What Are Orchid Fungi? A Guide to Orchid Fungal Diseases

OrchidsFungi are organisms that live as parasites or saprophytes (feeding on dead matter) and do not contain chlorophyll themselves. The mold we commonly see on food, the starter culture used in brewing, and the mushrooms on our dining tables all belong to the fungi. They have no roots, stems, leaves or vascular bundles, unlike higher plants, but they can reproduce both asexually and sexually, and most have hyphae (branching filamentous threads), which also sets them apart from bacteria. The fungi that harmorchidsnumber roughly 30-plus genera and more than 60 species. The more important ones include Collectotrichum, Sclerotium, Botrytis, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, Fusarum, and others.