Multiple mycorrhizal fungi connect the roots of orchid and ash in a Newfoundland fen. Multiple Orchid-Ash Fungi in NFLD, Canada

Genomic DNA was extracted from washed roots of a showy lady’s slipper (Cypripedium reginae) and a black ash (Fraxinus nigra) from a Newfoundland fen, where they were seen to co-occur frequently. Illumina sequencing of PCR-amplified D1 variable region of the large subunit ribosomal DNA yielded 112 fungal OTUS from the two sets of roots (33 from orchid and 104 from ash), of which 25 OTUs were shared. Over 98% of fungal sequences from orchid roots are of OTUs shared with ash, and 62% of fungal sequences from ash are of the 24% of its OTUs that are shared with orchid. The top shared fungi included Tulasnella (= Epulorhiza), Glomus sensu lato, Cuphophyllus, Clavulina, Serendipita, Trechispora, Tomentella and Leccinum, all known or suspected to form orchid mycorrhizas, arbuscular mycorrhizas, or ectomycorrhizas. However, no microscopic structures confirming mycorrhizal associations were seen in the remaining root fragments of either host.