Biology
Unearthing the roots of ectomycorrhizal symbioses
Document Type
Article
Abstract
During the diversification of Fungi and the rise of conifer-dominated and angiosperm- dominated forests, mutualistic symbioses developed between certain trees and ectomycorrhizal fungi that enabled these trees to colonize boreal and temperate regions. The evolutionary success of these symbioses is evident from phylogenomic analyses that suggest that ectomycorrhizal fungi have arisen in approximately 60 independent saprotrophic lineages, which has led to the wide range of ectomycorrhizal associations that exist today. In this Review, we discuss recent genomic studies that have revealed the adaptations that seem to be fundamental to the convergent evolution of ectomycorrhizal fungi, including the loss of some metabolic functions and the acquisition of effectors that facilitate mutualistic interactions with host plants. Finally, we consider how these insights can be integrated into a model of the development of ectomycorrhizal symbioses.
Publication Title
Nature Reviews Microbiology
Publication Date
12-2016
Volume
14
Issue
12
First Page
760
Last Page
773
ISSN
1740-1526
DOI
10.1038/nrmicro.2016.149
Keywords
fungi
Repository Citation
Martin, Francis; Kohler, Annegret; Murat, Claude; Veneault-Fourrey, Claire; and Hibbett, David S., "Unearthing the roots of ectomycorrhizal symbioses" (2016). Biology. 186.
https://commons.clarku.edu/faculty_biology/186
