Endophytic Fungi Associated with Australian Orchids

Australia is rich in orchid flora with over 1000 native species currently recorded. A proportion of Australia’s terrestrial orchids are critically endangered, endangered threatened. Threats to many orchid species include habitat destruction, degradation and from increased urbanisation, overgrazing, altered fire regimes and, excessive collecting by orchid fanciers. Conservation efforts for Australian include both ex situ and in situ approaches. Ex situ efforts involve the growth of species under horticultural conditions and long term storage of plant and associated material in laboratories and herbaria. In situ approaches include re-establishing plants the wild and protection of current populations through management initiatives.