8.17F: Glomeromycota
- Describe the ecology and reproduction of Glomeromycetes
In the kingdom Fungi, the Glomeromycota is a newly-established phylum comprised of about 230 species that live in close association with the roots of trees and plants. Fossil records indicate that trees and their root symbionts share a long evolutionary history. It appears that most members of this family form arbuscular mycorrhizae: the hyphae interact with the root cells forming a mutually-beneficial association where the plants supply the carbon source and energy in the form of carbohydrates to the fungus while the fungus supplies essential minerals from the soil to the plant. This association is termed biotrophic. The Glomeromycota species that have arbuscular mycorrhizal are terrestrial and widely distributed in soils worldwide where they form symbioses with the roots of the majority of plant species. They can also be found in wetlands, including salt-marshes, and are associated with epiphytic plants.
The glomeromycetes do not reproduce sexually and cannot survive without the presence of plant roots. They have coenocytic hyphae and reproduce asexually, producing glomerospores. The biochemical and genetic characterization of the Glomeromycota has been hindered by their biotrophic nature, which impedes laboratory culturing. This obstacle was eventually surpassed with the use of root cultures. With the advent of molecular techniques, such as gene sequencing, the phylogenetic classification of Glomeromycota has become clearer. The first mycorrhizal gene to be sequenced was the small-subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA). This gene is highly conserved and commonly used in phylogenetic studies so it was isolated from spores of each taxonomic group. Using a molecular clock approach based on the substitution rates of SSU sequences, scientists were able to estimate the time of divergence of the fungi. This analysis shows that all glomeromycetes probably descended from a common ancestor 462 and 353 million years ago, making them a monophyletic lineage. A long-held theory is that Glomeromycota were instrumental in the colonization of land by plants.
Key Points
- Most glomeromycetes form arbuscular mycorrhizae, a type of symbiotic relationship between a fungus and plant roots; the plants supply a source of energy to the fungus while the fungus supplies essential minerals to the plant.
- Glomeromycota that have arbuscular mycorrhizal are mostly terrestrial, but can also be found in wetlands.
- The glomeromycetes reproduce asexually by producing glomerospores and cannot survive without the presence of plant roots.
- DNA analysis shows that all glomeromycetes probably descended from a common ancestor 462 and 353 million years ago.
- The classification of fungi as Glomeromycota has been redefined with adoption of molecular techniques.
Key Terms
- biotrophic : describing a parasite that needs its host to stay alive
- arbuscular mycorrhizae : a type of symbiotic relationship between a fungus and the roots of a plant where the plants supply a source of energy to the fungus while the fungus supplies essential minerals to the plant
- glomeromycete : an organism of the phylum Glomeromycota