Abstract
Corticium solani (Prill. and Delacr.) Bourd and Galz, the soil-inhabiting basidiomycete which attacks a wide range of hosts, has been isolated repeatedly by me in sterile mycelial form (Rhizoctonia solani) from the roots of the marsh orchid, Orchis purpurella T. and T. A. Steph. Germination tests with the seed of the orchid show that the mycelium of R. solani, so isolated, acts as a symbiont stimulating the growth of the embryos. Typical pelotons form within the orchid cells, and later digestion of the hyphæ takes place. Thus the fungus conforms to the normal conditions of an orchid endophyte.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to the full article PDF.
USD 39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Garrett, S. D., New Phytol., 50, 149 (1951).
Blair, I. D., Ann. App. Biol., 30, 118 (1943).
Chesters, C. G., Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc., 32, 197 (1948).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
DOWNIE, D. Corticium solani—an Orchid Endophyte. Nature 179, 160 (1957). https://doi.org/10.1038/179160a0
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/179160a0
This article is cited by
-
Fungi associated with terrestrial orchid mycorrhizas, seeds and protocorms
Mycoscience (1996)
-
Factors affecting the germination of orchid seeds
The Botanical Review (1967)
-
Production of Pectic Enzymes by Rhizoctonia solani and Orchid Endophytes
Nature (1963)
