Recombination in Glomus intraradices, a supposed ancient asexual arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are important symbionts of most plant species, promoting plant diversity and productivity. This symbiosis is thought to have contributed to the early colonisation of land by plants. Morphological stasis over 400 million years and the lack of an observed sexual stage in any member of the phylum Glomeromycota led to the controversial suggestion of AMF being ancients asexuals. Evidence for recombination in AMF is contradictory.

Results

We addressed the question of recombination in the AMF Glomus intraradices by sequencing 11 polymorphic nuclear loci in 40 morphologically identical isolates from one field. Phylogenetic relationships among genotypes showed a reticulate network pattern providing a rationale to test for recombination. F

SUBMITTER: Croll D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2630297 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature