Core Mycorrhizal Fungi Promote Seedling Growth in Dendrobium officinale: An Important Medicinal Orchid

The critically endangered orchid <i>Dendrobium officinale</i>, valued for its medicinal properties, depends on specific seedling-associated mycorrhizal fungi (SAMF) for successful early-stage seedling development. However, conservation efforts are often hindered by difficulties in obtaining suitable SAMF, leading to poor seedling establishment in both natural and cultivated environments. In this study, we explored the growth-promoting effects of SAMF and evaluated the performances of synthetic fungal combinations. Our results demonstrated that mycorrhizal fungi, widely distributed across multiple habitats with high isolation frequencies, significantly promoted the growth of <i>D. officinale</i>, with specific fungi favoring different growth parameters. <i>Tulasnella</i> sp. TP-2 and TP-3 significantly improved stem diameter and plant height by 2.622 mm and 4.621 cm, while <i>Tulasnella</i> sp. TP-8 significantly increased tillering by a factor of 4.47. Additionally, <i>Tulasnella</i> sp. TP-11 and TP-13 markedly increased the number of new leaves (4.45) and new roots (2.688), respectively, identifying them as essential core OMFs for <i>D. officinale</i> seedlings. Contrary to expectations, synthetic fungal combinations composed of core orchid mycorrhizal fungi (core OMFs) did not exhibit synergistic growth-promoting effects. Instead, pronounced offset effects were observed, indicating that interactions between fungi may introduce competition or inhibition, limiting their collective ability to enhance plant growth. Our results confirmed that the core OMFs significantly promoted the growth of <i>D. officinale</i> seedlings. These core OMFs can serve as essential components in specialized microbial fertilizers for <i>D. officinale</i>, improving growth efficiency and yield, and supporting the sustainable development of the <i>D. officinale</i> industry.