Speciation Underpinned by Unexpected Molecular Diversity in the Mycorrhizal Fungal Genus Pisolithus.

ABSTRACT: The mutualistic ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal genus Pisolithus comprises 19 species defined to date which colonize the roots of >50 hosts worldwide suggesting that substantial genomic and functional evolution occurred during speciation. To better understand this intra-genus variation, we undertook a comparative multi-omic study of nine Pisolithus species sampled from North America, South America, Asia, and Australasia. We found that there was a small core set of genes common to all species (13%), and that these genes were more likely to be significantly regulated during symbiosis with a host than accessory or species-specific genes. Thus, the genetic "toolbox" foundational to the symbiotic lifestyle in this genus is small. Transposable elements were located significantly closer to gene clas

SUBMITTER: Plett JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10066745 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature