Relative gene expression of calcium binding protein in Dendrobium bigibbum Lindl. symbiotically grown with basidiomycetes

Dendrobium bigibbum Lindl. is one of the native species of orchids in the Philippines. Its pharmaceutical potentials have already been explored in Asian countries. Meanwhile, its seed is one of the major constraints for seed germination and mycorrhizal association with compatible basidiomycetes influences the germination of the seeds. In the formation of mycorrhizal association, calcium signaling is one of the initial responses of the plants wherein calcium serves as secondary messenger which triggers physiological functions and changes in the plants and the fungal symbionts as well. In this article, the molecular expression of calcium binding protein was determined in two stages of developments (rhizoid and seedling stage). In vitro cultivation of D. bigibbum with selected basidiomycetes were extracted. Quantitative Reverse Transcriptase - Polymerase Chain Reaction was used to determine the Cycle Threshold values. Results revealed the upregulation of the calcium binding proteins which indicates the elevation of calcium concentration, thus, there is a presence of plant-fungal interaction.