Setting method of habitat protocorms inoculated with orchid mycorrhizal fungi isolated from habitat and covered with gel as a habitat for Habenaria radiata (Thunb.) K. Spreng. and seedling growth.

To reconstitute the habitat of threatened Habenaria radiata (Thunb.) K. Spreng, orchid mycorrhizal fungi were isolated from the habitat with the aim of growing H. radiata seedlings, and the potential of seedling growth in the habitat was examined. First, sterilized tubers of H. radiata obtained with sterilized sowing were planted in the habitat in early spring, collected when the roots began to be infected with orchid mycorrhizal fungi, and fungal isolates of orchid mycorrhizal fungi were isolated from the root cells. Next, fungal isolates that extended the most mycelia under low temperature conditions and promoted the growth development of H. radiata protocorms were found. This fungal isolate was inoculated into gel covering protocorms obtained from the habitat, and was placed in the habitat. The survival rate of protocorms rose greatly to 76.7% and growth development was excellent; therefore suggesting strongly that the habitat can be reconstituted by this method.