Genome of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus provides insight into the oldest plant symbiosis

25.11.2013

Tisserant E, Malbreil M, Kuo A, Kohler A, Symeonidi A, Balestrini R, Charron P, Duensing N, Frei Dit Frey N, Gianinazzi-Pearson V, Gilbert LB, Handa Y, Herr JR, Hijri M, Koul R, Kawaguchi M, Krajinski F, Lammers PJ, Masclaux FG, Murat C, Morin E, Ndikumana S, Pagni M, Petitpierre D, Requena N, Rosikiewicz P, Riley R, Saito K, San Clemente H, Shapiro H, van Tuinen D, Bécard G, Bonfante P, Paszkowski U, Shachar-Hill YY, Tuskan GA, Young PW, Sanders IR, Henrissat B, Rensing SA, Grigoriev IV, Corradi N, Roux C, Martin F.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013;110(50):20117-22

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.           online article

The arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis between fungi of the Glomeromycota phylum and plants involves more than two thirds of all known plant species, including important crop species. This mutualistic symbiosis, involving one of the oldest fungal lineages, is the most ecologically and agriculturally important symbiosis in terrestrial ecosystems. Study of the genome of Rhizophagus irregularis provides insight into genes involved in obligate biotrophy and mycorrhizal symbioses and the evolution of an ancient asexual organism.