microorganisms Article Fungal Diversity of Selected Habitat Specific Cynorkis Species (Orchidaceae) in the Central Highlands of Madagascar Kazutomo Yokoya 1, Alison S. Jacob 1, Lawrence W. Zettler 2 , Jonathan P. Kendon 1, Manoj Menon 3 , Jake Bell 1, Landy Rajaovelona 1 and Viswambharan Sarasan 1,* 1 Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3DS, UK;
[email protected] (K.Y.);
[email protected] (A.S.J.);
[email protected] (J.P.K.);
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[email protected] (L.R.) 2 Department of Biology, Illinois College, Jacksonville, IL 62650-2299, USA;
[email protected] 3 Department of Geography, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK; m.menon@sheffield.ac.uk * Correspondence:
[email protected] Abstract: About 90% of Cynorkis species are endemic to the biodiversity hotspot of Madagascar. This terrestrial habitat-specific genus received little study for fungal diversity to support conservation. We evaluated the diversity of culturable fungi of 11 species and soil characteristics from six sites spanning a >40 km radius in and along the region’s inselbergs. Peloton-forming fungi were grown in vitro from root/protocorm slices and positively identified using DNA sequencing. The fungal diversity - was then correlated with soil pH, NO3 N, P, and K. All species harbored either putative mycorrhizal associates in the Rhizoctonia complex or Hypocreales fungi. Tulasnella Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) were most prevalent in all soil types while Serendipita OTUs were found in species inhabiting Citation: Yokoya, K.; Jacob, A.S.; granite/rock outcrops in moist soil (seepage areas). Most Cynorkis species were present in soil with Zettler, L.W.; Kendon, J.P.; Menon, M.; low NO -N and P levels with diversity of mycorrhizal fungi inversely correlated to NO -N levels.