IAA, inhibited by gibberellic acid and suppressed by kinetin. Each species of OAB produced IAA, although the conditions of growth affected the production of the auxin. IAA was not produced by the mycorrhizal fungus from P. vittata under the test conditions. Enhancement of symbiotic germination development may have resulted either from the production of IAA by the OAB and/or by the induction of endogenous hormones in the orchid by the metabolites of the bacteria and/or mycorrhizal fungus.
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Wilkinson, K.G., Dixon, K.W., Sivasithamparam, K. et al. Effect of IAA on symbiotic germination of an Australian orchid and its production by orchid-associated bacteria. Plant Soil 159, 291–295 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00009292
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00009292