Microbiota of the orchid rhizoplane

Six bacterial strains isolated from the underground roots of the terrestria l orchid Calanthe vestita var. rubro-oculata were found to belong to the ge nera Arthrobacter, Bacillus, Mycobacterium, and Pseudomonas. Strains isolat ed from the aerial roots of the epiphytic orchid Dendrobium moschatum were classified into the genera Bacillus, Curtobacterium, Flavobacterium, Nocard ia, Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus, and Xanthomonas. The rhizoplane of the terres trial orchid was also populated by cyanobacteria of the genera Nostoc and O scillatoria. whereas that of the epiphytic orchid was populated by one genu s, Nostoc. In orchids occupying different econiches. the spectra of the bac terial genera revealed differed. The microbial complex of the terrestrial o rchid rhizoplane differed from that of the surrounding soil.