Estudio comparativo de la riqueza de hongos endófitos asociados a la diversidad de orquídeas epífitas en los bosques de Mazán y la zona de influencia del Parque Nacional El Cajas

Abstract

The microorganisms play a preponderant role in the nutrition and development of plants. For the case of orchids, it is known that these plants require a forced symbiosis for their nutrition and germination. However, not much it is known about the diversity of fungi that colonize these species and remain endophytes meeting several functions, many of which are completely uncharacterized. The objective of the present study was to determine the species of endophytes fungi which are present in roots of epiphytic orchids and their possible association with diversity patterns of these orchids in the evergreen upper montane forests Mazán and Llaviuco. From the roots collected along the field, endophytes fungi were isolated, 52 strains were identified through the sequencing of the ITS of ribosomal DNA region. The diversity of epiphytic orchids was registered, and it was possible to identify 6 types and 10 species in total, differences between the orchid diversity and richness of cultivable endophytic fungi could not be found when comparing the forests evaluated. The data showed a positive correlation between the association and the richness of the endophytic fungi and the orchid diversity, making evident the role of endophytic fungi in the dynamic of orchids populations. The isolation and conservation of pure strains of fungi identified as possible formers of mycorrhizae will be the base for new research associated with the symbiotic germination, information expected to be very useful for conservation and reintroduction programs of orchids