Beyond Mycorrhizae: A Multi-Kingdom Community in Epiphytic Orchid Roots Reveals Cyanobacteria Intracellular and a Velamen Microbial Refuge.
4 affiliations
- 1LAMUME, Institute of Physics, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
- 2LCME, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
- 3Graduate Program in Plant Biology, Universidade de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
- 4Graduate Program in Plant Genetic Resources, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Abstract
Orchid biology has long been dominated by the paradigm of mycorrhizal dependency; however, the nutrient acquisition strategies of epiphytic orchids in canopy niches remain poorly understood. Using an integrated approach of multilocus metabarcoding (16S, ITS, 18S) and advanced microscopy (SEM, TEM, CLSM), we characterised the root microbial community of the threatened epiphytic orchid Cattleya purpurata. We report the discovery of intracellular Nostoc-like cyanobacteria within cortical cells, coexisting with the mycorrhizal fungus Tulasnella at a root colonisation rate of 18%. Furthermore, we identified: (1) a diverse velamen-associated microbiome hosting plant growth-promoting bacteria (e.g., the Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia complex), nematodes and microalgae; and (2) a vast unknown fungal diversity, with over 39 genera and numerous ASVs unmatched in databases. We demonstrate that C. purpurata roots sustain a complex multi-kingdom community. We propose that the root velamen acts as a multi-kingdom microbial refuge, expanding the concept of symbiosis in orchids beyond fungi. Based on the intracellular presence of Nostoc-like cyanobacteria and their known diazotrophic capacity in other plant symbioses, we hypothesise a previously little-known nitrogen pathway mediated by cyanobacteria in a canopy environment, to be functionally tested in future studies.
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BibTeX
@article{oliveira2026beyond,
title = {{Beyond Mycorrhizae: A Multi-Kingdom Community in Epiphytic Orchid Roots Reveals Cyanobacteria Intracellular and a Velamen Microbial Refuge.}},
author = {Eliana de Medeiros Oliveira and Edenilson Meyer and Paulo Emilio Lovato and Miguel Pedro Guerra and Tainara Gris and Anna Flávia Neri de Almeida and Juliana Lischka Sampaio Mayer},
journal = {Environmental microbiology reports},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.70434},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42958634},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Beyond Mycorrhizae: A Multi-Kingdom Community in Epiphytic Orchid Roots Reveals Cyanobacteria Intracellular and a Velamen Microbial Refuge.
AU - Eliana de Medeiros Oliveira
AU - Edenilson Meyer
AU - Paulo Emilio Lovato
AU - Miguel Pedro Guerra
AU - Tainara Gris
AU - Anna Flávia Neri de Almeida
AU - Juliana Lischka Sampaio Mayer
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/29
JO - Environmental microbiology reports
DO - 10.1111/1758-2229.70434
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42958634
AB - Orchid biology has long been dominated by the paradigm of mycorrhizal dependency; however, the nutrient acquisition strategies of epiphytic orchids in canopy niches remain poorly understood. Using an integrated approach of multilocus metabarcoding (16S, ITS, 18S) and advanced microscopy (SEM, TEM, CLSM), we characterised the root microbial community of the threatened epiphytic orchid Cattleya purpurata. We report the discovery of intracellular Nostoc-like cyanobacteria within cortical cells, coexisting with the mycorrhizal fungus Tulasnella at a root colonisation rate of 18%. Furthermore, we identified: (1) a diverse velamen-associated microbiome hosting plant growth-promoting bacteria (e.g., the Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia complex), nematodes and microalgae; and (2) a vast unknown fungal diversity, with over 39 genera and numerous ASVs unmatched in databases. We demonstrate that C. purpurata roots sustain a complex multi-kingdom community. We propose that the root velamen acts as a multi-kingdom microbial refuge, expanding the concept of symbiosis in orchids beyond fungi. Based on the intracellular presence of Nostoc-like cyanobacteria and their known diazotrophic capacity in other plant symbioses, we hypothesise a previously little-known nitrogen pathway mediated by cyanobacteria in a canopy environment, to be functionally tested in future studies.
SN - 1758-2229
ER -