Time of Seed Germination, Infection of Orchid Mycorrhizal Fungi, and Reintroduction of Protocorms Inoculated with Orchid Mycorrhizal Fungi and Covered with Gel to a Habitat in Habenaria radiata (Thunb.) K. Spreng.

Abstract

The most suitable period to reintroduce protocorms of Habenaria radiata that had been gel covered and inoculated with orchid mycorrhizal fungi to a habitat in order to restore the population was investigated. Seed germination rates changed during the sowing season. In October, the germination rate was high except in the dark, but there were no differences in the seed germination rate among different light conditions and dark condition in May the following year. The germination of H. radiata seeds in a habitat started during late March and peaked in late April, then fungal infection of protocorms began. Most of the protocorms were infected with fungi in late May. Protocorms inoculated with orchid mycorrhizal fungi and covered with gel were reintroduced to the habitat between late May and early July. The protocorms reintroduced during late May or mid June showed the best growth.