Studying genome heterogeneity within the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal cytoplasm.

ABSTRACT: Although heterokaryons have been reported in nature, multicellular organisms are generally assumed genetically homogeneous. Here, we investigate the case of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) that form symbiosis with plant roots. The growth advantages they confer to their hosts are of great potential benefit to sustainable agricultural practices. However, measuring genetic diversity for these coenocytes is a major challenge: Within the same cytoplasm, AMF contain thousands of nuclei and show extremely high levels of genetic variation for some loci. The extent and physical location of polymorphism within and between AMF genomes is unclear. We used two complementary strategies to estimate genetic diversity in AMF, investigating polymorphism both on a genome scale and in putative single copy

SUBMITTER: Boon E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4350173 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature