Endophytic association with Fusarium oxysporum enhances reintroduction survival of Aenhenrya rotundifolia (Blatt.) C.S. Kumar & F.N. Rasm.

Conservation efforts for the monotypic endangered jewel orchid, Aenhenrya rotundifolia requires a multifaceted approach. The present study outlines a dual strategy that combines an efficient in vitro propagation protocol with an investigation into the role of native endophytic fungi. The propagation phase of the study found that 1.0 mg/L meta-topolin was highly effective for inducing multiple shoots (74.3), while 0.5 mg/L Indole-3-Acetic Acid and 0.75 mg/L Naphthalene Acetic Acid were optimal for promoting shoot elongation (3.1 cm) and frequency of rooting (72.93%), respectively. Concurrently, four distinct endophytic fungi from the orchid’s rhizome were isolated and identified as Daldinia eschscholtzii, Fusarium oxysporum, Colletotrichum boninense, and Aspergillus sydowii. To assess their potential symbiotic benefits, in vitro raised plantlets were co-cultured with F. oxysporum, which has resulted in a significant increase in survival rates of about 91.58%.