Propagation/cultivation of Gastrodia/Non-Photosynthetics

[lazaah]

Hello everyone, long time member, infrequent poster.

I am undertaking research on a genus of orchids here in New Zealand, in which we have natives of, called Gastrodia. They are a relatively uncommon plant but I have had the pleasure of locating a few specimens in the wild. I am looking for information or anyone's knowledge in propagating/cultivating of non-photosynthetic orchids. I am very aware of the complexities involved.

As I am active in the conservation and research of orchids, please do not "flame" me about the related issues regarding taking rare plants from the wild, as I do not plan to do so. However, as I am undertaking pollination and seed dispersal studies with the populations and I do have access to a limited number of seed in which I will be undertaking genetic studies to assess allelic diversity, what is left over I would like to make an attempt at cultivation, or at least propagation.

I have access to all resources one would expect of a University Botany department.

This plant is extremely common in Chinese literature, however the language barrier makes it impossible for me to actually extract/access the information from the academic articles, which is a real shame as I believe they have methods of cultivation

For more information on New Zealands native orchids go here New Zealand (NZ) Native Orchids

Otherwise I am open to any info, contacts, experiences, hunches, basically anything anyone can suggest!

[gnathaniel]

Hi lazaah and welcome (back)! The very little I've heard about cultivation of achlorophyllous orchids was people's opinions that it couldn't be done, though this was mostly from a mainstream horticultural perspective and there's also a lot of potential diversity among achlorophyllous species. I'll ask around with people I know and see if I can find anything out, it sounds like a fascinating project and I hope you're successful.

An interesting note: Wikipedia's entry for Gastrodia elata indicates that it "grows in symbiosis with the fungus Armillaria mellea on rotting wood, depending on the hypha of the fungus to invade the root system so that the plant can absorbs the nutrition." I don't know what species of Gastrodia you're researching but maybe you could find info on associated tree and fungal species?

--Nat

[lazaah]

Thank you for your input. I have taken several soil samples at sites I have been working at. Unfortunately its not quite so easy to identify fungal symbionts. I have tried removing hypae from the surface of the Gastrodia tuber to extract DNA for sampling and also done "population finger printing", in both cases unless someone has actually already published the particular fungi's DNA all I can do is file it away as a possible symbiont. Amallaria is indeed a possible symbiont, but I haven't found its DNA in my samples. The best I can do is identify common tree species between habitats and compile it as another list (which Kiwi botanists have done over the years).

Once again thanks for the input, hopefully someone else pipes up!

EDIT: By the way if you are interested in viewing the species I am researching it can be found under the "Potato Orchid" category at http://newzealandorchids.co.nz , specifically G. cunninghamii and a possible "Black" entity of it!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

As far as traditionally cultivating achlorophyllous orchids such as Gastrodia, Corallorhiza, Limodorum, and Neottia in potted culture, it is virtually impossible.

If they are to be cultivated at all, they must be cultivated in an area that is very large and duplicates their natural environment. In other words, to cultivate the orchid, you need a huge plot of land, the host tree the orchid's mycorrhizal fungi prefers, the mycorrhizal fungi, and the orchid.

From what I understand, researchers have been able to get seed germination of these achlorophyllous orchids using in-vitro methods, but it may be using the symbiotic way.

If the articles you are reading are in Chinese, I recommend using Google Translate. You'll get a close approximation of a good translation.

Unfortunately, my Chinese is not at that level where I can translate something of this subject matter to you.

[lazaah]

Google translate is fine for translating the documents, but its actually navigating the Journal websites that I am having the most problems with

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Maybe I might be able to help...

What's the website?

[lazaah]

Thanks for the offer, I will get a bit of a list of articles together and post up, then you or someone may be able to help find them.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

No problem. Maybe I can set you in the right direction, idk.