22 research outputs found
From rhizoids to roots? Experimental evidence of mutualism between liverworts and ascomycete fungi
Background and Aims
The rhizoids of leafy liverworts (Jungermanniales, Marchantiophyta) are commonly colonized by the ascomycete fungus Pezoloma ericae. These associations are hypothesized to be functionally analogous to the ericoid mycorrhizas (ErMs) formed by P. ericae with the roots of Ericaceae plants in terms of bi-directional phosphorus for carbon exchange; however, this remains unproven. Here, we test whether associations between the leafy liverwort Cephalozia bicuspidata and P. ericae are mutualistic.
Methods
We measured movement of phosphorus and carbon between C. bicuspidata and P. ericae using [33P]orthophosphate and 14CO2 isotope tracers in monoxenic cultures. We also measured leafy liverwort growth, with and without P. ericae.
Key Results
We present the first demonstration of nutritionally mutualistic symbiosis between a non-vascular plant and an ErM-forming fungus, showing transfer of fungal-acquired P to the liverwort and of liverwort-fixed C to the fungus alongside increased growth in fungus-colonized liverworts.
Conclusions
Thus, this ascomyceteâliverwort symbiosis can now be described as mycorrhiza-like, providing further insights into ericoid mycorrhizal evolution and adding Ascomycota fungi to mycorrhizal fungal groups engaging in mutualisms with plants across the land plant phylogeny. As P. ericae also colonizes the rhizoids of Schistochilaceae liverworts, which originated in the Triassic and are sister to all other jungermannialean liverworts associated with fungi, our findings point toward an early origin of ascomyceteâliverwort symbioses, possibly pre-dating their evolution in the Ericales by some 150 million years
Critical research challenges facing Mucoromycotina âfine root endophytesâ
Mucoromycotina 'Fine Root Endophytes' (MFRE), referred to previously as Glomus tenue (Greenall) or more recently Planticonsortium tenue (Walker et al., 2018), are a globally distributed group of soil fungi (Orchard et al., 2017a) that form endosymbioses with plants from across most of the land plant phylogeny (Rimington et al., 2019; Hoysted et al., 2018; 2019). Despite much progress having been made in characterising plant-MFRE symbioses in the last decade, significant challenges remain
Mucoromycotina fine root endophyte fungi form nutritional mutualisms with vascular plants
Fungi and plants have engaged in intimate symbioses that are globally widespread and have driven terrestrial biogeochemical processes since plant terrestrialization >500 million years ago. Recently, hitherto unknown nutritional mutualisms involving ancient lineages of fungi and nonvascular plants have been discovered, although their extent and functional significance in vascular plants remain uncertain. Here, we provide evidence of carbon-for-nitrogen exchange between an early-diverging vascular plant (Lycopodiella inundata) and Mucoromycotina (Endogonales) fine root endophyte fungi. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the same fungal symbionts colonize neighboring nonvascular and flowering plants. These findings fundamentally change our understanding of the physiology, interrelationships, and ecology of underground plantâfungal symbioses in modern terrestrial ecosystems by revealing the nutritional role of Mucoromycotina fungal symbionts in vascular plants
State of the worldâs plants and fungi 2020
Kewâs State of the Worldâs Plants and Fungi project provides assessments of our current knowledge of the diversity of plants and fungi on Earth, the global threats that they face, and the policies to safeguard them. Produced in conjunction with an international scientific symposium, Kewâs State of the Worldâs Plants and Fungi sets an important international standard from which we can annually track trends in the global status of plant and fungal diversity